Betreff: Clipper 2002 -- Race 16 Finish
Absender: "Clipper News" 
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Datum: 26. Sep 2003 14:09

Clipper 2002 Race Report
26 September 2003

JERSEY TAKE OVERALL LEAD - AGAIN

It has been a busy morning at Holyhead. The southwesterly wind held out and
brought the first yachts over the Race 16 finish line at 04:00 BST for the
closest ever finish of the Clipper 2002 Series.

Jersey Clipper was victorious and the crew will be celebrating from the
heart, not to mention their whole Channel Island fan base. Having come into
their home port behind Bristol Clipper, the gap to the lead had increased to
two points. Hence they needed this win to stay in the game.

Skipper Simon Rowell and his team got their win - BUT only by 4 minutes.
Close astern Liverpool Clipper was bearing down in the dark with her
spinnaker pulling her to the line. Right astern the Glasgow team were
manoeuvring to take advantage of her chasing position. Whatever they did on
this dark and crisp morning paid off and they managed to find enough speed
to draw level.

Liverpool's wind was stolen by the Jocks and the Purple Peril faltered. As
the two boats approached the line, Glasgow slid past to take second place by
29 seconds from the Liverpudlians. All three boats finished within 5 minutes
of each other.

The Finishing Committee is made up of members of the Royal Dee Yacht Club
and the Holyhead Yacht Club. Both clubs have joined together to support this
brief visit, before the fleet's dash to the finish at Liverpool. Having done
a magnificent job on the first three finishers, the welcoming party had a
mere 30-minute gap before the next Clipper approached. The spread of places
for the next boats was critical, especially for overall race leader, Bristol
Clipper.

Hong Kong was expected next but no, more surprises! At 03:36 Richard Butler
took Bristol Clipper across to claim fourth place. Not a good result for
them, but not as bad as it could have been had Justin Taylor and Hong Kong
Clipper stayed in front. Just 13 minutes later the Hong Kong crew took fifth
place.

The result is immensely significant, as Jersey Clipper has taken the overall
lead by just ONE point. With half points for the next and final race from
Holyhead to Liverpool, the results this morning have ensured that the race
will be decided tomorrow when the eight yachts storm into Liverpool.

Also of significance is that both Liverpool and Glasgow beat Hong Kong
Clipper. This now confirms third place overall on the Clipper 2002 Race
podium for Adam Kyffin and the crew of Liverpool.

Skipper Ross Daniel and his New Yorkers finished in sixth place at 04:04
BST, followed by Cape Town and London in seventh and eighth respectively.

35,000 miles, 11 months, 16 races and just one point separating the two
frontrunners; this is surely racing at its best. Don't miss the shoot out
tomorrow.

CLIPPER 2002 ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
OVERALL ORDER AFTER RACE 16:
1     Jersey         94 points
2     Bristol         93
3     Liverpool    73.5
4     Hong Kong     67
5     Glasgow     62
6    London         56
7     New York     54
8     Cape Town     28

N.B. All points reindex provisional. New York Clipper awarded 2 point penalty
from Race 15 (loss of sail).

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