Clipper Round the World Yacht Race – Tailgunners battle

by The Clipper Race on 24 Nov 2015 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race – Breeze has picked up for the teams still racing and just 30 nautical miles now separate the front three yachts as they look to finish as strongly as possible and claw back important points in this race.

An excellent Stealth Mode performance has moved IchorCoal up into sixth position (the next best available as five teams have now finished the race), with the team now 18 nautical miles ahead of seventh placed Mission Performance.

In this final duel to the finish line, Mission Performance Skipper Greg Miller reports: “Since IchorCoal appeared on the scene, the wind seems to have filled in and we are making a fast passage, more north than I would have liked, but this could be to our advantage as it looks like there will be more wind there in hours to come. We are also expecting the current wind to back allowing us to put in (hopefully) another faultless gybe and head again direct for Albany.”

Also out of Stealth Mode with no plans to admit defeat yet, Da Nang – Viet Nam is hot on both its rivals’ heels, just nine nautical miles behind Mission Performance. Skipper Wendo Tuck says: “Now you see us again, we have come out of hiding. Stealth Mode has finished. I’m pretty happy where we have ended up, now just need to keep chasing.”

Adding, Wendo notes: “If you are following the Race Viewer, you would have noticed this race is not over yet. Sixth, seventh, and eighth place are still up for grabs, so be assured we are working the boat hard as we have not settled for eighth place yet. We are giving it all we have.”

Visit Seattle is in ninth place, PSP Logistics is tenth and Unicef eleventh.

ClipperTelemed+ is currently motor-sailing to Albany after accepting retirement and twelfth place. Skipper Matt Mitchell admits it was tough to accept but it was the right thing to do as he reports: “After careful deliberation yesterday it became apparent that we were well and truly stuck. Rather than force the issue I decided to retire from this race in order to get the boat into Albany in good time for the next race.'

He adds: “We took a gamble at the end and lost, simple as that and I very much hope upon our return to land that our supporters comments on social media reflect on the positives rather than the negatives. We are all tired, a bit battered and bruised, but ultimately smiling from having overcome many hardships while crossing this tough ocean.”

Garmin finished race three in fourth place at 0014UTC (0814 local) this morning. GREAT Britain finished fifth at 0136 UTC (0936 local).