Fickle winds ahead as Clipper Race sets sail for New York
by Morgan Kasmarik 3 Jun 2018 21:01 PDT
The Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race © onEdition
The eleven teams competing in The Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race have embarked on their next adventure which sees them navigate the Caribbean on their way upwind to New York.
Whilst it is comparatively shorter than previous ocean crossings the crew has experienced so far, it is a tactically tough race as the route passes through a complex arrangement of islands and reefs. Following this, fickle winds are also expected off North America so the competition will be one of frequent sail changes. Distance will be lost as quickly as it is gained so the pressure is on for the fleet.
The Clipper Race is unique in that it trains non-professionals to be ocean faring sailors. Established 21 years ago by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world, 40 per cent of Clipper Race crew have no previous sailing experience before signing up.* More than 700 people representing 42 different nationalities are taking part in what it the eleventh edition of the race.
Race 11, named the Nasdaq Race, is approximately 1,900 nautical miles (nm) and began on Sunday 3rd June after a Le Mans style start off the Atlantic coast of Panama. This latest competition should take 12 days to complete. It follows an extremely close fought Race 10, where positions switched multiple times in the final 24 hours - proving sailing is never predictable with nerves needing to be held until the finish line is crossed.
Race teams Sanya Serenity Coast and Qingdao, are currently topping the overall leaderboard, with 121 and 108 race points respectively.
Clipper Race Director Mark Light explains: "Teams should not be complacent with the shorter distance of this race - it is going to be tactically tough. The crew will need to look out for big squalls at night and the Race Office will be keeping a watchful eye out for any tropical revolving storms.
"After navigating the obstacles of the Caribbean Islands and their reefs, the route will skim the Bermuda Triangle and should try to make the most of the Gulf Stream that follows the eastern coastline of the United States – extra gains of up to two to three knots can be made.
"With just three races remaining in this 40,000nm circumnavigation it could not be closer in the fight for final podium positions. Race 10 proved that anything can happen in ocean racing as positions changed right up to the finish line."
Homeward Bound
Two competitors from New York, Duffy Drum, 63, and Chris Goodwin, 28, are sailing to their home city. Drum is a retired Naval fitness director from Long Island who won his place through a NYC newspaper contest. Despite being a novice sailor, the Clipper Race team were won over by his sense of adventure and love of the outdoors and he said he had plenty of time on his hands now he is retired.
Long Island resident, Chris Goodwin, who works in construction, is an experienced sailor. However, his experience has been supersized as he has swapped his smaller 18 foot boat for a Clipper 70, the stripped back ocean racing yacht he is now living onboard.
On his experience so far, Goodwin says: "It has been everything I could've asked for and more. It's been more of a physical and mental challenge than I expected with the noisy sleeping conditions and constant moving about. I was happy to gain the trust of my Skipper and fellow crew mates to do some exciting helming in challenging conditions as well as climbing the mast at night to address our spinnaker halyard."
On sailing towards the Manhattan skyline, Chris continues: "The finish of the race in New York is going to be filled with mixed emotions. It will be sad to know that my Clipper Race adventure is coming to an end, but the joy of seeing my friends, family, and girlfriend at the finish line after a hard-fought race will surpass any tribulations. I'm sure as we approach New York Harbour, with that familiar skyline, I'll be happy to be home."
Whatever time of day teams arrive into New York during the arrival window of 14-16 June, the Statue of Liberty and the stunning Manhattan skyline will be waiting to welcome weary sailors after almost two weeks of energy zapping upwind racing.
* Full training is provided.