Clipper 09-10: Singapore finish, California and escorts make progress

11:46 PM Sat 3 Apr 2010 GMT

'Uniquely Singapore - Clipper 09-10' Clipper Ventures PLC &copy

Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht race Leg 7 Qindgao to Singapore.

Easter Saturday has dawned bright and cold in San Francisco. The bay is alive with all shapes and sizes of sail boats but their sagging spinnakers illustrate that the winds are much lighter than the previous couple of days.

Uniquely Singapore has crossed the finish line and the team is now making best speed towards the iconic span of the Golden Gate Bridge and the cold beers that await them at the Golden Gate Yacht Club. Based on current progress, they are due under the bridge at around 1100 local time. The tide will be helping their progress but even so, they will
have to wait until around 1300 before there is enough water to get in to the marina.

Yesterday, a good gathering of family and friends of the Jamaica team stood by patiently as they waited to embrace their loved ones. It was a tantalising moment and the dropping and furling of the main sail, the rigging of mooring lines and the arrival of fenders from their stowage space all seemed to take forever. Then once along side, they had to wait some more while US Immigration officials set up a temporary station on the pontoon and completed their paperwork as crew members took it in turn to step ashore.

Once the passport was stamped, there was a race to embrace and all along the pontoon, crew members were finally enveloped in the hugs and kisses they have dreamt of during the tough times of the last few weeks.

It will be the same frustrating wait for Uniquely Singapore's fans including Sherry Dobie, who is here to be reunited with her skipper husband. The team has had a tough passage from Qingdao and today's hugs will be especially sweet.

The 'three musketeers' of California with her loyal escorts Spirit of Australia and Hull & Humber have made good progress overnight, as have Edinburgh Inspiring Capital. Once she is on station, the two yachts which have escorted the stricken California for so long will be free to hoist more sails and have a last blast towards the welcome sanctuary of harbour.

At their present speeds, it looks likely that an arrival time at some point on Sunday night looks likely.

Team Finland continues to count down the relentless miles. Back in Qingdao, the crew's clear desire was to sail to San Francisco, even if it meant that they had minimal turn around time before embarking on Race 8 to Panama. For the family and friends of the team, they have taken the delay with exceptional good grace and are enjoying the many delights of San Francisco while they patiently wait.

Hannah Jenner performs one of her first official duties as skipper of Cork when she welcomes the Mayor of Cork to San Francisco this morning. Joining her will be several members of the Irish team including Orla Mellett who won herself a yellow pennant having sailed on the winning boat in to San Francisco. Next week, Hannah heads directly to Antigua to take over the Challenge 67 yacht which is being readied to re-join the race from Panama back to the UK.

Positions at 1500 UTC, Sunday 3 April
Boat DTF* DTL*
Cape Breton Island FINISHED: 1425 UTC, Tuesday 30 March 2010
Jamaica Lightning Bolt FINISHED: 0734 UTC, Thursday 1 April 2010
Qingdao FINISHED: 2240 UTC, Thursday 1 April 2010
Uniquely Singapore FINISHED: 1405 UTC, Saturday 3 April 2010
California 252nm 252nm
Spirit of Australia 257nm 257nm
Hull & Humber 260nm 260nm
Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 275nm 275nm
Team Finland 2740nm 2740nm
Cork Did not start

*DTF = Distance to Finish, *DTL = Distance to Leader)
www.clipperroundtheworld.com .

by Clipper Ventures PLC

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Clipper 09-10: Singapore finish, California and escorts make progress

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