Betreff: Clipper 2002 - Race 8 Finish
Absender: "Clipper _blanks"
Datum: 28. Mar 2003 10:41
SINOTRANS SUCCESS FOR BRISTOL CLIPPER
Richard Butler has today skippered the Bristol yacht to a second consecutive
race victory, crossing the finish line of the Sinotrans Race, the eighth
stage of the Clipper 2002 Round the World Series, at 08:52 GMT (16:52 local
time). Finally the crew's dream of reaching Hong Kong has become reality!
The wind arrived suddenly in the early hours of the morning. Whilst this is
what the fleet had been longing for, it also brought an undue amount of
excitement with the radar sets working overtime and several stories emerged
of the Clippers having to change course to avoid shipping in the poor
visibility.
The Bristolians indextained a 4-mile lead over their old enemy, Jersey
Clipper, to take line honours across the Waglan Island finish line - after
an exciting, exhausting and eventful race from Shanghai.
Flying their heavyweight spinnaker as they crossed the line, the crew of
Bristol will be delighted with another podium position and no doubt relieved
to finally drop sails, engine on and make their way towards the Royal Hong
Kong Yacht Club.
Never far away, their closest competition in the race, Jersey Clipper, is
also steaming towards the finish approximately 5 miles astern. Having kept
the Bristol team on their toes to the bitter end, this is a deserved second
place.
London Clipper has slipped right back after apparently broaching and losing
time whilst sorting things out. The Londoners had to run off down wind and
backtrack for about an hour, causing them to drop back four places to 7th.
What a bitter disappointment to Rory Gillard and his crew after holding what
looked like a safe third place.
Adam Kyffin and the crew aboard Liverpool Clipper have reaped the benefits
of London's misfortune and now hold third place, but they too have had their
moments as the squalls came through.
Hong Kong will be thinking themselves lucky to have suddenly climbed two
places back to fifth. They too owe this to London, but also to Glasgow
Clipper who suffered damage during a Chinese gybe which slowed them up.
In sixth place comes _blank York Clipper gaining two places and having made a
staggering 25 miles on the leader in the last 12 hours. London Clipper is
now in seventh and 14 miles astern is Cape Town.
Simon Rowell, skipper of Jersey, reports that it has been "One hell of a
night" and judging by the reports coming in, this might be a famous British
understatement! For now though, the recounting of dramas can wait as the
celebrations get underway for the gallant crew of Bristol Clipper!
Clipper 2002 Sinotrans Race Positions
03:00, 28 March 2003
Pos Yacht Distance to Finish
1 Bristol Finished 08:52 GMT on 28 March 2003
2 Jersey 54.78 (nautical miles)
3 Liverpool 96.56
4 Hong Kong 105.15
5 Glasgow 108.03
6 _blank York 108.90
7 London 116.96
8 Cape Town 130.96
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
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