Betreff: And they're off!!
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: 
Datum: 29. Dec 2002 14:28

Clipper 2002 Race Report
29 December 2002

FAREWELL TO PANAMA

"A perfect day and a perfect start," reported Colin de Mowbray as the eight
Clipper yachts raced away from Panama yesterday, Saturday 28 December,
heading into the mighty Pacific.

Race 4 is 895 miles long and takes the fleet from Panama City to the centre
of the Galapagos Islands, just to the south of the Equator. Previous races
have found the conditions at the start to be very difficult with light and
fluky winds for the first 100 miles in the Bay of Panama. On this race, the
start is two weeks later and the northerly winds appear to be holding - a
great benefit in getting the fleet out to sea early.

During the early stages in the Bay the fleet will come across several small
outlying islands, which can be passed either side, affording opportunities
to edge ahead of the competition. Some 91 miles down the track they will
get to the one index landmark on the leg, Point Mala. After rounding this
they will alter course slightly to starboard to aim at the Galapagos
Islands.

The race will become a complete medley of weather systems and ocean
currents. These elements in turn bring a whole selection of sea and bird
life and all crew members will draw from the richness of their experiences
of the next few weeks.

Jersey and Bristol are proving to be the early leaders in Race 4, but with
only 6 miles separating Jersey from last place _blank York it is still very
much anyone's race. The yachts are all in sight of each other and racing
hard for the Equator.

Sam Fuller aboard _blank York reported this morning that she and her crew have
had a busy and windy night with 30 knots of wind blowing from the NNW. They
performed two peels during the night and managed to rip the lightweight kite
(spinnaker) during the process.

There are two ways to change the spinnaker, with the fastest and most
efficient being a peel. This is where the _blank kite is hoisted inside the
kite that is flying and once it is full of wind and flying the old kite is
"peeled" away and taken down below for packing. By the end of the race the
crew will be able to peel in their sleep, but at this early stage it is
still a daunting operation and ripping the kite an annoying outcome
especially for the sail repairers!!

Hopefully the fleet will make good progress to the south west but sooner or
later it will all go wrong and their optimistic predictions will get smashed
as they drift aimlessly around trying to find the slightest breath of air to
move them south. It is not without good reason that they have been allocated
8 days to do 900 miles. If they do manage to get ahead they could have extra
time in the equatorial Galapagos Islands, but we will enjoy watching their
progress.

The finishing line will be just off Academy Bay in the south of Isla de
Santa Cruz, which is in the centre of the group. Before they get there they
are required to pass through a marshalling gate some 75 miles to the NE of
the Islands and actually based on the Equator.

The ESTIMATED date of arrival in Galapagos is 5 January 2003.

LATEST POSITIONS
04:00, 29 December 2002

Pos    Yacht / Skipper         Distance to Finish
1    Jersey (S.Rowell)      790.83 (nautical miles)
2    Bristol (R.Butler)      791.45
3    London (E.Green)      791.91
4    Glasgow (R.Parkhouse)      792.69
5    Hong Kong (J.Taylor)      793.31
6    Liverpool (A.Kyffin)      794.09
7    Cape Town (R.Steven-Jennings)   795.49
8    _blank York (S.Fuller)      797.51

Clipper _blanks Distribution
Clipper Ventures Plc
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 237088
Fax: +44 (0) 2380 237081
Email: distribution@clipper-ventures.com
Website: www.clipper-ventures.com


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