HUNDREDS of people lined the Albert Pier and then Noirmont last night to cheer the ten-strong Clipper fleet off on their final parade.

Families, friends and well-wishers of all the crews clapped and shouted as the boats pulled out of the Harbour one by one, with teams geared up for the final stretch of the 35,000-mile race.

As the final yacht to leave the Harbour, New York Clipper – winners of the race into Jersey – gave ‘three cheers for the Island’ and children who came to watch in Clipper T-Shirts chanted ‘Jersey! Jersey!’.

Spectators then followed the squad to Noirmont, where the official starting line was set.

Earlier on, flat, sunny and windless conditions cast doubt as to whether the fleet would leave at all, but by 4 pm the yachts’ battle flags were fluttering and thick grey cloud began to settle.

While the weather had held up beautifully throughout the weekend-long stop in the Island, the first drops of rain fell as the fleet made their way across St Aubin’s Bay – and turned into a full-scale downpour as they reached the official Noirmont starting line.