Clipper fleet picks up speed again

by Helena Broadribb on 19 Jul 2006 Yesterday, after 24 hours of light and variable winds, the fleet started to pick up speed again. The unpredictability of the recent winds has had the effect of compressing the fleet, which as ever is good for some, not so good for others! However, south and south westerly winds are forecast to pick up and become reasonably steady for a day or so.

In the middle of the fleet, Jersey and Glasgow are getting very close to each other, with Jersey only 13 miles behind now, and Glasgow only 41 behind Liverpool in 5th spot. Durban, Singapore and Cardiff have, as previously, been in different wind conditions and this has worked in their favour, catching up about 50 miles on the leading boats.

It’s at the front of the fleet that fingernails will really be suffering today, however. Victoria has sneaked past New York to take a 2 mile lead, and westernaustralia.com has had a relatively good run, and is now 3 miles off second placed New York and only 6 off the slim Victorian lead. Qingdao is still making steady progress, though not as dramatic as over the last few days, and has caught up 1 mile to be 27 off the front.

Another factor which will come into play for the first time in many months is the tidal one. As the fleet gets further into the Western Approaches and the Channel itself, the yachts will be more and more subject to the twice daily ebb and flood of the tides around the British Isles. This will completely take over from the relatively constant push of the Gulf Stream current that they have had up to now. The tides they are approaching are neap tides, which means that the gravitational pull of the moon opposes that of the sun, and so the tidal flows are relatively weak. However, if the yachts are in the wrong place at the time of the west going ebb tides, they can have 3 or 4 knots against them – not ideal at all!

Clipper skippers have many talents, some that were not immediately obvious at the start of the race. Conor Fogerty, skipper of Cardiff, has peaked in his quest to get as many cheesy balls in his mouth at any one time. Their latest diary is a worthwhile read from a gastronomic point of view. Although the crews are looking forward to seeing friends and family, they are relishing their last weeks at sea. This from the Cardiff diary: “A rather depressing event occurred 46 05 09 N 22 29 07 W with 843 nm to Jersey – we turned on the stereo to find it was picking up a clear signal broadcasting Radio1! This was a really depressing realization as to how really near ‘home’ we actually are. The stereo was quickly switched off as thoughts returned to enjoying the few remaining days at sea we have left!”

Race 11 Positions at 0400 19/07/06:

1. Victoria

2. New York

3. Westernaustralia.com

4. Qingdao

5. Liverpool 08

6. Glasgow

7. Jersey

8. Durban

9. Uniquely Singapore

10. Cardiff