GILL Sowerbutts, a 47-year-old community pharmacist from Hereford, is celebrating in Mauritius having successfully completed the fourth crew leg of the Clipper 2002 Round the World Yacht Race.

After three weeks at sea, Gill and her fellow amateur crew members aboard 'Bristol Clipper' were especially pleased to arrive in Mauritius as they clinched victory on the 3,000 mile race across the Indian Ocean from Indonesia.

Jubilation

The 60-foot yacht crossed the finish line on May 29, claiming Bristol Clipper's third race victory of the 11-month Clipper 2002 series.

Gill, who joined the race at its halfway stage in Hong Kong, was overjoyed with the result. She said: "Everyone aboard the Bristol yacht is on cloud nine having clinched victory into Mauritius. It was a truly nail-biting finish, which makes the result especially rewarding.

The first three clippers were all within 41 minutes of one another and had each held the lead during the last 96 hours of Race 11.

"We've experienced highs as well as lows, typical for such a long ocean race, although any lows are hidden by the glow of satisfaction from winning after the last three weeks of intense competition," she added.

On the overall leaderboard, this closes the gap between first-placed Jersey Clipper and the chasing Bristolians to an astonishing three points after some 23,000 miles of racing, so far.

Racing gets underway again on Friday taking the fleet to Cape Town in South Africa. First though, the clipper crews will enjoy an idyllic break in the island of Mauritius with its swaying palms, balmy nights and the dazzling blue of the ocean.

Gill will disembark in the Brazilian port of Salvador on completion of the fifth crew leg next month.

The sixth and final crew leg will then set sail for New York, before the final Atlantic crossing to Jersey.

A dash back to Liverpool, via Holyhead, will ensure a dramatic race finish, with the eight-strong clipper fleet expected to cross the finish line on September 27 after some 35,000 miles of racing.