Times Clipper 2000 Race Update

by Loretta Spridgeon on 13 Sep 2001 Developments have been dramatic in The Times Clipper 2000 as Bristol and
Jersey continue their escape to the north east, leaving the other Clipper
yachts to fend for themselves. It is an amazing breakout for the two leading
yachts and Bristol's progress is equally amazing as they chase hard on the
heels of Jersey. Monday's gap between the two archrivals stood at 96 miles
and Bristol was going nowhere, although this dropped to 54 miles yesterday
and today it is a mere 15 miles.

Yesterday, Jersey moved north to try and fall in ahead of Bristol, but today
we see that the Bristolians have matched this movement and are keeping their
separation. At present Jersey is some 60 miles further south and at 03:00
GMT was tracking at a devastating 2 knots, while Bristol was showing 8
knots.

The rest of the fleet have been punished by the wind which has been light,
variable and usually in the wrong direction. Simon Rowell and the crew of
Leeds Clipper however have been rewarded for their southern course, moving
them into 5th place. London Clipper has also done well in the south and,
with Plymouth Clipper, these three have fanned out from the others to make a
front nearly 300 miles wide. Portsmouth Clipper has remained in the middle
to ensure all the chess pieces are neatly spread over the board for the
final run in.

Meanwhile, Glasgow and Liverpool have stayed north although in Glasgow’s
case, with an agonising 24-hour run of just 33 miles, she didn't have the
option to go anywhere very much! Ed Green’s thoughts however were not on
this nor the fact that he had finally filled his water tanks; he and his
crew could not put the horrors of the scene in New York out of their mind.

The news of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre came as a
devastating shock to the crews competing in the Times Clipper 2000 race.
Only ten days previously the eight Clipper yachts had set sail from Liberty
Landing Marina after an 11-day stopover in New York, just half a mile from
the huge Manhattan tower blocks.

The eight skippers were subdued and brief as they reported their positions
during the daily radio schedule, as the full impact of the news sank in.
Even in the middle of the Atlantic, nearly a thousand miles from land, the
full horror of man's latest inhumanity to man could not be avoided.

For further information please contact:
Loretta Spridgeon / Sue Warden-Owen
M-H-L Press and Publicity
Tel: 01489 575227
Fax: 01489 577766
Mobile: 07773 818586 / 07770 596111
E-mail: suewo@dial.pipex.com

The Times Clipper 2000 Race 15 from New Jersey to Jersey

Positions 03:00 (GMT) 12/09/01

Pos Yacht Distance to finish

1 Jersey Clipper 1090

2 Bristol Clipper 1105

3 London Clipper 1177

4 Plymouth Clipper 1221

5 Leeds Clipper 1250

6 Liverpool Clipper 1258

7 Portsmouth Clipper 1261

8 Glasgow Clipper 1277

Times Clipper 2000 Overall Positions/Points Cumulative after 14 Races:

Pos Yacht Cumulative Points

1 Bristol Clipper 83.4

2 Jersey Clipper 83

3 London Clipper 73

4 Portsmouth Clipper 68

5 Plymouth Clipper 67

6 Liverpool Clipper 64

7 Leeds Clipper 36

8 Glasgow Clipper 31