Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
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Datum: 15. Jan 2003 11:14

Clipper 2002 Race Report
15 January 2003

VACANCY FOR CLAIRVOYANT, PLEASE APPLY TO HONG KONG CLIPPER - 02 02N 103 00W

Is West best? As you can see from the position chart at
www.clipper-ventures.com today, there have been a few changes since our last
report. The front-runners, closest to Hawaii, reindex the same. Obviously
determined to stick to the "West is best" strategy.

The rest of the pack, still sticking close together, has made a slight turn
North, obviously wanting to keep one eye on Hong Kong Clipper.

Hong Kong has been the first boat to make a drastic turn North. No doubt the
rest of the fleet will be pouring over their charts and weather faxes to
figure out why Justin Taylor has led his team apparently away from their
final goal.

Those of us playing armchair sailing however, may well agree with Justin's
tactics. The ever-present ITCZ (more commonly known as the Doldrums) becomes
a tactician's best friend during this race. Plotting its moves and
predicting what it will do next, at which point it is thinnest etc, is a
guessing game that is being played at every chart table in the fleet right
now.

Although very risky and at first rather alarming on the 'distance to finish'
figures, Hong Kong's Northerly dash could prove the westerly pack wrong. If
we imagine the ITCZ as a belt of varying thickness and decreasing winds that
is wrapped around the world, the aim is to cross this belt where it is at
its thinnest and therefore sail with light winds for as little time as
possible. If it pays, Hong Kong Clipper will be able to stay up North in
better breeze all the way to Oahu. The Westerly boats will still have to
bite the bullet and gybe North - eventually.

If only each boat was fitted out with a handy sized crystal ball, everyone's
jobs would be so much easier! This is ocean racing however, and as we all
know by now, the race is never won until someone has crossed the finish
line. Looking ahead, we can expect many changes in the running order of this
race still to come!

LATEST POSITIONS
04:00, 15 January 2003

Pos    Yacht       Distance to Finish
1   Jersey       3259.56 (nautical miles)
2   London       3272.86
3    Bristol       3274.94
4    Liverpool    3290.95
5    Glasgow    3297.47
6    Cape Town    3303.37
7    _blank York    3305.55
8    Hong Kong    3387.66

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Website: www.clipper-ventures.com

Race 5 Galapagos to Hawaii - THE KO OLINA CUP
Clipper 2002 visit to Hawaii will be hosted by Ko Olina Marina and Resort
www.koolinamarina.com