Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

The Clipper Race Leg 1 - Race 2, Day 19

by Clipper Round the World Race 4 Oct 2019 05:10 PDT 4 October 2019
The Clipper Race Leg 1 - Race 2, Day 19 © Clipper Race

The miles to Punta del Este, Uruguay, continue to fall away on Day 19 of Race 2: The Commodore's Cup, and there is a serious battle brewing at the front between Visit Sanya, China and Qingdao.

As it continues racing off the coast of Brazil, Visit Sanya is celebrating it's fifteenth consecutive day in the lead. However, the top spot on the leaderboard could be under serious threat. Qingdao, which played its Joker Card for this race, made huge ground overnight, covering 129 nautical miles (nm) in the last 12 hours alone, to move to within 14nm of first place.

Visit Sanya Skipper Seumas Kellock is keeping a close eye on his challenger and said: "As the morning grew old, the wind came less and less from the east and more and more from the south, completely un-forecast which made my frustration even worse. This had turned our beautiful day of beam/ broad reaching into a day of beating up wind. It has been slower, more uncomfortable, but worst of all, not the direction I wanted to be going.

"The wind has now come back around to an acceptable direction but it has cost us dearly, allowing Chris and his team on Qingdao to make up some serious ground on us."

Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam remains in third place but has fallen off the pace, now 148nm behind Qingdao. While there is still a healthy gap on the fourth placed Dare To Lead, Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam Skipper Josh Stickland commented: "Well, we are chewing up the miles; 1,776nm to go while writing this so we are finally on a beam reach! I think this is our first time since London that we have been on this point of sail for a prolonged period.

"This Race 2 is a long one and requires a lot of focus from us all. The crew have done well for the 19 days so far but they must continue this right till the very end, and that is what me and Hugo (our Mate) shall continue to do."

The final three teams - Punta del Este, GoToBermuda, and Imagine your Korea, are due to complete the Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint today, meaning the final bonus points on offer in Race 2 will soon be decided. With everything to play for, the yachts at the back of the fleet are pushing just as hard as those at the front did. Imagine your Korea Skipper Mike Surridge reported: "An ocean sprint is a bit like running a marathon and then just for fun somebody puts a 200m sprint into the run! The sea is bouncy, and we are bombing along so it's a bit of a bucking bronco ride just now.

"On a positive the Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint has increased focus on our speed and we have had up to 13 knots."

Which teams will be awarded the precious three, two and one bonus points on offer? Keep an eye on the Clipper Race viewer to follow the fleet's progress, and catch up on all the latest news here.

The fleet is due to arrive into Punta del Este between 12-16 October and you can see the latest ETAs here. For all the events and activities planned for the Fan Zone at the Yacht Club Punta del Este, see the Host Port Page on the Clipper Race website.

Related Articles

Clipper 2025-26 Race to return to Puerto Sherry
After tourism boosting debut visit The Finish Line of the opening stage of the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race will be set against the backdrop of El Puerto de Santa María as Puerto Sherry returns as a Host Port Partner for the international sailing event. Posted on 25 Jun
Punta del Este announced as Clipper host port
4th time the city will host the Round the World Yacht Race fleet The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is set to return to Punta del Este, as the Uruguayan city is officially announced as a Host Port for the Clipper 2025-26 Race. Posted on 17 Jun
Clipper Race announces Official Logistics Supplier
Warrant Group offers a deep understanding of the complex operational demands As it gears up for its 14th edition, the Clipper Race has announced that Warrant Group will be the Official Logistics Supplier for the upcoming circumnavigation, with the UK-based firm also making its racing debut with a team entry named in its honour. Posted on 13 Jun
Clipper Race & UNICEF mark a decade of partnership
Fundraising efforts from race crew will continue to support UNICEF's work globally Today, the leading child rights organisation, UNICEF, was announced as a Team and Charity Partner of the Clipper Race once again. Posted on 6 May
Clipper Race announces line up of First Mates
Each First Mate will assist their Race Skipper in leading their teams of non-professionals The Clipper Race First Mates who will be helping to lead a team in the toughest endurance challenge on the planet have been announced. Posted on 26 Apr
Seattle set to host Clipper Race stopover
Tenth anniversary of first visit, returning with team entry Seattle is set to host the Clipper 2025-26 Race as the global sailing event has announced the city will feature on its race route. Posted on 4 Apr
Clipper Round the World Race to return to Oban
After tourism boosting debut visit last summer The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will be returning to Oban to "bring global focus on the area as a great place to visit and invest" as the West Coast town is announced as a port on the event's 2025-26 edition. Posted on 31 Mar
Clipper Race announces its new line-up of skippers
“Sailing is a level playing field – with the ocean an equaliser” The next roster of eleven Clipper Race Skippers taking on one of the toughest jobs in sailing has been announced. Each will lead teams of non-professionals, making six ocean crossings on the 40,000 nautical mile, eleven-month race around the globe. Posted on 28 Mar
Clipper Race celebrates 30 years of adventure
One of the secrets to the success and longevity of biennial event is the highly experienced team This month marks 30 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world, founded the Clipper Race. Posted on 7 Mar
Clipper Race to return to Portsmouth
On the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city When its fleet departs from Gunwharf Quays this August, the event will be celebrating two milestones - the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city and 30 years of training people to cross oceans and sail around the world. Posted on 3 Mar
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERPredictWind - Routing 728x90 BOTTOM