News

New York extends lead as fleet closes in on Irish coast

27 June 2008

With the strong and steady winds that the fleet has enjoyed over the last 24 to 36 hours and with the favourable winds set to continue for the next 24 to 48 hours the revised ETA for the leading yachts into Cork Ireland is now Saturday morning. These last couple of days of racing have been very fast and very wet for the ten teams, with average speeds being above 12 knots and top speeds being in the high teens. The fast reaching conditions that the teams have been experiencing has required 100 percent focus from the helms and trimmers onboard whilst wave after wave is thrown across the deck.  The testing conditions have seen 45 knot winds driving horizontal rain across the decks and made the last stages of this Atlantic race a real roller coaster ride for the crews.

All of the teams have been pushing as hard as they can to gain one or two extra points with one eye on the fact that there is still a very important race to go and any equipment breakages now could affect them on the final race into Liverpool.  Skipper of current Race 13 leaders, New York, Duggie Gillespie, says, “There is a fine line between pushing the boat and preserving the gear to finish the race. We have been trying to get the balance whilst staving off boats nearby - a lot harder task than you would think. Everything and everybody on board is very damp and looking forward to drying out in Cork!”

Although very much focused on racing hard over the last 24 hours of the race form Nova Scotia to Cork, Ireland, the teams are also looking forward at the penultimate stopover of Clipper 07-08.  Skipper of Jamaica, Simon Bradley, says, “It’s been fast and furious across the cold, grey North Atlantic. Must be getting close to home as it’s summer time but we’re still wearing thermals and mid-layers and it’s raining! But at least we will get a decent pint of beer!”

Since overtaking Qingdao, New York has managed to extend their lead in the last 24 hours.  Liverpool 08 appears to have lost most of the advantage the team had by keeping south but the team representing the North East of England are still fighting hard for their fourth podium of Clipper 07-08.  Skipper of Liverpool 08, Ben Galloway, says, “It’s looking like we will make it in plenty of time for last orders possibly even breakfast at this rate. The tension is building at sched time to see if we have made any gains and are getting any closer to a podium.  Everybody seems to be pushing as hard as we can but its not easy and we’re also still fully aware of Uniquely Singapore behind and putting in some good runs.”

Joff Bailey, Race Director, says, “New York appears to have built up a reasonable lead over Qingdao and Hull & Humber and with the winds forecasted over the next 24 hours it will be very hard for them to be overtaken. Hull & Humber’s main aim now must be to get in front of Qingdao at the finish line, anything else would leave them with an even bigger hill to climb in the final race in which all New York has to do is stick like glue to Hull and finish next to them to claim the overall title.”

Skipper of Hull & Humber, Danny Watson, says, “All is good onboard and the wind has finally veered to allow some decent downwind sailing again.  We’ve been chasing down Qingdao since daybreak.”

Hull & Humber is not the only team fighting to improve on their current overall position.  Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper needs to move ahead of Jamaica and Uniquely Singapore if the team has any hope of improving on their current third place overall.

Joff Bailey says, “The fight for fourth place overall is the most interesting and looks like it will also go all the way to the final race as Liverpool 08, Qingdao, Durban 2010 and Beyond and potentially westernaustralia2011.com are all in with a chance based upon their current positions.

The first teams are expected to arrive in Cork Saturday morning.  During the short stopover the fleet will be based at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven with Prize Giving on taking place on Tuesday 1 July before the start of Race 14 on Thursday 3 July.

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