Clipper Leg 6: Doubling the distance on the upwind course

Clipper media/amended

Posted: 7  Feb. 2010

Jamaica Lightning crew watch a fishing vessel - onEdition pic

It’s Day 5 of the Clipper round the world race and with the wind continuing to blow from the direction in which the teams wish to head, the Race Viewer today clearly depicts the zigzagging course the teams have had to adopt to make their way north east.

Presently the northerly tack is delivering the greatest speeds so those who have chosen it have therefore reported some good 12-hour runs.

"All the boats will have to go east at some point and it is the decision when to tack to the east that will probably decide who gets a podium in this race," says Cape Breton Island's skipper, Jan Ridd.

"Both Hull & Humber and ourselves have headed east early and this is a tactic which seems to have paid off for us so far."

Uniquely Singapore has also made the decision to head east, and as the team makes their way through the South China Sea, the crew is starting to get into a festive mood. Chinese New Year begins next weekend for two weeks, so all crews will be able to experience the festivities upon arrival in Qingdao.

"There is a Chinese New Year spirit on board Uniquely Singapore with Chinese lanterns around the boat and little red pouches with gifts to bring luck and prosperity," says skipper Jim Dobie.

Last night, as if in recognition of the approaching spring festival, the sea decided to put on an underwater fireworks display for the Asian team. "We had the surreal experience of being surrounded by exploding white phosphorescence in the sea. The many explanations we came up with were agitated jellyfish, gas bubbles and, of course, visiting aliens," Dobie said.

Meanwhile, the other Asian team in the race reported a frustrating night of limited progress east. "Correctly positioning Qingdao in preparation for the forecast ahead is a priority, but it is costing us dearly right now," the Chinese team's skipper, Chris Stanmore-Major reports.

"Whilst it is tempting to go outright to the north, progress east may be near impossible later. If the forecast is correct, we stand to gain, if it is incorrect, our efforts have been in vain and we will fall further behind."

The easterly forecast is something which Hull & Humber's skipper, Piers Dudin, is ready and waiting for.

"We’re hoping for the mythical 'easterly shift' to appear so we can pull an advantage on the rest of the fleet due to being furthest east," Dudin says. "Until it arrives we keep working the right hand side of the course.

"Daytime is spent looking out for squall clouds to play their wind shifts and at night we pace along armed with the Southern Cross on one hip and the Pole Star sitting low on our portside."

Unlike Hull & Humber, California is one of the five boats that have chosen a more northerly route and skipper Pete Rollason believes that patience is the key to winning this race: "We are now making some good miles with a steady Force 4 and a calm sea, but unfortunately, the rest of the fleet is doing the same, so miles gained are harder to come by," he says.

“There’s is a long way to go and patience is the name of the game. Make no mistakes and slowly chip away at the leaders is our current strategy."

Conditions in the South China Sea remain moderate. The strong headwinds and sharp choppy seas that the leg from Singapore to Qingdao is renowned for have yet to materialise.

Team Finland's skipper, Rob McInally, has a word of advice for all crews, having had first-hand experience of this leg in the last Clipper Race: "I hope the other teams are enjoying the fantastic sailing and not harbouring thoughts of 'I wish there was more wind. It’s at times like these that the phrase 'be careful what you wish for' springs to mind,' he warns.

Rival skipper, Brendan Hall of Spirit of Australia, is also enjoying the present conditions. However, he is also fully aware that at some point they too will have to begin the journey east.

"The sailing at the moment is absolutely glorious and we are revelling in it and making some excellent 12 hour runs north," Hall says.

"The trouble will come for us when it's time to start heading east, where the wind angle is very unfavourable and we stand to lose miles. But, everyone knows this chess game is far from over."

Positions at 1200 UTC, Saturday 6 February:

Boat DTF* DTL*
1 Hull & Humber 1967nm
2 Cape Breton Island 1976nm 8nm
3 Jamaica Lightning Bolt 2004nm 37nm
4 Uniquely Singapore 2008nm 41nm
5 California 2016nm 49nm
6 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 2019nm 52nm
7 Spirit of Australia 2034nm 67nm
8 Team Finland 2036nm 69nm
9 Qingdao 2039nm 72nm

Positions updated every three hours at: www.clipperroundtheworld.com

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