Qingdao victorious in overnight battle for lead

by Clipper event media on 25 Jun 2008
The lighter winds have finally had an effect on the leading teams and they slowed down overnight but not to the same extent as the teams further down the leader board. Qingdao, New York and Hull & Humber battled overnight in lighter winds and once again Qingdao came out on top.

The conditions at the front are difficult with fog and rain hampering progress but each of these teams is pushing very hard and not giving an inch in this penultimate race of the Clipper 07-08 series.

Marcus Cholerton-Brown, skipper of Qingdao, told the Race Office this morning, 'We’ve just had a top battle with New York and Hull & Humber. Lots of very light and fluky winds closed us with New York in the dark whilst under spinnaker. But some great crew work and slick drills brought us out on top and back ahead.'

Duggie Gillespie, New York’s skipper, said, 'Last night no boat was wanting to concede anything and were looking for gains. We all got within one and a half miles of each other and then separated. This is close racing and it will be continuing to the end.'

The three lead teams are pushing hard but they may also need to look to the south of them where Liverpool 08, Uniquely Singapore and Durban 2010 and Beyond are flying along in some nice strong winds and have the leading group in their sights.

Liverpool 08 skipper, Ben Galloway, says, 'Everybody’s glad Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper was behind at the last sched and we think we can take some of the others out, too. Qingdao is the one to beat or they knock us back overall. We’re looking forward to getting to Cork for some good Irish craic.'

Race Director Joff Bailey comments, 'With Jamaica dropping back after ripping a spinnaker and Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper affected by the lighter winds, suddenly the chance of gaining a few extra places and maybe upsetting the podium is a reality. This race will have many place changes yet over the next five days before the finish in Cork harbour.

westernaustralia2011.com, furthest to the south, will get the new, stronger winds before any of the other teams and their deficit should be reduced. There is also a possibility that they can sneak a place or two higher up the leader board before arriving in Cork, in particular from Nova Scotia who appear to be heading back to the north again.

It could give skipper Martin Silk more than just his 40th birthday to celebrate today. Martin says, 'A moderate westerly breeze has provided some pleasant, though not exhilarating downwind sailing, shifting regularly by 20 degrees of more. This has allowed everyone to get some helming practice whilst smartening up the gybes, prior to some heavier stuff to come. Gale force winds are on the way, though not for another 24 hours we doubt, hopefully allowing us to close the gap on some teams ahead. Whilst some crew are optimistic, I prefer to err on the side of reality and accept that we are unlikely to catch anyone at this stage. It looks like once the pressure is in everyone will have a fast ride home and only a major breakage is likely to upset the applecart. Our aim now is to stay in stronger wind patterns, sail consistent averages, avoid any damage and get to the bar as soon as possible!'

As Martin says, major breakages are really not what the crews want to happen at this stage. Unfortunately for Jamaica, however, the spinnaker gremlins have struck again.

'A very frustrating day on Jamaica,' explains skipper, Simon Bradley, whose team had been keeping pace with the leading pack. 'We’ve lost contact with Hull & Humber, New York and Qingdao, and all because we had a spinnaker rip – this time not our fault! Because of this we couldn’t fly the appropriate spinnaker and little by little we lost ground to them.'

The first yachts are expected to arrive at Royal Cork Yacht Club on Monday 30 June.

Position Team Distance to finish
1 Qingdao 694
2 New York 697
3 Hull & Humber 706
4 Liverpool 08 722
5 Jamaica 730
6 Glasgow:Scotland with style 742
7 Uniquely Singapore 743
8 Durban 2010 and Beyond 770
9 Nova Scotia 815
10 westernaustralia2011.com 864

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