GoToBermuda was the second vessel over the finish line as Visit Sanya led the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet into Bermuda.

After a short but intense twelfth race, Visit Sanya, led by skipper Mike Miller and first mate Mary Vaughan-Jones, sailed through the line late on Sunday evening to claim top spot and their first win in the race series. The victory follows on from second place in race two and third in race nine.

In addition to the 11 points earned from the victory, the team will gain an extra two points from crossing the scoring gate in second, ahead of the final results being released.

“Huge congratulations to skipper Mike, Mary and the whole team of Visit Sanya, China,” said Mark Light, Clipper race director. “What a tremendous result for the team after an utterly fascinating race.

“After 1,700 nautical miles of intense racing with so many twists and turns along the way, the team deserve all the plaudits for making a brilliant move out west and overhauling the pack to the east in the closing stages.”

Playing its joker card, GoToBermuda finished in second place, doubling its points and claiming another second consecutive podium place. The team can also add an extra bonus point to its total from a third-place scoring gate result.

“We are really happy with the work ethic from the whole team, our result shows the effort that everyone has been putting in over the last couple of races,” said first mate Max Rivers, speaking from on board after crossing the finish line.

“The improvement in the teamwork and sailing skills has been outstanding and to improve on our first podium with a second is fantastic and a real testament to the team.

“We are thrilled that this result has come in our home port of Bermuda and that we can celebrate the success with the island of Bermuda; thoroughly looking forward to the prize-giving."

Claiming the final podium spot in race 12 was the WTC Logistics team, led by 24-year-old skipper Dan Jones, and supported by first mate Ineke van der Weijden.

Like GoToBermuda, the WTC Logistics team had also elected to play the joker card for the race and will double their race points. Race 12 proved to be a big point-scoring haul for the team, who also scooped three additional bonus race points for being the first to reach the scoring gate.

“What a nail-biting close-quarters race,” Jones said. “It really shows how a one-design fleet, all sailed well, can be very very close.

“It ranged from light-wind tactical manoeuvres to beam reach blasting and overall I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

“We had an exciting finish as we secured third place with Punta del Este 200 metres behind us as we crossed the line, after battling for ten nautical miles over who would be in front. In the end, we had a slightly better angle coming in, which gave us the extra speed needed.

“I'm incredibly proud of my crew and what we have achieved together.”

Crossing the finish line just seven minutes later, Punta del Este put on a valiant show of determination in the battle for the final podium spot.

“After a rough start, we were fearful, but you proved us wrong,” said Yacht Club Punta del Este commodore Juan Etcheverrito. “Giving up is never an option on the yellow beauty, and here we are, once again, celebrating.”

Unicef took fifth place, with Zhuahai hot on the team’s heels finishing just under an hour later to claim sixth place. Zhuahai also played its joker card and will double its race points.