Clipper Race 8 exclusion zone penalties

Clipper Race fleet at Wanda Yacht Club in Qingdao © Clipper Race

Qingdao will officially take fourth place in Race 8: The Sailing City Qingdao Cup, after three Clipper Round the World Yacht Race teams were issued with time penalties.

The Clipper Race Committee has unanimously decided to apply six hour time penalties to PSP Logistics, Nasdaq, and Dare To Lead for breaching the Course Instructions for Race 8 from Sanya to Qingdao.

The Course Instructions dictated that all eleven teams must observe a 2 nautical mile exclusion zone from all coastlines, islands and off lying hazards, either awash or above the water at chart datum, between Virtual Mark Charles (in position 18 degrees07.000N, 109 degrees35.000E) bears 000 degrees True until crossing the Finish Line (in approx. position 35 degrees45.000N, 120 degrees15.500E).

As a result of the penalties:

• Qingdao moves up to 4th position
• Garmin moves up to 5th position
• PSP Logistics drops to 6th position
• GREAT Britain moves up to 7th position
• Unicef moves up to 8th position
• Nasdaq drops to 9th position
• Dare To Lead drops to 10th position

The Clipper Race Committee has made the following findings:

Case 1 - CV28 PSP Logistics

On 14 March at 1530 UTC (2330 LT) CV28 PSP Logistics sailed within 2nm of the island of Lingshan Dao, which is situated just over 3nm to the west of the finish line. At the time, CV28 was in a dying breeze but had continued on a northerly heading for the preceding 2 hours. As CV28 entered the 2nm exclusion zone, the team was travelling at between 2.5 – 3 knots SOG. Within 10 minutes the wind reduced completely and CV28 spent the next 3 hours drifting within 2nm of the exclusion zone.

As a result, CV28 was displaced from first position and dropped down to fourth position where the team eventually finished. CV28's 1800 UTC position was sent out to the fleet and it was noted by another team (CV29 Qingdao) that CV28 had ventured into the exclusion zone.

Case 2 – CV31 Nasdaq

On 15 March, as CV31 Nasdaq approaching the finish line, CV31 sailed within 2nm of the island of Lingshan Dao which is situated just over 3nm to the west of the finish line. CV31 ventured inside the exclusion zone by at least 200 metres before tacking out and for the line. CV31 was fully aware of this infringement and made a self-declaration on its Post-Race Declaration Form handed into the Race Office on arrival into Qingdao. The infringement was known about by at least two other teams who were close by and this was discussed on VHF radio at the time.

Case 3 – CV25 Dare To Lead

On 15 March, as CV25 Dare To Lead was approaching the finish line, the team sailed within 2nm of the island of Lingshan Dao, which is situated just over 3nm to the west of the finish line. CV25 ventured inside the exclusion zone by approximately 200 metres before tacking out and for the line. The team was fully aware of this infringement and made a self-declaration by way of an email to the Race Office prior to its arrival into Qingdao. The infringement was known about by at least two other teams who were close by and this was discussed on VHF radio at the time.

In all three cases above, the Race Committee have applied the penalties and this has not been as a result of a protest by any other team.

To see the full official standings from Race 8: The Sailing City Qingdao Cup, please see the Race Viewer on the Clipper Race website.