Clipper Race: Crossing the International Date Line - Which day would you relive twice?
by Clipper Round the World Race 13 Apr 2022 02:50 PDT
13 April 2022
Clipper Race © Clipper Race
Today the Clipper Race fleet starts to cross the International Date Line, a big race milestone in Race 10: Sailing City - Qingdao Cup. Punta del Este reached it first at 0103 UTC, followed by WTC Logistics at 0300 UTC and then Unicef at 0708.
Whilst crossing the International Date Line does not score points, or impact sailing technically, it does mean that on passing through the date line, you become a time traveller of sorts, reliving the same day twice!
We asked the Race Crew, Skippers and First Mates to report back from the North Pacific, and let us know which day of their lives they'd love to live all over again!
Punta del Este
Jeronimo Santos Gonzales, Race Skipper- I would relive the last four hours! (Asked just as I was waking up inside my warm sleeping bag)
Nano Antia Bernardez, First Mate- I would relive the morning in the Pacific on the Clipper 2017-18 Race, when I awoke to huge waves rolling behind us, it was an amazing sight.
Charlie Freeman (Chip)- I would relive my arrival into Subic Bay, to be more helpful and thankful to everyone.
Jeronimo Lestido - Christmas Eve of 2016, it was the last night I had with my Uncle Jorge.
Pip Cledwyn- I would relive the day I packed for this trip as I made a number of omissions from the kit. I should have packed a thermal blanket, heated underpants and something warm to snuggle in my sleeping bag!
WTC Logistics
Dan Jones, Skipper on WTC Logistics - it would be signing up as Race Skipper, it was and is the biggest challenge of my life and I'm thoroughly enjoying it!
Ineke van der Weijden - First Mate on WTC Logistics - a moment to relive on the Clipper Race was the photo finish between Nasdaq and GREAT Britain into Sydney Harbour in the 2017-18 edition: two Clipper 70s barrelling down the harbour on a sunny Sunday and crossing the finish after 4000 plus nm with not even a hair difference.
Bryan Healy - The day of the storm off Japan when I was helming with Dan, because it was so fun.
Susie Blair - my last day in New Zealand with my cousin Anna before heading back to the UK: we did our favourite thing walking the dogs on the beach. I didn't know then it was the last time I would see her as she was diagnosed with breast cancer three days before the race left London. I'm finishing the race for her. Miss you little sis. Xx
Kaz Smith- the day when at 4am I made bread for breakfast and then at 8am had to announce to the crew I had forgotten to add yeast and the only thing the bread was good for was bricklaying! I would like to relive the day and include yeast!
Manu Hulme Parker- First holiday after lockdown where the whole family was together for the first time. A lot of planning and cancelled flights and it all worked out in the end: such a stress-free time, not a care in the world.
Paul Widdowson- In 2007, the day I paid for a brand new 40' yacht and never saw it...the broker went into liquidation.
Sophie Owles- I'd like to relive the day we crossed the finish line in Subic Bay in first place after sailing from Airlie Beach in The Whitsundays. The sense of achievement and feeling of joy at making it so far was a great feeling to have.
Rachel Burgess- I'd probably go back to Leg 2 or 3, where we had enormous waves of 10 metres- you get to the top of them and it's like being in the Alps, but just huge mountains of water around you. I'm hoping in the next few days we get some similar conditions!
Charlotte Mitchell- I would love to relive a day of packing for Leg 6, because I'd love to pack many more pairs of warm gloves!
Zhuhai
David Errington- My birthday, because I would never grow old!"
Ben Gillingham - The day I put the hot chocolate tins in the bilge and it was lost forever, because I would stop myself and never do that again!
Tracey Corkett - The day we left Subic Bay.
Unicef
Dan Bodey, First Mate - I'd relive the moment we arrived into Airlie Beach. My family were waiting for me on the pontoon and we managed to get a podium finish too!
Sue Lucas - The day my boys were so proud of me and said I was awesome for taking on such a challenge when I said I was going to do this thing.
Shaneil Patel - In my whole life I'd love to relive my wedding day. On the Clipper Race I'd relive the Le Mans Start. It was great seeing all the boats lined up, crashing through the waves, us messing up the start but then coming back and leading within a couple of hours. Actually, I'd just relive the day we finally get into Seattle!
Danny Lee - I'd probably relive the departure from London. Tower Bridge up, with thousands of people lining the banks to cheer us on. It was a magical experience. I'd also relive that night in Capi Bar, or the bonus night in the Whitsundays, or the 2nd Subic Bay Prizegiving Pool Party, or the Subic Bay Karaoke Party. I realise most of these have a common alcohol based theme. I do like the sailing too, honest.
Karen Corley - I'd relive my MBA graduation at the Barbican with my whole family present. It took me a long time to complete and I was incredibly proud.
Holly Williams - I'd relive coming into Cape Town, seeing the Apostles emerge over the horizon, going from Windseeker to a third reef within a minute, then crossing the finish line in second place.
Alex Cavaghan - I'd relive the delivery to St Katherine Docks for the Clipper 2013-14 Race. I've never been more proud of myself.
Michiel Kool - Clipper Race related I'd say the Subic Bay Prizegiving Party. Take 200 hungry sailors, add booze, add music, add a swimming pool; what could possibly go wrong?!
Lis Wilson - The day I passed out of Sandhurst.
Keith Winstanley - I'd pick the podium finish in Cape Town, but I reserve the right to change to a podium finish in Seattle should we pull it off. And in general life, I'd go for my second wedding!
John Dawson - I'd like to relive the day I changed my underwear.
Jonathan Hallam - The birth of my first child.
JD Fentie - If I had to pick one day to live over it would be the arrival into London on the Clipper 2013-14 Race. I was making sandwiches below and was called up on deck to suddenly see my entire family on one of the spectator boats cheering us on. They'd come from Canada and South Africa. An incredible moment.
Oliver Horsford - The day I was born as I want to do it all over again!
Ahead of the teams crossing the International Date Line, we asked some of the Clipper Race team which day they'd relive on the Clipper Race, and why. Read more here.
For more information visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com.