A LOCAL yachtsman is on top of the world after his crew won the third leg of the gruelling BT Global Challenge.

Andy Hindley, of Accrington, and his crew of the Save the Children picked up the Courtaulds Trophy for completing the 1,250-mile voyage across the Tasman Sea from Wellington to Sydney in seven days, 32 minutes and 58 seconds.

The Courtaulds Trophy is awarded to the winning crew of each of the six legs. Each of the six trophies is customised and bears a plaque to show which leg of the race has been won.

The trophy was presented to skipper Andy on arrival at Sydney harbour by David Harvey of International Paint, Australia.

Andy said: "We are thrilled to have won this magnificent trophy after such a closely fought battle. To have beaten the race leaders to Sydney is an incredible feeling, and when we entered Sydney Harbour the view literally took my breath away."

Save the Children is currently third overall and now Andy and is team are preparing for the fourth leg to Cape Town then on to Boston and the final leg back to Southampton.

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