News

Hull & Humber maintains lead in dying winds

19 September 2007

Light winds are hampering the fleet’s progress towards the finish line at the end of Race 1 of Clipper 07-08 from Liverpool to La Rochelle. With Hull & Humber still out in front with just 45 miles left to run to the finish, the rest of the fleet are running out of time to catch up with the race leaders.

Hull & Humber Skipper Danny Watson said: ‘The wind has died off is on the nose so we’re having to tack, but everyone on Hull & Humber is in good spirits. We might have to get the oars out to make it in time for the lock tonight!’

The lock in La Rochelle to enter the marina closes at 2130 local time (1930 GMT) this evening, and the crew of Hull & Humber will be keen to make it in time to start their celebrations.

Race Director Jonathan Bailey said: ‘After a fast and furious couple of days at the start of this race the fleet has now ground to a halt on the Brittany coast. Only Hull & Humber appear to have escaped the worst of the light winds.’

Liverpool 08, is at the front of the chasing pack, but with a lead of 47 miles to eat into, they have over double the distance that Hull & Humber has to the finish line.

Crew member on Liverpool 08 Ian Tomlinson reports that the Liverpool team has bonded well: ‘Skipper Ben has been the key to bringing the crew together – his mixture of an inclusive management style and ripping our heads off has been ideally suited to the weather conditions thus far and his knowledge of both the boat and the dark-art of sailing has gained him the full respect of the crew.’

Race Director Jonathan Bailey said: ‘It looks like Liverpool 08 has opened a good lead on Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper but the light winds can play havoc as the boats approach the finish line. Some of the fleet this morning reported only 36 miles progress in the last 12 hours. At the other end of the fleet the positions are much tighter with only a handful of miles separating six boats in the middle of the pack. The light wind conditions forecaster for the next few days will test each of the skippers and crews to the limit. Anybody can sail if there is wind but only good sailors can sail with light winds.’

Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper is just 13 miles behind Liverpool 08 and is gunning for a podium position. Colin Sherriff, a round the worlder onboard Glasgow reports back: ‘Early seasickness is now fading as sea legs develop and competitiveness with other yachts is on the increase as we turn into ocean racers surfing south.’

Jamaica is 17 miles behind, but after retiring from Race 1 after a medical evacuation on Tuesday, they will not be causing Hannah Jenner and her crew too many worries.

Race Director Joff Bailey said: ‘Jamaica has retired after their medivac and are now motor sailing to the finish. They are still shown on the race viewer so that friends and family can monitor their progress. Due to the light winds being experienced it is ironic that they may well be in La Rochelle long before the rest of the fleet.’

Race 1 is a half-points race, with five points on offer for first place rather than the usual ten down to half point for tenth place. After this short sprint, all the other races revert to full points with 10 points for first, nine for second and so on. Jamaica will receive half a point after retiring from Race 1, representing half of the normal one point awarded to boats that retire from a race.

The Race Committee has also decided to award the first penalties of Clipper 07-08 to yachts for infringing the race rules. During the start course in the River Mersey, Qingdao, New York and Jamaica left the Northern Mark (MV Gullmaren) to starboard rather than to port, infringing RRS rule 28.1. After considering various witness statements, video evidence taken from the helicopter and photographic evidence, the Race Committee has decided to apply a five minute time penalty to New York and Qingdao reflecting that no advantage was gained. Jamaica will not be penalised due to her retirement.

Hannah’s nearest rivals for a podium position is Nova Scotia, 24 miles behind her and 129 miles from the finish.

Durban 2010 and Beyond, is 140 miles from the finish and is expected to arrive in La Rochelle on Thursday. Uniquely Singapore did not report a position at 0600 GMT due a glitch in the polling system. The Race Team received position data at 0858 GMT when they were 147 miles from the finish.

westernaustralia2011.com skippered by Martin Silk is lying in 9th place with 181 miles to run to the finish. For the Australian crew onboard, tidal considerations are providing a new challenge:
‘One of our southern hemisphere crew members has commented how different the navigation of this stage is. We not only have to watch the wind, and try to predict the shifts, but tide is a huge concern as well, rarely the case in his home port, down under.

‘On three occasions on Monday night, strategies had to be changed because the combination of wind, tide and a very sloppy seas meant we could not make the course necessary to clear the Traffic Separation zone, or cross it at ninety degree, so major rethinks became necessary.’

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