CLIPPER 2002 RACE REPORT
A funny thing happened on the way to Cuba!
5, December 2002
Communications between the boats at sea is predominantly by SSB radio. This
has no usage costs and, with careful selection of frequencies, can give near
worldwide coverage.
Over the last couple of weeks however London Clipper has been experiencing
problems with her SSB set and has been unable to talk to the fleet on a
regular basis. Skipper Chris Hazeldene has been finding out the positions of
the rest of the fleet by telephoning the race office, who in turn forward
his position to the Duty Skipper.
Occasionally the boats have been close enough for Chris to contact them via
VHF radio which has a range roughly equivalent to the distance you could see
if standing next to the aerial mounted on the top of the mast. This has not
been possible over the last couple of days as the boats have not been close
enough, however a funny thing happened early yesterday which demonstrated
the general courtesies that seafarers extend to one another, as well as
clearly marking their arrival in the Caribbean.
As Bristol Clipper raced past the Turks and Caicos Islands, a large American
cruise ship sailed into view. As often happens the two vessels struck up a
conversation over the VHF radio, the American skipper enquiring where the
yacht was sailing and vice versa.
As a cruise ship is a pretty big affair and much higher out of the water
than the relatively small Clipper boats, their VHF range is much greater.
London skipper Chris, busy studying charts at the nav table, heard his VHF
crackle into life and was mildly surprised to hear Carnival Cruise Lines
calling Bristol Clipper. He was unable to hear the response, but when there
was an obvious break in the conversation he too called the cruise ship and,
using it as a go between, was able to have a very successful relayed
conversation with Richard Butler skippering Bristol Clipper.
Whilst crossing the Atlantic, ships were rarely if ever seen but now the
fleet's proximity to land has been marked by several encounters with fishing
boats, coastal trading craft, a few other yachts and now a cruise ship!
There has also been a marked increase in objects in the water, coconuts and
palm fronds included.
Positions within the fleet reindex unchanged, but for an observer it is easy
to lose sight of the intense pressure that the crews are under as they race
towards the finish line. Pressure for Cape Town Clipper as they battle to
gain those vital few miles that will prevent them from a second defeat and
pressure too for Glasgow as they fight to keep them behind.
Bristol Clipper have gained over 25 miles on _blank York in the last 24 hours,
but will it be enough to overtake them in the time left? For _blank York
Clipper, the end can't come soon enough as only then will their first place
be secure; the feelings on board summed up by skipper Sam Fuller who writes,
"Tension rising on board, one minute everyone very optimistic, next minute
everyone in complete panic!! They are all still wonderful though."
But what of _blank York's spinnaker damage? Surely that must give the rest of
the fleet a chance to really catch up. Well it seems they are not alone.
Slowly reports are coming in of similar damage on the other boats and last
night Richard Butler candidly admitted that they too would need the services
of a sailmaker on arrival in Cuba.
As he writes this morning; "Bristol have continued to nibble away at _blank
York's lead, but not fast enough so far. If all the boats keep this sort of
breeze, there will be little opportunity for position changing in the final
run." But that does not stop them from trying as all the crews endeavour to
get that extra ounce of speed from their boats.
CLIPPER 2002 LATEST POSITIONS
0400, 5 December 2002
Pos Yacht Distance to Finish
1 _blank York 317 (nautical miles)
2 Bristol 393
3 London 427
4 Hong Kong 462
5 Jersey 479
6 Liverpool 518
7 Glasgow 533
8 Cape Town 537
Clipper _blanks Distribution
Clipper Ventures Plc
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 237088
Fax: +44 (0) 2380 237081
Email: distribution@clipper-ventures.com
Web: www.clipper-ventures.com
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