10.07.2012
RACE 14: DERRY-LONDONDERRY TO DEN HELDER DAY 4
Tidal power determines the leaders of the pack
Day 4 in Race 14 to Den Helder, the Netherlands has seen the fleet of ten ocean racing yachts competing in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race take on the tactical challenge of timing the notorious tidal gates of the North Sea, in an attempt to win a coveted podium position.
Gold Coast Australia continues to lead the pack whilst in the last 24 hours Singapore has successfully challenged Visit Finland for second place. With just two miles separating the yachts, the race continues to heat up.
Singapore skipper, Ben Bowley described the power of the tides and the importance of timing them correctly, “We were being swept along at ten knots whereas Visit Finland was being pinned back by the tide and making no more than four knots over the ground. This allowed us to slip on the inside of them, cutting the north Shore of Stroma Island by around half a mile.”
With just 19 miles currently separating first place Gold Coast Australia and fifth place De Lage Landen, the race is still anyone’s for the taking, “With less than 400 miles to go until we reach Den Helder, this race is going to be decided fairly quickly. There is still everything left to play for, as there are only a few miles separating all ten yachts,” explained Stuart Jackson, skipper of the Dutch entry, De Lage Landen.
During the fleet’s stay in Den Helder, Recruitment Manager David Cusworth will be holding free hour long presentations for those interested in taking part in the future races. Click here to find out more about the Clipper Race Roadshow.
http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/the-race/den-helder-stopover/
Skipper Reports
Edinburgh Inspiring Capital New York Welcome to Yorkshire Gold Coast Australia Geraldton Western Australia
Singapore De Lage Landen Qingdao Derry-Londonderry Visit Finland
Latest boat positions
Position Team DTF DTL
1 Gold Coast Australia 315 NM 0 NM
2 Singapore 321 NM 7 NM
3 Visit Finland 322 NM 7 NM
4 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 331 NM 17 NM
5 De Lage Landen 334 NM 19 NM
6 Welcome to Yorkshire 343 NM 28 NM
7 Qingdao 354 NM 40 NM
8 Derry-Londonderry 365 NM 50 NM
9 New York 370 NM 55 NM
10 Geraldton Western Australia 378 NM 63 NM
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