Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: 
Datum: 10. Jan 2003 11:18

Clipper 2002 Race Report
10 January 2003

FROM T SHIRTS TO HAWAIIAN SHIRTS!

After a relaxing few days in the Galapagos Islands, the tension now mounts
as skippers and crews gear up for the start of the Ko Olina Cup Race, the
fifth stage of the Clipper 2002 series later today.

At just over 4,000 miles this is a long stretch, both in distance and
perception. By the time the fleet reach the Ko Olina Resort and Marina in
Hawaii in just over 3 weeks time, the Clipper crews will have crossed half
the Pacific. To get an idea of the relative scale of this vast ocean, take a
globe and position it so that the Hawaiian Islands are in the middle. Other
than a thin strip of land on either side and a few other diminutive dots of
land, everything facing you will be blue!

Tactically, the deciding factor on this race will be how the teams approach
the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). As its name implies, this is the
area where the southern hemisphere southeasterly trade winds meet the
northern hemisphere northeasterly trade winds and is characterised by a
broad horizontal band of changeable winds, calms and squalls with associated
heavy rain. Its position and intensity varies, but at this time of year
tends to drift either side of 5 degrees north around most of the globe. It
also expands and contracts in width.

The aim is always to spend as little time in the belt as possible, so the
prudent navigator will aim to cross it at right angles rather than
diagonally. Therefore rather than sailing a straight line between the two
island groups, the yachts will tend to either head west then north, or north
then west. With the potential for the Clipper 2002 fleet to spread out far
more dramatically than they have in previous races, this also results in the
boats slowing down at different stages. A team that decides to go north
early will seem to be doing incredibly badly, hardly closing the finish line
and slowing in the ITCZ, but once through they will have a clear run whilst
the southern flank have still to go through it.

On the whole the Clipper fleet should experience good steady winds and a
fast passage, and they should also be helped by around a knot and a half of
favourable current. Expect some exciting diary reports from the crews as
they surf at high speeds through the rolling pacific swells… visit
www.clipper-ventures.com.

* Today's title refers to the little known fact that, apart from being
famous for their ecological attractions, the Galapagos Islands are also home
to several species of T-shirt seller, of startling variety for such a small
place! With blue footed boobies being a well known inhabitant (a rare bird
similar to a gannet, but with blue feet), T-shirts bearing the legend "I
Love Boobies" are an obvious souvenir that seem like such a good idea at the
time. At least sartorial standards will improve when they reach Hawaii, or
will they?

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

The Clipper Visit to the Galapagos Islands is supported by Sail'n Galapagos
Ricardo Arenas Yacht Services, Agency & Tour Operator
Website: www.sailingalapagos.com Email: pelicanb@gpsinter.net