The crews of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race have arrived back in Liverpool at the end of their 35,000-mile circumnavigation. For the non-professional crew onboard the ten 68-foot ocean racing yachts, the return to Albert Dock marks the end of a challenge.

Crossing the finish line overnight at the end of the 14th and final stage of the Clipper 07-08 Race, US entry New York (see photo) claimed the maximum ten points for securing their sixth first place of their campaign and the Clipper Trophy. Hull & Humber, New York’s closest rival on the overall leaderboard ahead of Race 14, saw their title hopes fade as New York stretched out a small but significant lead in the fast reaching race from Cork to Liverpool.

Clipper 07-08 began in Liverpool on 16 September 2007 and over the last ten months the teams have circumnavigated the globe, crossing the Atlantic three times, the Pacific once, and sailed across the infamous Southern Ocean, with stopovers on five continents.

To date more than 1,400 people have become ocean racers by taking part in the Clipper Race and of these, nearly 300 have achieved the rare accolade of becoming a circumnavigator by racing around the world under sail. Sixty-two new circumnavigators have joined the ranks of this exclusive club following the fleet’s arrival in Liverpool today.

Final positions

1. New York, 103.5 points
2. Hull & Humber, 98
3. Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper, 87
4. Qingdao, 77.5
5. Liverpool 08, 75.5
6. Durban 2010 and Beyond, 70
7. westernaustralia2011.com, 69
8. Uniquely Singapore, 65
9. Nova Scotia, 50.5
10. Jamaica, 40.5

For further information, visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com .