2006-07-20
Race 11 course shortened
As the Clipper fleet closes in on the British Isles, the Race Team took the decision on Tuesday to shorten the course for Race 11 to a pre-determined gate between Ushant and Lizard Point.
Given the forecasts for very light airs in the Channel over the next few days, the fleet was instructed to adopt this new finish line for the final Transatlantic race from New York to Jersey in the Channel Islands. The fleet will then motor sail the reindexing 120 miles to Jersey, where it is estimated that the first boats will arrive on Friday.
With less miles left to race and the finish suddenly closer, the crews will be pushing it that little bit harder to get as many points as they can under their belts before the penultimate race to Holyhead gets underway on Tuesday 25th.
For the boats at the back of the fleet there is less time to claw back the miles and for those at the front, less time to indextain their positions. None of the boats will want to give up an inch on these last races until they are over the line at the entrance to the Channel.
With so few miles now separating them from the UK where they started their adventure 10 months ago, they will be almost able to smell the fish and chips and warm ale that lies ahead.
On the current position table, the distance to finish is still being reported to Jersey, so to calculate the yachts? distances to the new finish line deduct 120 miles.
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