Clipper Round the World Race - Tropical storm dictates fleets progress

by Amy Martindale on 26 Jun 2012 Clipper 2011-12 Round the World Yacht Race fleet are on day eleven of race thirteen from Nova Scotia to Derry-Londonderry. It has been an interesting 24 hours for the ten 68-foot ocean racing yachts, which has seen new tactics come into play on the approach to the finish line.

The tactical decision to go south of the eye of ex tropical storm ‘Chris’ which has been dictating the fleet’s progress over the past few days has paid off for Singapore, which has taken a 19-mile lead over its more northerly positioned rival Welcome to Yorkshire. Meanwhile yesterday’s frontrunner Gold Coast Australia has played another tactical card, as it entered into its 24 hour Stealth Mode and will reappear to the public at 1200 UTC today.

De Lage Landen and Geraldton Western Australia have entered the Ocean Sprint where the team sprinting the distance the fastest will be awarded an additional point.

On board the Dutch entry, skipper Stuart Jackson, reports, 'We have finally started making decent ground now after taking ourselves so far south to stay on the southern side of the low. It has also been a relief not to be beating constantly, so is a lot more comfortable for everyone too.

'We have just entered the Ocean Sprint, so we'll see if we can rival the times already set. The next few days is looking interesting as the northern group and southern group will start to merge together, we just have to hope that we can continue to make some ground on the others. So there is every chance that the mid-fleet positions could change hands a few times before the finish line.'

The leading yachts of the Clipper Race fleet are set to start arriving into Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, between 29 June and 1 July. Keep a close eye on the Race Viewer on the Clipper Race website to see which tactics pay dividends.

Latest boat positions (0900 UTC)

Position	Team	DTF	DTL
1	Singapore	621NM	0NM
2	Welcome to Yorkshire	641NM	19NM
3	Gold Coast Australia	678NM	57NM Stealth Mode: position at 1200 UTC 25 June 2012
4	Geraldton Western Australia	715NM	94NM
5	Visit Finland	791NM	170NM
6	Edinburgh Inspiring Capital	853NM	232NM
7	De Lage Landen	913NM	292NM
8	New York	925NM	304NM
9	Derry-Londonderry	1035NM	414NM
10	Qingdao	1240NM	619NM

Full positions are updated every three hours and can be found online along with daily skipper Clipper Round the World Yacht Race website