Heather Fell is competing in Race 14 from New York to Londonderry of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as part of Team Jamaica Get All Right. She will be blogging from onboard and keeping us up to date with her progress over the coming weeks.

THE reception we received last Monday was incredible and there were well wishers alongside us in their boats before we even reached sight of the city. On top of the maritime festival, public holiday and crowds of spectators there was another reason for me to enjoy my time in Derry-Londonderry. My parents had taken a scenic motorbike ride up to the very top of Northern Ireland to surprise me! Aside from Beijing, this is the furthest my parents have travelled to see me and what a lovely welcome it was. The week passed quickly and it was soon time to bid farewell to Derry-Londonderry after the most stunning firework display on the final evening. I have high standards after attending the 2008 Olympic closing ceremony in Beijing yet somehow these rivalled it. The next morning after a short motor down to the start we were in for one final treat — an incredible display by the Red Arrows. Then it was our turn to demonstrate speed and precision as we turned our attentions to the race start. There is no room for errors as all 12 boats jostle for the best position while judging the wind and distance to the line. A false start would be penalised with a 720 degree turn (not easy in a 70 foot sail boat) and an hour added to your time for every minute you spend the wrong side of the line. It may seem strange that the start is so crucial when embarking on an 800-mile race but if you could hear the screaming and shouting coming from each boat you would soon realise the importance. Jamaica Get All Right worked well as a team and despite a few barked commands from our skipper we had a smooth and successful start. Let the racing begin!