Changing places for Clipper fleet

by Clipper Event media on 12 Jan 2008 In this part of the world, where the winds are changeable and unpredictable, it can be tough at the top as both Nova Scotia and Durban 2010 and Beyond have discovered.

The last 24 hours has seen the two boats pushed down the leaderboard, with westernaustralia2011.com and Hull & Humber sneaking past them into third and fourth positions. They were soon joined by Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper, leaving the two boats that had once led the fleet down in sixth and seventh places. Although they are now moving again, it was frustrating for the crews of these two boats to watch their competitors sail past them whilst becalmed to the western edge of the channel. Durban 2010 and Beyond skipper Ricky Chalmers takes some solace that the two teams have gone through this pain together: 'How much difference a day makes! We’ve been stuck in a god awful wind hole and now the majority of the fleet has sailed right on by. We could console ourselves that Nova Scotia have had it worse, but actually I feel sorry for them as they were leading so well after roaring past us so emphatically less than a week ago.'

However, neither team has given up on regaining the lead and the skippers are proud of what their crews are achieving regardless of their current positions. Nova Scotia skipper Rob McInally describes the highs and lows of going from first to seventh in a matter of hours: 'This race has been very challenging and believe me the changes in position have been tough to take. I do have to say though, when was the last time you were in Indonesia sailing to Singapore? How many times have you seen the most amazing team spirit? When have you seen the entire crew all smile at adversity? As the saying goes '‘it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings' and she’s not even in the taxi on her way there yet!'

Meanwhile at the back of the fleet Qingdao is also fighting hard to improve on their tenth place. Skipper Marcus Cholerton-Brown describes their tactics to catch up with the nearest competitors: Chasing hard on Jamaica and hope to catch them soon. We’re making good progress now we have a few knots of breeze, so we will certainly give them a run for their money. Then onto the next one and always remember Qingdao rule number seven: Never give up!' This determination appears to be working as Qingdao has taken a few miles out of Jamaica over the last few schedules, and at 1200 GMT they had narrowed the gap to just ten miles.

In addition to the challenging wind conditions the teams continue to battle with the navigational challenges of the Java Sea. Skipper Danny Watson of Hull & Humber described a night of avoidance tactics. 'It’s been a night of slalom between rigs, fishing nets and squalls and trying to avoid colliding with the local fishing boats. The joys of sailing the Java Sea!'

Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper also encountered similar obstacles in the dark: 'What a crazy old night! Two small fishing boats very nearly got turned into matchsticks but all in all it’s quite good fun hurtling along under kite surrounded by lights. Typically as soon as the sun came up there wasn’t another boat in sight!'

Lizzie Nicholas, Race Secretary: 'The rich warm waters of the Java Sea attract a variety of fishing vessels from commercial craft with stadium-style spotlights to attract the fish to the surface, to very small traditional two-man wooden boats with little or no lighting. For those onboard the sight of ten colourful 68-foot racing yachts chasing each other through their fishing grounds must be a curious one. Whilst they are lucky to get a grandstand seat watching the fleet in action, some close encounters must be a little unnerving on both sides.'

The fleet continues to make good progress towards the pitstop of Nongsa Point, Batam, and their destination of Singapore, where their arrival will herald the opening of the brand new Marina at Keppel Bay on 19 January. Overnight the lead boats once again put in 12-hourly runs of over 100 miles, and Liverpool 08 and New York passed through the next gate on their route north, another milestone under their belts. Liverpool skipper Ben Galloway spoke of their push to put some miles between themselves and the chasing pack: 'We’ve just crossed mampango gate with New York on the horizon catching up under their mid-weight spinnaker. Our kites are now packed away for a few days after pushing them to the limit to get here ahead of the fleet. I believe they’ve earned a rest.'

The Clipper Race team is starting to build in Singapore with last night’s arrival of Operations Director Colin de Mowbray, fresh from a pre-stopover visit to Qingdao. The hosts at Marina at Keppel Bay have been working hard to ensure that the grand opening of the Marina and the welcoming of the fleet by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on 19 January will a spectacular event for the double celebrations. Watch this space over the coming days for more details on the arrival of the Clipper 07-08 Race in Singapore.

POSITIONS AT 1200 GMT 11 JANUARY 2008

Liverpool 08: Distance To Finish (DTF)395
New York: DTF 398, Distance To Leader (DTL) +1
Westernaustralia2011.com: DTF 444, DTL +49
Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper: DTF 475, DTL +80
Durban 2010 and Beyond: DTF 483, DTL +88
Nova Scotia: DTF 495, DTL +100
Uniquely Singapore: DTF 556, DTL +161
Jamaica: DTF 818, DTL +423
Qingdao: DTF 828, DTL +433

(Hull & Humber failed to pole at 1200 GMT)