Inshore Tactics Pay Dividends In Clipper Race

2nd May 2018

View from on board Visit Seattle during the Le Mans start Credit: Clipper Ventures

#ClipperRace - There’s been an early win for the Clipper Race teams that opted to stay inshore after the Le Mans start to the 4,100-nautical-mile Race 10: The Garmin American Challenge from Seattle to Panama.

After choosing to head south down the rhumb line under spinnaker, Qingdao remains in first place as of Wednesday afternoon (2 May) and skipper Chris Kobusch reports: “So far we’ve had a good run and it seems staying inshore was the right decision, though the whole fleet is still pretty close together and the race has just started.

“We just have to hope that the northerly breeze stays with us for long enough to sail away from the light winds that follow.”

Less than 50 nautical miles separates the fleet after 48 hours of racing. Third placed Visit Seattle is making the most of the close proximity of other teams, as skipper Nikki Henderson explains: “It got dark a few hours ago and we have seven lights around us with Qingdao providing us with a good helming target right up in front (thanks Chris and team). We are trying to catch them, but as per usual, they are sailing brilliantly.

“There is a lot of miles to cover, so right now we are just soaking up the fact that we have decent wind in anticipation of the looming wind hole in a few days’ time.

The majority of the teams that chose to head offshore gybed closer to the rhumb line overnight, with Sanya Serenity Coast, Dare To Lead, and HotelPlanner.com all climbing in the rankings as a result.

HotelPlanner.com skipper Conall Morrison comments: “Last night, we were close to Nasdaq gaining a bit, then they pulled away and then gained a bit. However, they gybed inshore later than us and possibly did well. Now we find ourselves close to Sanya Serenity Coast. The breeze is building and we are hoping for fast surfs overnight.”

Nasdaq, Unicef, and GREAT Britain remain the most easterly placed teams and are making the most of the good winds while they last. Nasdaq skipper Rob Graham says: “Our favourable winds continue - the kite is still flying and with a couple of gybes, we are getting south quickly. Nasdaq has already left Washington behind, is making short work of Oregon, and will soon be into California, albeit 100 nautical miles offshore.”

The teams are working hard to get as far down the coast of the Golden State as they can before the lighter winds arrive. Clipper Race meteorologist Simon Rowell reports the current strong gusts are set to ease over the next 24 hours, though rising winds do await off the coast of Baja California in Mexico, just in time for the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint.

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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.