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Sail-World.com : Clipper Fleet head into final port - Liverpool

Clipper Fleet head into final port - Liverpool

After just over twenty four hours of racing up the Irish Sea from Cork to Liverpool only 14 miles separate the entire Clipper fleet, as they battle for the final three podium positions in the biennial 35,000-mile Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

New York and Uniquely Singapore are leading the fleet, but with three boats just one mile behind, there is no room for complacency. Amongst the pack chasing the two leading boats is Liverpool 08. The Liverpool team, skippered by Ben Galloway, is fighting for a victory into their home port ten months after they set sail from the Mersey in September last year.

The fleet are currently experiencing fast reaching conditions in a Force 3 from the south west as they make their way towards Liverpool. The boats are going a lot faster than expected averaging approximately nine knots since they started Race 14 from Cork at midday yesterday, but they are sailing an ‘elastic course’ that can be adapted according to the conditions.

The ten teams will race around a number of pre-determined marks in Liverpool Bay before the overall winner of the race is decided. The first boats will cross the finish line at the Bar Buoy at the mouth of the Mersey from 01:00 GMT on Saturday.

Race Director Joff Bailey said: 'The racing is incredibly close out there with only three miles separating the top six boats. It is going to be a tight finish and all the teams are battling to be the first across the line in this crucial final race. Nobody is willing to concede an inch and it looks like it is going to go right to the line.'

Nova Scotia has been deducted two points from their overall tally for receiving a replacement main sail in Sydney after damaging their own. The Race Committee penalised the Nova Scotia team after they received a fleet spare mail sail before departing from Nova Scotia for the final Atlantic crossing.

Clipper - Positions - DTF - DTL at 15:00 hrs, 4 July 2008

1 New York 62 0
2 Uniquely Singapore 64 2
3 Hull & Humber 67 5
4 Qingdao 69 7
5 Liverpool 08 70 8
6 Glasgow:Scotland with style 72 10
7 Jamaica 75 13
8 Durban 2010 and Beyond 76 14
9 westernaustralia2011.com 80 18
10 Nova Scotia 80 18

by Event media 4:47 PM Fri 4 Jul 2008 GMT

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Clipper 07-08 Round the World Race

Related News Stories:

06 Jul 2008 Clipper 07-08 fleet arrives in Liverpool

05 Jul 2008 New York claims overall victory in Clipper 07-08

04 Jul 2008 Hull & Humber leads Clipper Race 14 to Liverpool

29 Jun 2008 Clipper New York first into Cork

28 Jun 2008 New York heading for Corker of a finish Sat AM

26 Jun 2008 Liverpool 08 benefits from southerly route

25 Jun 2008 Qingdao victorious in overnight battle for lead

25 Jun 2008 New York leads as light winds hit Clipper fleet

24 Jun 2008 Tail enders succumb to light winds in race to Cork

24 Jun 2008 WA Clipper rues indecision as Qingdao leads fleet

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