Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Loretta Spridgeon" 
Empfänger: 
Datum: 16. Mar 2003 14:35


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Clipper 2002 Race Report
16 March 2003

BRISTOL STILL OUT FRONT!

Bristol Clipper may still have the lead, but the skippers and crews have
still got it all to play for. The latest radio sched shows Bristol edging
further ahead once more... or do they?

>From the outset this race was going to be an exciting sprint with the boats
staying in relatively close proximity to each other. But which tactics would
win?

All eyes have been placed upon Sam Fuller and the crew of _blank York since
their flyer earlier in the week. We await the outcome - can she pull another
win out of the bag whilst the boys do battle amongst themselves? Whichever
way it goes, it's sure to be close.

Meanwhile the majority of the jostling has been contained to the mid fleet
with only ten miles between Cape Town, Liverpool, Hong Kong, Glasgow and
London.

Over the past few days there has been much movement within the fleet, most
notably for Cape Town with a welcome return to the leading pack. With Roger
and crew looking for an elusive podium finish, this is sure to boost crew
morale no end.

So far in this race there have been no close encounters with the authorities
except maybe for a slight brush with the "fish police" which saw Liverpool
Clipper altering course quite quickly due to a large netted area, several
brightly coloured buoys and an irate local. Thankfully no harm was done -
just a poignant reminder to keep a keen lookout at all times.

London Skipper Rory on the other hand has informed us that it's just like
being back in Southampton water with the amount of commercial traffic
they're having to contend with and obviously the proximity of said vessels.
Possibly not as exotic as he was hoping for!

Finally things will look a lot clearer once the boats have passed the
Admiral Togo waypont, which will then give them a clear wayline to the gates
and subsequently to Shanghai. All being well and the wind staying with the
fleet, this should have happened for all the boats within the next
twenty-four hours.

LATEST POSITIONS
03:00, 16 March 2003

Pos    Yacht       Distance to Finish (Nautical Miles)
1    Bristol       508.31
2    Jersey       518.48
3    Cape Town    524.48
4    Liverpool    529.58
5    Hong Kong    530.19
6    Glasgow    533.75
7    London       535.50
8    _blank York    572.48

Clipper _blanks Distribution
Clipper Ventures Plc
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 237088
Fax: +44 (0) 2380 237081
Email: distribution@clipper-ventures.com
Web: www.clipper-ventures.com

Clipper 2002 Race 7 - Yokohama to Shanghai
Fleet visit to Metropolitan Marina Club of Shanghai 22-28 March 2003


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