Clipper Race: Greenings Partially Under Water After Grounding, Team’s Race Future In Doubt

2nd November 2017

MacDara Conroy

Greetings pictured partially submerged yesterday on the shoal where it ran aground on Tuesday night Credit: Clipper Ventures

#ClipperRace - The Clipper Race office has confirmed that the Greenings yacht that ran aground off South Africa’s Cape Peninsula on Tuesday night (31 October) is partially underwater and will take no further part in the 2017-18 race.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the boat’s interim skipper and crew were evacuated after it ran aground on the western side of the peninsula just hours after starting the third leg from Cape Town to Perth.

Clipper Race officials also confirm that discussions have taken place between interim skipper Andy Woodruff, previously injured skipper David Hartshorn and the crew regarding their future participation in this edition of the race.

A full investigation of the incident is underway, according to the race office. Meanwhile, underwriters have appointed a surveyor to attend the boat today (Thursday 2 November). Following the surveyor’s report, a decision will be made as to whether or not the boat will be salvaged.

In other Clipper Race news, atypically light winds becalmed the majority of the fleet in wind holes on day two, with frustration leading to divided routing that’s split up what had been a tight pack in the first 24 hours out of Cape Town.

First-placed Sanya Serenity Coast is some 30 nautical miles ahead of PSP Logistics, and both have been joined on the rhumb line by third-placed Unicef, making up significant ground after their Greenings rescue stand-by delay late on Tuesday.

South of the line, Dare To Lead is in a battle for fourth with Visit Seattle with barely 1.5nm between them, while just 14nm separates sixth-placed Garmin from the Irish-skippered HotelPlanner.com in 10th — with Liverpool 2018, Qingdao and GREAT Britain in train between them, and Nasdaq catching up another 11nm behind.

The spell of light winds is now passing, and breezes building over the coming days should give teams their first sense of true Southern Ocean conditions.

Clipper Race weather guru Simon Rowell says the next front is due to catch up with the fleet overnight — and with it, the fleet is likely to see wind speeds gust up to 50 knots.

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.