Clipper Round the World Race - Battle to win Ocean Sprint point begins

by Heather Ewing on 23 May 2012 Clipper 2011-12 Round the World Yacht Race fleet are on the ninth day of race eleven from Panama to New York. The ten 68-foot matched ocean racing yachts continue to battle it out for podium positions. Meanwhile, the battle to win an extra point and cross the Ocean Sprint in the fastest time has officially begun.

Visit Finland has re-claimed its lead in the last 24 hours and was the first team to start the Ocean Sprint, crossing the start line at Latitude 28 degrees north and 30 degrees north at 01:22:19 UTC. Hot on their heels was Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, just three miles behind the Finnish entry, crossing the latitude line at 04:31:35 UTC.

As each of the yachts enters the Ocean Sprint phase at the set latitudes the skippers are required to report their position and time to the Clipper Race Office within three hours of crossing each of the relevant lines. The winner to finish in the fastest time is awarded one point.

With just one point separating fifth place Welcome to Yorkshire and sixth place New York on the leader board, all of the teams will be working hard to be the fastest yacht to the Ocean Sprint finish line and claim that valuable extra point, as the overall leader board remains tight.

Latest boat positions (1200 UTC)
Position Team - DTF / DTL
1 Visit Finland - 658nm / 0nm
2 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital - 664nm / 7nm
3 Gold Coast Australia - 677nm / 19nm
4 Qingdao - 703nm / 45nm
5 Geraldton Western Australia - 710nm / 52nm
6 De Lage Landen - 716nm / 59nm
7 New York - 740nm / 64nm
8 Welcome to Yorkshire - 780nm / 122nm
9 Singapore - 781nm / 123nm
10 Derry-Londonderry - 828nm / 171nm Stealth Mode: position 22 May

Full positions are updated every three hours and can be found online.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com/" target="_blank">Clipper Round the World Yacht Race website