Sanya yacht ranks 3rd in points after Cape Town arrival

After 17 days of sailing across 3,555 nautical miles, the yacht Visit Sanya, China, which is named after the tropical city of Sanya, arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on Nov 9. The boat, which is taking part in the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, was the fifth arrival in the fleet and ranked third in total points in the race.

On the second leg of the race, the Sanya yacht chose the northern route after racing to a strong start during the first leg of the race.

The boat has sailed nearly 4,000 nautical miles since departing from Punta del Este and is heading towards the beautiful Cape Town, said skipper Seumas Kellock, 26, from Edinburgh, before arriving. 

In this stage, the wind speed reached 65 to 70 knots. Sailing in the strong wind like this was great, but we also experienced very difficult headwind sailing under the same strong wind, added Kellock. 

Sailors pose for a photo on board the Sanya yacht after arriving at Cape Town, South Africa on Nov 9. [Photo/Xinhua]

The skipper said the crew had experienced many wonderful moments during the second stage, such as steering the boat at 70 knots at night, which is something that many people have not been able to experience.

Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and is known for its beautiful natural landscapes and marinas. While berthing in the city, the Visit Sanya, China will host a series of activities, such as a public open day, a photography day, a charity sale, and a promotional event for the tropical holiday paradise, Sanya, increasing the global exposure of the Hainan province city.

After the stopover in Cape Town, the sailing boat will depart again on Nov 17 and embark on its third leg of the Clipper Race to the Australian port city of Fremantle.

Visit Sanya, China sails in front of Table Mountain, an iconic place in Cape Town. [Photo/Xinhua]