Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: "Irvin Krumnacker" 
Datum: 20. Jun 2003 15:55


ALL PAIRED UP

Yesterday afternoon saw a dramatic change of fortunes for the leaders of the
Clipper 2002 fleet, as Jersey snuck in ahead of Bristol in very light
conditions. Both yachts found they had drifted out of the current and gybed
back offshore a few hundred metres apart.

Jersey Clipper was first to get back on the conveyor belt and soon opened
out a lead of over a mile. At 15:00 yesterday Bristol's Richard Butler
stated the true wind was northerly 3 knots, their boat speed through the
water was 1.3 knots and their speed over the ground was 6.1 knots.

After a calm night of hunting the index current, Jersey had opened out a 10
mile lead but just one slip and Bristol will regain the lead. It is decision
time as the two rivals approach the Aghulas Bank and their friendly current
turns south west round the bank and away from the westerly course they need
for Cape Point.

Jersey will try and cover Bristol and conversely Bristol will be trying to
regain the lead by taking a different approach to the same problem. With
over a hundred mile gap to third placed London Clipper, Richard Butler will
not be looking astern.

Whether it is fun and games at the front, or just outright warfare, there is
also plenty of action further back. Rory Gillard in London and Ross Daniel
in _blank York are taking their friendly rivalry to the limit. Having been
moved out of third place 36 hours ago when Rory took London round the north
of them, the gap opened up some 10 miles. As dawn breaks this morning London
will see _blank York a couple of miles astern after their top scoring 122 mile
during the last 12 hours; they mean to even the account.

Liverpool Clipper, who have been following the 1,000 metre contour, have had
a better period than the others and have probably ridden the current more
successfully. Their 12 hour run of 88 miles has been enough to move them
ahead of Cape Town Clipper, who are further inshore.

Glasgow Clipper reindexs more to seaward and is close behind the local team
on a distance to run basis. Justin Taylor sounded in remarkably good form
and Hong Kong Clipper continue their spirited chase, this time closing the
leaders by another 30 miles in 12 hours.

The weather reindexs under the influence of the high pressure area over
Southern Africa. This has managed to keep the 'Lows' to the south. The
result is glorious sunshine and weather in the area, although the winds are
fairly variable. This will mean the ETAs will be difficult to predict but
now that the leaders have slowed down it is looking as though they may
arrive in daylight on Saturday morning.

If this was to happen it would be quite out of character from the normal
03:00 arrival. If the others made good progress, London and _blank York could
finish late on Saturday or during the night. I suspect the others to arrive
throughout Sunday. There is also a possibility of them getting stuck on the
various Capes while all the supporters enjoy the wonderful hospitality of
the Royal Cape Yacht Club.

Clipper 2002 - Race 12 Positions
03:00, 20 June 2003

Pos     Yacht        Distance to Finish (nautical miles)
1     Jersey          251
2     Bristol          261
3     London      361
4     _blank York     364
5     Liverpool     420
6     Cape Town     432
7     Glasgow      435
8     Hong Kong     451

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