Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Race 2 Start
by Zoe Williamson 23 Sep 2007 23:05 BST
Qingdao leads the fleet into the Bay of Biscay at the start of Race 2
The Clipper 07-08 fleet is racing again after an exciting start to Race 2 from La Rochelle to Salvador. Some very tactical, skilful and close sailing saw Qingdao just edge over the line ahead of Liverpool 08 and westernaustralia2011.com who were jostling with Uniquely Singapore for
position as the race started at 1600 local time (1400 GMT).
New York was next over, followed by Durban 2010 and Beyond, Nova Scotia,
Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper and Jamaica. Hull & Humber, winner of
Race 1 from Liverpool, was last over the line.
By the time the yachts rounded the first mark in the Pertuis d’Antioche just
off La Rochelle westernaustralia2011.com had pushed ahead of Liverpool 08
into second place. Uniquely Singapore and New York held their positions,
while Hull & Humber had moved up to sixth place. Nova Scotia was followed by
Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper ahead of Durban 2010 and Beyond and
Jamaica.
Earlier in the afternoon the yachts left the Bassin des Chalutiers under
cloudy skies and a few drops of rain. By the time they reached the start
area the clouds had parted and with the sun beating down the westerly sea
breeze picked up to allow the Clipper crews to get up a little speed on the
windward-leeward course (for the uninitiated a sausage-shape – or saucisson,
as we are in France) before heading out into the Bay of Biscay and the
finish line 4,200 miles away.
With the media helicopter buzzing overhead the teams are now heading off
into the sunset for their much-anticipated first transatlantic crossing.
There was some last minute drama before the start of the race as Frank
Tingay, a dentist crew member on board Jamaica, transferred to
westernaustralia2011.com to fix a lost filling. Jamaica had a few extra
passengers, too, in the form of the Clipper shore team, making repairs to
their wind instruments. They completed the job and transferred to one of the
boats laying the marks before the race got underway.
Race Director Joff Bailey said, “It will be a big confidence boost for the
crews of Qingdao and westernaustralia2011.com leading the fleet out into the
Bay of Biscay. But with over 4000 miles ahead of them and strong winds
forecast for tonight, everything is still to play for and tomorrow's race
viewer could well show a very different picture.”
Just before the race, Martin Silk, skipper of westernaustralia2011.com said,
“Obviously we didn’t do very well on the last race and we’re adamant we’re
going to improve on that. It is an unfamiliar place for
westernaustralia2011.com but we have a very confident team, we’ve got a very
positive outlook.”
As crowds lined the edge of the port to wave off the yachts, Chocolate the
Moose, Nova Scotia’s mascot, appeared on the pontoons with his favourite
crew members to wish good luck to the other teams before they slipped from
the Bassin des Chalutiers. In reality it was skipper Rob McInally in a
newly-acquired outfit which is sure to make a few appearances as the fleet
heads around the world.
The Clipper fleet’s first ever visit to France has been a huge success –
thanks in large measure to the good people of the Société des Régates
Rochelaise who laid the course today and hosted the Race Director on their
committee boat. Those who have visited the yachts and met the crews have
given them an incredibly enthusiastic reception and will be following the
race at www.clipperroundtheworld.com