10:41 PM Fri 12 Feb 2010 GMT
Clipper 09-10: Singapore to Qingdao day 11 report.
It's nail biting edge of the seat stuff today as the boats concertina in their final approach to the Scoring Gate. California's meteoric rise up the fleet has continued with the American team temporarily moving into the lead overnight.
According to the latest position report, Hull & Humber has regained the top spot today but only by eight nautical miles and with less than 25 separating the front five, the race to the gate is wide open.
'What can I say?' questions California's skipper, Pete Rollason. '24 hours in and our strategy of staying north of the fleet has paid dividends and we find ourselves leading the pack towards the Scoring Gate. We must not get complacent as the fleet is tightly bunched and with the wind currently out of the north east, decisions as to when to
tack will be crucial with miles being gained and lost as a result.
'We are all totally focused on collecting three points at the gate and then picking up the southerly winds that are forecast for tomorrow, when we can hoist the spinnaker and propel California north along the coast of Taiwan.'
Despite edging ahead of California, Hull & Humber's skipper, Piers Dudin, is starting to feel the pressure and hopes their easterly position will continue to work for them.
'We were looking forward to a four horse race for the gate, now it looks like everyone's in!' he exclaims. 'All we need now is the forecasted wind shift to the east to come true and we should still be in good shape. Once we get closer to the gate we will all start to converge and it's only then that the true positions will come to light.
'It looks like it's going to be a bumpy 24 hours - the sea has already shortened and the helmsmen are hard at work trying to avoid any slamming. But the sun is still beating and the crew love the feisty conditions.'
The skippers are unanimous in reporting that the light conditions are most definitely over as the wind finally fills in, a mixed blessing according to Team Finland's skipper, Rob McInally.
'There are smiles on the faces of the crew as we begin our march onwards to Taiwan,' says Rob. 'A frustrating period for the fleet is over, or more likely a different frustration has begun. The last few weather files denied wind when we wanted it most and have sent us more for later when there was already enough.'
Spirit of Australia's skipper, Brendan Hall, paints a picture of the arriving front in his report today, saying, 'Towering, white nimbus clouds are starting to appear on the distant horizon. The wind is still quite light, but the there is a feeling in the air that powerful forces are brewing close by.
'The Spirit of Australia crew is primed for action, well rested and in high spirits. Our boat engineer, Bob (Bell, IT Project Manager) is in familiar territory; he has raced upwind through the Southern Ocean and is looking forward to getting back into the conditions he knows so well.'
Having previously raced out of Hong Kong prior to joining the Clipper Race, Chris Stanmore-Major, skipper of the Chinese entry, Qingdao, will also be back in familiar territory and has raced through North East Monsoon conditions on many occasions.
'So it begins,' writes Chris in his report to the race office this morning. 'First a gentle breeze filled in across the dead calm, the sails took up their shape, sheets creaked as they felt the strain and the water began to hiss along the hull. This was the return of an old friend and adversary - the North Easterly Monsoon had found us at last. In an instant I knew what was ahead, could picture in my mind once more the towering waves, the holes big enough to swallow a house and I could hear again the banshee scream in the rigging that will be the constant accompaniment to any passage north from here.'
For the crew on Uniquely Singapore the approaching weather is awaited with a sense of nervous anticipation. Skipper Jim Dobie says, 'Already the wind has built to a pleasant 20 knots and the clouds are building on the horizon heralding the arrival of the front. Gale warnings are coming in so it's time to fasten our seatbelts, strap on our crash helmets and enjoy the ride.'
With the wind set to veer more to the east, Uniquely Singapore has made the tactical decision to get as far east as possible before this happens. Joining them in this thought process is Edinburgh Inspiring Capital and the team's skipper Matt Pike hopes that this and the compression in the fleet will enable them to move up through the pack.
'Waiting for the big change in the weather works differently for everyone,' says Matt. 'Some work harder, helping to prepare the boat by lashing down everything on deck, re-stowing things down below and re-checking their personal kit to ensure they have what they might need to hand. Others ask again and again, 'Is it coming?' and some just talk
bravely but have that faraway look in their eyes as they remember the last time we were beating into gale force winds. For me, the pack has bunched right up so there must be a chance to gain a few places. So I'm back on deck to see what we can do!'
Positions at 1200 UTC, Friday 12 February
Boat DTF* DTL*
1 Hull & Humber 1013nm
2 California 1021nm 8nm
3 Team Finland 1032nm 19nm
4 Qingdao 1037nm 24nm
5 Cape Breton Island 1037nm 24nm
6 Spirit of Australia 1039nm 26nm
7 Jamaica Lightning Bolt 1052nm 39nm
8 Uniquely Singapore 1068nm 55nm
9 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 1098nm 85nm
10 Cork Did not start
*DTF = Distance to Finish, *DTL = Distance to Leader)
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