RACE 1 DAY 10: CLIPPER RACE LEADERS FEELING THE HEAT 30 AUGUST 2017 The Clipper Race fleet continued to make good progress under spinnaker in the Trade Winds but the race leaders further south are starting to feel the heat, quite literally. Qingdao and GREAT Britain continue to hold on to first and second position…
RACE 1 DAY 9: CHAMPAGNE SAILING CONDITIONS CREATE EXCITING HELMING COACHING FOR CREW 29 AUGUST 2017 Following an impressive climb up the leaderboard, Qingdao, is still holding pole position, with GREAT Britain in second place and Sanya Serenity Coast third, as champagne sailing conditions with around 20 knots of following wind provide perfect spinnaker sailing…
RACE 1 DAY 8: QINGDAO STORMS IN TO THE LEAD 28 AUGUST 2017 There has been a major change to the Clipper Race leaderboard in the last 24 hours as Qingdao has stormed through to take pole position after wind shifts favoured the westerly positioned teams. Sanya Serenity Coast and Visit Seattle, placed further to…
RACE 1 DAY 7: WESTERLY TACTICS START TO PAY OFF 27 AUGUST 2017 It has been yet another testing 24 hours for the Clipper Race fleet with a mixed bag of conditions leading to further movement on the leader board. For the cluster that chose to take the westerly course, making the bold decision to…
RACE 1 DAY 6: FIRST TOUGH TEST FOR FLEET 26 AUGUST 2017 There have been leader board changes overnight with shifting winds and variable conditions resulting in teams experiencing some of the most demanding on board conditions of the race so far. Unicef, which had enjoyed four consecutive days in the lead, has now…
RACE 1 DAY 5: TACTICS TIME 25 AUGUST 2017 Unicef remains in the lead for the fourth consecutive day of this opening race but the next 24 to 48 hours could be telling, with distinctly different strategies now in play within the Clipper Race fleet. The leading three teams are still close together out…
RACE 1 DAY 4: THE PRE-DOLDRUM DOLDRUMS 24 AUGUST 2017 Light winds continue to challenge during the fourth day of racing, which have caused the fleet to condense by 20 nautical miles in the last 24 hours in the Bay of Biscay. Andy Burns, Skipper of GREAT Britain, currently in sixth place, reports that the…
RACE 1 DAY 3: TACKLING THE BAY OF BISCAY 23 AUGUST 2017 As the fleet makes steady progress south past the UK and towards Northern France, Skippers and crew are focusing on the next challenge; the Bay of Biscay, notorious for violent storms and heavy seas. Skipper of second placed Sanya Serenity Coast, Wendy Tuck,…
RACE 1 DAY 1: STRONG TIDES DIVIDE FLEET 22 AUGUST 2017 Strong tides running North have divided the fleet tactically overnight, with the front of the pack heading close inshore to seek faster routes. Dale Smyth, Skipper of third placed team Dare To Lead, reported: “It was an interesting night with the front of the…