Leaving ceremony: lots of excitement at St Katharine Docks. Good weather shone on us as we all left the docks to a fanfare of music and thousands of waving supporters. The Clipper fleet passed under Tower Bridge and then processed down the River Thames to Southend. Supporters in multiple boats followed us down the river circling around us as we went. A very happy send off for us all. At the Thames Barrier the supporter's boats turned round and we waved our last goodbye.
We anchored off Southend Pier for the night; getting up early we prepared for the race start. As Dare to Lead crossed the line we put up our spinnaker and headed off around the Kent coast and into The Channel. The Race had begun.
David Gateley, Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon