Clipper Round the World - Race to Western Australian heats up

by Clipper Ventures on 19 Nov 2013 On Day 15 of Race 4 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2013-14 OneDLL, GREAT Britain, Invest Africa and Switzerland are sailing with determination and the crew members on Qingdao know they need to work hard to retain a podium spot in this race.

Qingdao skipper Gareth Glover commented: 'Well done to Eric Holden and his Henri Lloyd crew for sailing so well over the last 24 hours. We are now in the same area and winds as the other yachts so hopefully if we slow down again so will they and it is now more down to who can get the most out of their yacht.'

The Southern Ocean is like a complicated, adolescent soul with a split personality. One day, it is unsociably dark and stormy, the next it is almost apologetic; sickeningly sweet and sunny with blue skies, and later a magical moonlit starry night. Yesterday, gladly for most, it was the latter.

Switzerland skipper, Vicky Ellis put it in context, saying: 'The last two days have been a bit like clearing up from a good party. Your body aches in strange places, you have surreal flashbacks (was I really on the bow?), and you wonder why the onions ended up in your bunk.'

The next and final bonus point opportunity of Race 4, the Scoring Gate, lies just 30 miles ahead of the leaders. This is a passage of five degrees longitude where the fastest team to cross its two lines will pick up two extra points, which can make all the difference to their overall standings.

The 'magical' conditions are lifting spirits after the latest storms and GREAT Britain skipper, Simon Talbot has some advice for the crew: 'Very few people get to experience the crescendos of weather that this place has to offer. The highs and lows that ocean racing add to the mix, only serve to heighten the emotions. Days like today offer the perfect opportunity for reflection and a chance to digest all that has gone before us.'

At 1200 UTC, Henri Lloyd, (1388.3 miles to finish) now lead the fleet, with Qingdao second (1409.2 miles). OneDLL (1415.6 miles) and Great Britain (1415.8) are battling out behind in third and fourth place respectively, with less just 2 of a mile separating them.

POSITION / TEAM		DTL
1	Henri Lloyd	0NM
2	Qingdao	34NM
3	One DLL	28NM
4	GREAT Britain	28NM
5	Invest Africa	252NM
6	Switzerland	219NM
7	PSP Logistics	278NM
8	Mission Performance	277NM
9	Old Pulteney	324NM
10	Jamaica Get All Right	374NM
11	Derry~Londonderry~Doire	456NM
12	Team Garmin	646NM