Dad turns up at the finishing line

Friday 21st July 2006, 12:00AM BST.

NEW York has won the penultimate Clipper race to St Helier – and skipper Joff Bailey has had an extra surprise.

As they crossed the finish line off Land’s End just before 10 am yesterday, skipper Joff was greeted by his father Mike, who had flown from the Isle of Man for their first meeting in seven months.

The last time the pair were united was in Fremantle, Western Australia at Christmas time, just two months after the race started.

Now, with less than a week to go before the finish of the 35,000 mile, ten-month challenge, Mike has flown to the Island to congratulate his son on his first race title.

Joff said: ‘This is a total surprise – I didn’t expect to see him here! I can’t describe how I am feeling at the moment – to come into Jersey in first place and have my dad here is fantastic!’

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