Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Loretta Spridgeon" 
Empfänger: 
Datum: 05. Mar 2003 11:32


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Clipper 2002 Race Report
5 March 2003

COLD, DAMP AND LUMPY!

"Cold, damp and lumpy - and that's not the custard we had for pudding..."
Reports back from the boats today all detail similar conditions and they are
probably not conditions that we envy this time!

As each boat left the Hawaiian pontoons of Ko Olina, there was tension in
the air and not just the usual race start nerves either. These were nerves
of what lay ahead and what was to greet them off the Japanese coast.
indexland Japan may be preparing itself for another peaceful, blossom-filled
Spring, but 400 nautical miles off the coast there is nothing peaceful about
the sailing.

All of the boats have had much lower daily runs than of late and this is not
from lack of wind this time. With the wind blowing in from a
North-North-Easterly direction it is, as we say, "right on the nose."
Frustrating progress when all you want to do is head North East to Yokohama.

This explains why some of the boat's tracks look a little strange. As
heading directly into wind is not perhaps the most productive sailing,
skippers are left with the annoying options of either heading in the
direction of the Philippines or Alaska!

London Clipper seems to be in a strong position in the North and skipper
Rory is not going to let go of his tight hold on the Northerly flank.
Interestingly, _blank York Clipper seem to have taken the decision to follow
suit and we may well see this pay dividends for them as the pack in the
middle of the fleet get wrapped up with racing against each other.

This middle pack has gained on the leading yacht, Hong Kong Clipper. Bristol
have kept their course slightly more Northerly than the others, perhaps in a
quest to join London. Meanwhile, Liverpool and Glasgow Clippers reindex
locked in battle and are close enough now to be able to talk over VHF radio.

This is indeed a strange phenomenon; after thousands of miles of crackly
radio schedules being your only real contact with the outside world, to then
have a conversation is a real treat! Skippers Adam and Rupert are currently
planning their next holidays, perhaps a nice cruise on a catamaran
somewhere!

Continuing on a more westerly course than the others are Cape Town and
Jersey. Cape Town Clipper have been sailing in some pretty exciting
conditions, with crew member Val Lyness having set the record of highest
wind speed whilst helming on board. 49.9 knots was apparently as much as she
could take however, so she just turned the screen off on the binnacle!

Jersey Clipper, struggling to head North in the wind conditions they are
experiencing, are looking a little vulnerable and now have their own race to
get back in with the pack. One thing is for sure though, this determined
crew will be eager to continue their impressive run of straight podium
finishes!

Sailing in these conditions can be as tiring as it is exhilarating! Yokohama
will be a most welcome sight for the crews and another chance to throw their
mooring lines ashore. With sail changes and helming being the toughest
things above deck in this weather, everything below decks is difficult.
Mother watch is a battle, not just to cook food that people are going to
want to eat in rough weather but to keep it in the pan!

Polly and Fi aboard Bristol Clipper have been throwing flour and sugar
around the galley in an adventurous attempt at making crumble, whilst the
boys aboard London Clipper are extolling the virtues of noodles - easily
made, by comparison! All character building stuff although rest assured that
the sushi, saki and beers will also be a welcome sight in Yokohama...

LATEST POSITIONS
03:00 UTC 5 March 2003

Pos    Yacht       Distance to Finish (nautical miles)
1    Hong Kong    427.07
2    London    454.34
3    Bristol       459.48
4    Liverpool    467.89
5    Glasgow    483.87
6    Jersey       517.66
7    Cape Town    643.64
8    _blank York    663.48

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 6 Hawaii to Yokohama
Clipper 2002 visit to Yokohama 8 - 13 March 2003


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------