Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: "Irvin Krumnacker" 
Datum: 30. Jun 2003 17:22

Clipper 2002 Race Start
30 June 2003

AND THEY'RE OFF!

It is another stunningly beautiful day in Cape Town, but there is a
difference today in that the Clipper fleet has left port and is now 120
miles to the NNW.

The frail breeze at the proposed start of Race 13 from South Africa to
Brazil died away, as Simon Rowell in Jersey Clipper led the eight Clipper
yachts to the sea to find some wind.

As dawn broke a gentle breeze of 6 - 10 knots filled in from the NNE and the
race started at 05:19 GMT today. As the boats settled down some hoisted
their lightweight spinnakers, whilst others decided on a more northerly
course under Number 1 Yankee and staysails.

This has been an extraordinary period of weather and we have been blessed
with sunshine that would do an English summer proud. It is easy not to
appreciate that mid winter in the Cape can produce severe weather and strong
winds when the fronts come through.

Looking back at previous races, in June 1997 the start was in light
conditions but all the boats bar one managed to get a breath of wind to take
them out. Serica (now Bristol Clipper) under the command of Bluey Neale, was
50 yards closer inshore than the others at the start and failed to get this
wind. The crew had to suffer the frustrations of seeing the other 7 boats
sail away and well over the horizon.

It was a good 12 hours later that Serica crossed the starting line and began
the chase. Rather than follow the others in what seemed a hopeless cause
they were tempted to try something different and cut the corner of the South
Atlantic High. This was not their race and the gamble did not work,
resulting in their final retirement and arrival into Brazil some days after
their rivals.

For now though, we must await the fleet dramas as this race unfolds!!

Clipper _blanks Distribution
Clipper Ventures plc
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