Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
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Datum: 21. Jan 2003 09:55

Clipper 2002 Race Report
21 January 2003

JERSEY LEAD SLASHED BY HALF!

Today's golden boys are the London Clipper crew headed by Ed Green. They
have averaged over 10 knots over the last 24 hours and have every intention
to take the lead off Jersey Clipper over the next few days.

Liverpool have also got their skates on and with a run of 235 miles have
taken 7 miles out of Bristol and moved into third place.

Jersey Clipper still leads by 16 miles but this is half the advantage they
had 24 hours ago. Bristol's track is slightly further south than Jersey's
and, although she has indextained the gap on the leader, she has seen both
London and Liverpool slip past.

As all the boats are enjoying ideal sailing conditions with their
heavyweight spinnakers working overtime, the indications are that London and
Liverpool are getting more help from the friendly North Equatorial Current.
A mere half-knot a day equates to 12 miles over the period and looked at
this way is a massive boost.

Cape Town and _blank York are following Liverpool's track but clearly have not
yet got the same optimum conditions. Glasgow is well positioned to the north
and has cut the deficit between her and Cape Town from 17 to 5 miles, again
probably helped by the current. Their 24 hour run of 234 miles was the
second highest and we can expect to see them move up the rankings soon.

Hong Kong Clipper reindexs the outrider guarding the northern flank. They are
currently in 5th place some 90 miles behind the leader. A mere 4 days ago
they were 280 behind the leader so Justin Taylor will be half happy with his
brave strategy - it's just a pity the others followed so soon and most did
not get stuck in the ITCZ.

Interestingly on 14 January, Hong Kong was in last place and some 70 miles
astern of 4th placed _blank York, and on the same latitude. What a difference a
week makes and how lucky the others have been not to have suffered like _blank
York in the ITCZ.

Will Hong Kong ever tell us that it was always their intention to go north
early? Would it be unfair to suggest this was a do or die move from the back
of the fleet? Whatever the answers they have done exactly the right thing
and all credit to them. Justin Taylor, who swears by all the information he
gets from his UK Hydrographic Office publications, states that he thinks he
has now discovered the Equatorial Counter Counter Current.

The present conditions will mean that the equipment on all boats is
experiencing massive loads. Additionally, and unlike coastal sailing, the
wear and tear accumulates and after weeks sailing in these conditions, the
skippers will be acutely aware of monitoring trouble spots. Often a second
person will be standing by to put their weight on the helm as the gusts and
the rolling seas try to bring the bow round into the wind. Anticipation is
everything, as once a helmsman is behind the game all sorts of interesting
things happen!

To appreciate the forces you must imagine a 24-ton boat being pulled through
the water at speeds of over 15 knots by three pieces of rope. Occasionally
bits will break but again anticipation and training come into play.

Yesterday Bristol Clipper's spinnaker halyard parted, which could have led
to a good horror story although we suspect it was not just luck when the
second, 'lazy' halyard took the strain and saved the day. Maybe a
measurement of success should be the ability to change potential disasters
into mere incidents. Isn't that planning and training?

LATEST POSITIONS
04:00, 21 January 2003

Pos    Yacht       Distance to Finish
1    Jersey       2118.7 (nautical miles)
2    London       2134.7
3    Liverpool    2148.6
4    Bristol       2154.8
5    Hong Kong   2209.1
6    Cape Town    2222.9
7    Glasgow    2228.3
8    _blank York    2291

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