Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Report
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: "Irvin Krumnacker" 
Datum: 05. Aug 2003 14:59

Clipper 2002 Race Report
05 August 2003

MAKE HAY WHILST THE SUN SHINES

The eight Clipper 2002 race yachts continue to make good progress towards
_blank York, but there is a certain sense of inevitability in the air. They may
all be sailing fast at the moment, but all are aware that the faster they
sail north, the sooner they will stop when they eventually run into the
ITCZ.

This really is a case of making hay whilst the sun shines, but even the
teams in the lead know that their gains now may all come to nothing when
200-mile days become a distant memory.

As with the Equator, this will be the race's fourth encounter with the
notorious doldrums, but familiarity does not help. No matter how
experienced, no sailor can avoid the frustration and tedium that this belt
of fickle winds and squalls deals to those who cross.

Each skipper's optimum line of attack is to pass through the belt as quickly
as possible and this is where navigational strategy can come into play.

By careful study of all available weather information, the teams will all
attempt to cross where the band has squeezed to its narrowest point. If they
can time it so that they are sailing north when the ITCZ is drifting south
then so much the better, although there is a lot of luck involved here. The
redeeming feature is that hopefully the crews will find this particular
encounter slightly less bruising as others, as this particular area of ocean
at this time of year is less affected than others they have sailed through.

For now though they are all enjoying extremely pleasant sailing conditions,
most beam reaching with spinnakers set and poles far forward. The wind has
eased to a force 4 and the sea is slight.

Although neither the fastest nor most exhilarating of conditions, this is a
very comfortable way to make progress. The Race Officers on the Isle of
White could well wish for similar conditions as Cowes Week approaches
another day of light winds and soaring temperatures. For once the Solent is
forecast to be hotter than the 29 degrees Centigrade that the Clipper crews
are feeling just off the Equator!

The only change in fleet order sees Bristol Clipper gain one place over
Liverpool to take 4th place. The middle of the fleet is certainly the place
to watch now, especially with London Clipper a mere 0.2 of a mile behind
Liverpool. The next few days should be really interesting.

Clipper 2002 - Race 14 Positions
03:00, 05 August 2003

Pos     Yacht        Distance to Finish    24 Hour Run (nautical miles)
1     Jersey          2,709            194
2     Glasgow      2,723            201
3     Hong Kong     2,731             199
4     Bristol         2,738             196
5     Liverpool     2,740.4             199
6     London         2,740.6             205
7     _blank York      2,769             200
8     Cape Town      2,748             200

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 14 Salvador to _blank York ETA 22/08/03