Buncrana Clipper Skipper heads for home

Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
THE BUNCRANA Skipper of Derry’s Clipper Yacht is currently racing across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Greencastle in a bid to finish in pole position.
On Tuesday Sean McCarter’s crew on the Derry~Londonderry~Doire boat were in first position, but had slipped back into second on Wednesday.
The first of the 12 Clipper boats, taking part in the around-the-world race, are expected to land enter the Foyle around ten days time before travelling up the river towards Derry.
Buncrana man McCarter has been steering the team around the world visiting countries such as Australia, China, America, Jamaica, South Africa and Brazil. But now the local man is preparing for one of his m
ost poignant stopovers yet.
“I think it will be very emotional coming in past Inishowen Head and sailing up the Foyle towards Derry,” said Sean, speaking from the Clipper’s satellite phone this week. “It has been very difficult being away from home – I’ve seen my wife twice in three months – it’s been a lot harder than I thought.”
Sean and the crew have been a lot of ups and downs since joining the Clipper last September, most notably last March when one of their crewmen fell overboard into the Pacific Ocean.