Bristol Clipper arrived in Cape Town at 1400 GMT (1600 LT) to win the twelfth race of the sixteen that make up The Times Clipper Race 2000. She was welcomed by a reception committee from the Royal Cape Yacht Club, hosts for this stopover.

“We had some good breaks early on and were able to build on them,” said Beggs. “It was the result we were after but all the boats are really competitive so we really just try to keep finishing in the top half.”

Portsmouth Clipper is currently second, 97 miles from Cape Town, with Plymouth Clipper 13 miles behind and Jersey Clipper a further 28 miles behind in fourth.