9:47 AM Fri 19 Feb 2010 GMT
Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race Singapore to Qingdao, Day 18 report.
'Just over 200 miles to go and there is still everything to play for in this race,' says Jamaica Lightning Bolt's skipper Pete Stirling. 'The sea has calmed down, the wind eased, the sun is shining and the crew is fired up to hunt down that elusive first place.'
As the crew on board Jamaica Lightning Bolt enjoy the last couple of days in Race 6, the recent heavy weather is not far from Pete's Memory. 'This has been a race of many contrasts with almost every weather condition possible from searing heat and flat calm to freezing cold and storm force conditions. It has been a massive learning curve for all
concerned and I am incredibly proud of my crew and how they have coped with the conditions,' he says.
Cape Breton Island's skipper, Jan Ridd, agrees that Race 6 has been the most varied of all to date. 'After the beating we have taken over the past few days, it was a relief that the wind backed overnight and for the first time on this leg allowed us to sail directly towards Qingdao,' he says. 'To make things even better the wind dropped steadily allowing
us to change up through the sails until we are where we are now with the largest headsail and full main on a fine reach and maintaining a very healthy speed.'
Now the conditions have eased, the Canadian team has taken the opportunity to check everything on board - reporting some minor sail damage which is only to be expected after the hammering they have taken in recent days. 'Our masthead tricolour light also failed last night, so this morning saw crew member Adrian (Healy) at the top of our 85-foot mast replacing the bulb,' says Jan. 'Rather him than me in these bitter temperatures! When he came down we rewarded him with a large mug of tea and a large serving of corned beef hash!'
Cape Breton Island will be working hard to catch the two boats directly ahead of them, namely Jamaica Lightning Bolt and Qingdao, if they are to secure a second podium in Clipper 09-10. They will have a hard fight on their hands as the Chinese team is giving it their all to secure a home port victory.
At the moment Spirit of Australia is looking like the favourite for Race 6 and the team is keeping a good distance ahead of the chasing pack. But with the winds turning light there is every risk the fleet will bunch up once more.
'We have changed to our largest sail plan to catch every last zephyr of wind but it look like we could be totally stalled within 12 hours,' says the skipper of the Australian team, Brendan Hall. 'In a constant breeze a 30-mile lead at this stage is significant but with wind holes 30 miles can be easily lost in six hours. We have positioned ourselves where we think the breeze will fill in from first, so hopefully we can get moving first and build that lead up once more.'
Having led for the first week of Race 6, Hull & Humber has gone out on a limb and kept further east in the hope that this side of the course will favour them enough to regain the top spot.
'The wind is just about playing ball and we've been having a good time of it with not too much shipping or fishing boats and we have some nice favourable current pushing us north,' says skipper Piers Dudin. 'We hadn't envisaged coming quite so far round the houses but we're pleased to be holding mid position in the fleet.
'Last night was quite a blast. The wind was continuously up and down and shifting left and right. One moment Hull & Humber would be dawdling along in a confused sea, the next, she'd catch the wind and she'd start charging along - her skirt hitched up, heels clicking, her big ginger locks flailing out behind her, shrieking out her war cry, 'GO UMBA!'
'As for our final position - it's going to be a case of boom or bust; we'll leave it in the hands of our favourite wind gods to decide!'
As the teams look forward to the last 24 to 36 hours of racing thoughts are also turning to the famous welcome ceremony they will receive upon their arrival in Qingdao. Preparations are already well underway at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre which is adorned with giant Clipper 09-10 Posters of boats and skippers as well as traditional red lanterns marking the spring festival of Chinese New Year.
'Nearly there and what a final 250 miles it will be,' says California's skipper, Pete Rollason. 'It's going to be a drag race to the finish and there is a good chance that the spinnakers will be up soon too. We can't wait for the arrival welcome in Qingdao, we've heard so much about it.'
California has emerged from Stealth Mode but during their 24 hours of cloaking they weren't invisible from the entire fleet as Uniquely Singapore's skipper, Jim Dobie, explains. 'We got a bit of luck last night and pulled a sling shot manoeuvre, which I'd like to say was planned but was more luck than judgement. We took the decision to close
in on the coast and as if by magic the wind shifted, the tide turned and we were swept along on course and made some good mileage. In the process we foiled California's Stealth Mode as we pulled up next to them this morning and have sailed in close company ever since. With the distance between us fairly small and a lot of boats to the east of us we are now looking to see whether we can make an attack for a podium position. The crew are up for it and this could be a very exciting end game to the race. We are all looking forward to what sounds like a spectacular arrival.'
It looks like the crew on board Edinburgh Inspiring Capital will have to wait a bit longer than the other teams before they are able to enjoy the welcome festivities. Having already lost touch with the pack ahead, the boat has now been beset by a wind hole and the teams battles in vain to make back some miles.
'Abandoned by the wind, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital gently drifts around the East China Sea looking for a way forward,' says skipper Matt Pike. 'If the strong winds and wet conditions were bad, this is far worse! We are having trouble making any headway towards the finish and can only watch as the fleet increases its distance ahead.'
Looking on the bright side, Matt says, 'We did see the sun rise for the first time in days and the calm conditions are allowing us to get a head start on the repairs! The only glimmer of hope is the wind will pick up in the west first and allow us to at least close some of the gap.'
Wind holes are not something Team Finland needs to worry about and having set off from Taiwan yesterday the boat is making good progress and the crew are hoping to arrive in time for the Prize Giving ceremony on 24 February. Reporting from the boat this morning, skipper Rob McInally, says, 'We're bouncing along under a short stump and a
beautiful trisail.'
Positions at 0600 UTC, Friday 19 February
Boat DTF* DTL*
1 Spirit of Australia 203nm
2 Jamaica Lightning Bolt 234nm 31nm
3 Uniquely Singapore 239nm 36nm
4 California 240nm 37nm
5 Qingdao 248nm 46nm
6 Cape Breton Island 256nm 54nm
7 Hull & Humber 258nm 55nm
8 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 359nm 156nm
9 Team Finland 613nm 410nm
10 Cork Did not start
*DTF = Distance to Finish, *DTL = Distance to Leader)
Full positions are updated every three hours and can be found at
www.clipperroundtheworld.com
.
by Clipper Ventures
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Laverton, WA
Foiling - Wind Wing Foilboards
Windsurfing - Sails
Kitesurfing - Kites
