Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: 
Datum: 27. Jan 2003 10:29

Clipper 2002 Race Report
27 January 2003

JUST OVER A FASTNET TO GO!

It seems that the index aim of the Clipper skippers is to beat the Race
Office Staff to Hawaii! Still the yachts forge on, leaving deep furrows 220
miles long each day in the Eastern Pacific.

This time Glasgow and Hong Kong in the north of the pack have come out on
top of the class. These two have been in sight of one another and will be
hoping that the front four, who are to the WSW, will start to lose their
wind. They have around 100 miles to catch up and although this may seem a
tall order, the wind will not hold out and, with the effect the islands will
also have on the positions, nothing is impossible.

The first four boats are fanned out on a 65-mile front with only 36 miles
separating them on a 'Distance to Finish' basis. With just over 700 miles to
go they are positioned for an immensely exciting finish and the order is
certain to change several times over the next few days.

The fleet have done well to have brought the wind with them this far, but it
will die over the next 48-hours and there will be a lull before the next
weather pattern sweeps in at the end of the week.

The finishing line is at Ko Olina Resort and Marina on the south west corner
of Oahu and the debates on how to approach it will be in full swing amongst
the crews.

The leading boat will have the toughest decision knowing that those chasing
will take the other alternatives to try and get past. Jersey Clipper may
have been leading for the last 16 days and 3,000 miles, but this will only
be a happy memory unless they get the strategy right now. The decision time
for this will be with them very shortly and promises to be like starting a
_blank game altogether.

Sam Fuller in _blank York Clipper also thinks that the North holds the key.
They committed themselves to this policy yesterday, as they saw no future in
following the tracks of the leaders. They are presently enjoying surfing
with white sails with up to 28-knots of wind on the beam.

It would also be good to see someone try the southern approach and there is
no reason why a boat should not run up to finish by passing to the west of
the island of Hawaii (aka the Big Island), perhaps Roger Steven-Jennings in
Cape Town Clipper may be tempted to try this?

Thought for today. Only 700 miles to go, race nearly over? Yes this is
true, but this is still more than a Fastnet Race! Race 5 of Clipper 2002
equals 6.5 Fastnet Races, whereas Clipper Round the Worlders tackle the
equivalent of 57 Fastnet Races in total...

The stage is now set for another dramatically close finish. Who will get to
Ko Olina first? Will it be Jersey, Bristol, London or Liverpool? Or will the
Race Staff win through after all? Whatever the result of the Ko Olina Cup
Race, we are assured of a tremendous welcome being prepared at this lovely
resort.

LATEST POSITIONS
04:00, 27 January 2003

Pos    Yacht       Distance to Finish
1    Jersey       718 (nautical miles)
2    Bristol       739
3    London       748
4    Liverpool    755
5    Glasgow    847
6    Hong Kong    849
7    Cape Town    879
8    _blank York    993

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

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