Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: "Irvin Krumnacker" 
Datum: 12. Jun 2003 11:51

Clipper 2002 Race Report
12 June 2003

MADAGASCAR MAYHEM

This morning sees a few interesting changes on the 'snakes and ladders'
board of the Race 12 leader table. Bristol Clipper reindex both at the top of
the table and in the South of the fleet, whilst Liverpool Clipper move up to
second swapping their third place with Cape Town.

In fourth we have a surprise visitor - _blank York Clipper with the day's best
run. With Rory Gillard taking London Clipper up a place too, Glasgow has
reluctantly had to slip into 6th position. Still at the back, but achieving
much higher daily runs than the majority of the fleet, Jersey and Hong Kong
are making their dive South.

The two back markers have finally been able to make some Southing, as the
wind died slightly last night and veered West South West. They made up some
valuable ground on the fleet and are certainly back in the game plan; Hong
Kong just managing to creep inside 100 miles to the leader.

Jersey skipper Simon Rowell reported that they had settled into the routine
of "tacking in between the 100m and 1500m contours parallel to Madagascar,
and are getting a good 2kt current, so quite pleased at holding the straight
line boys down south. Would really like to clear Madagascar today, am
frantically touching wood."

Will that be enough for Simon however? The aim for most of the fleet today
is to get around the Southern most tip of Madagascar and start their journey
towards the Cape of Good Hope. Being one of the biggest Islands in the
world, Madagascar is already proving some interest to the fleet, many of who
can see the mountains already, even though they are still a good 30 - 40
miles away from the coastline. This should serve as an early warning system
however, as conditions to the south of Madagascar can be highly localized.

Boats trying to cut the corner often lose out due to a decrease in wind and
current. The west going South Equatorial Current should be helping to the
tune of 1 to 1 1/2 knots, but eddies and counter currents can form nearer
the coast.

Could it be that the boys in the North get stuck in too close to the land;
will those mountains that they can see become a frustrating landmark in view
for longer than planned? It is not just Jersey and Hong Kong who may suffer
this fate. To get around the corner Glasgow, Cape Town and Liverpool are all
going to have to work hard.

Mid fleet Glasgow, Cape Town, and Liverpool will be frustrated by their
lowest scores on the doors today. This is not a signal that the wind died
off totally for them, in fact Roger Steven-Jennings reported that last night
Cape Town Clipper continued to bounce around in force 6 winds gusting force
7. Time for the crews to dig deep and battle through the weather, as they
near the continental shelf the sea state should settle slightly.

Lastly, but by no means least in this report, we have Bristol, London and
_blank York to think about. Looking at the position chart they could well be
the ones to watch; far South enough to escape the localised difficulties
that the tip of Madagascar may present and now on a 'west is best' strategy
charging towards Cape Town.

Skipper Ross and his crew aboard _blank York Clipper should be pleased as punch
with the highest daily run of the fleet of 141 miles; they now have a great
position for the prevailing conditions but need to keep a watchful eye on
the Cockneys and the Sherry Drinkers to the South of them.

Bristol's Richard Butler reported that the weather did finally calm down a
little last night for those in the South and that they have hoisted their
Yankee 1 headsail once more. One advantage of this will be a small amount of
respite for the crew; a chance for some decent sleep, food and a chance to
dry out a little.

Clipper 2002 - Race 12 Positions
03:00, 12 June 2003

Pos     Yacht        Distance to Finish (nautical miles)
1     Bristol         1,673
2     Liverpool     1,686
3     Cape Town     1,696
4     _blank York     1,703
5     London         1,714
6     Glasgow     1,728
7     Jersey         1,732
8     Hong Kong     1,773

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

Clipper 2002 Round the World Yacht Race
Race 12 Mauritius to Cape Town ETA 21/06/03