Please select your home edition
Edition
March to end August 2024 affiliate link
Product Feature
Harken 29mm Block - 348
Harken 29mm Block - 348

Clipper 2017-18 Stormhoek Race: Punta del Este to Cape Town - Day 16

by Julia Fry 20 Oct 2017 12:35 BST 20 October 2017

With ten Clipper Race teams now arrived into Cape Town, South Africa, all eyes are now on Unicef and PSP Logistics, as they work to complete Race 2: The Stormhoek Race to The Cape of Storms.

Unicef is currently 387 nautical miles from the finish line in Cape Town, but will face some tricky conditions in the final stretch, as Skipper Bob Beggs reports: "We are hopeful to arrive either late on the 21st or in early hours on the 22nd; that's if we can sneak in before the wind dies completely as forecast.

"The wind has already eased and the sea state has flattened off, prompting a change to spinnakers soon after breakfast as we want to keep the momentum going."

It has been a tricky race for Unicef, who suffered a series of spinnaker wraps during the race, including one on day 4 which damaged the inner-forestay. Whilst this slowed the boat considerably, the team continued to show incredible teamwork t o keep racing towards Cape Town.

All the effort will be worth it when they arrive in Cape Town, as Bob explains: "One of the highlights of the stopover for me will be visiting Isibindi Unicef South Africa Child Protection Program, including a home visit to see first-hand the great work that Unicef is doing to change the lives of many children worldwide."

Also in Bob's thoughts is the other team still racing across the South Atlantic Ocean, with the Skipper adding: "The race from Punta del Este won't be over until we are able to welcome in the whole team of PSP Logistics into Cape Town and back into the fold.

"Sail safe and fast guys, looking forward to greeting you in alongside!"

PSP Logistics is still some days out from arriving in Cape Town, with the team around 500 nautical miles from the western gate of the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint.

Like Unicef, The Stormhoek Rac e to The Cape of Storms has been a challenging one for PSP Logistics, who were forced to return to Punta del Este for repairs after a whale collided with the boat just two days after leaving Uruguay.

However, the team remains in good spirits and is continuing to race hard, with Skipper Roy Taylor saying: "2,000 nautical miles to run to the finish line. Still in champagne conditions, but expecting our appointment with Mother Nature in the small hours of Friday morning and expecting the front to pass over us sometime Friday evening.

"Still on for arriving on Friday 27th October, but hoping to make this an early arrival (daylight without rain would be very nice)."

For an idea of when the last of the fleet is expected to cross the finish line in Cape Town, please see the Estimated Arrival Times on the Clipper Race website. Weather conditions permitting, all arrivals into the V&A Waterfront will be shown on the Clipper Race: LIVE Facebook page.

You can also follow the Clipper Race Viewer to stay up to date on Unicef and PSP Logistics' progress to Cape Town. All positions were correct at time of publishing.

For an idea of when the last of the fleet is expected to cross the Finish Line, please see the Estimated Arrival Times on the Clipper Race website. Weather conditions permitting, all arrivals into the V&A Waterfront will be shown on the Clipper Race Facebook Live page.

To stay up to date on the fleet's progress, keep a close eye on the Clipper Race Viewer. All positions were correct at time of writing.

Want to catch up on the action and news from life on board during Race 2? Then read the Skipper Reports and Crew Blogs, which are all available on the Clipper Race Team Pages.

Find out more at www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Related Articles

Clipper Race fleet set to arrive in Seattle
After taking on the North Pacific Ocean Over 170 non-professional sailors, including 25 Americans, are on board a fleet of eleven Clipper Race yachts currently battling it out in a race across the world's biggest ocean and heading for the Finish Line in Seattle. Posted on 18 Apr
Clipper Race 10: Day 17 race update
Does Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam have Race 10 all wrapped up? With a commanding lead of close to 300 miles you'd think, barring any mishaps, the Vietnamese boat will sail into Seattle a day or two ahead of the chasing boats. Posted on 14 Apr
Clipper Race fleet begins Race 10
Crew embark on 5000nm race across North Pacific Race 10: The Ultimate Test of Perseverance is a 5,340nm race across the North Pacific from China's Sailing City of Qingdao in China to Seattle in the USA. Posted on 28 Mar
Le Mans start for Clipper Race 8
The Sprint to the City of a Hundred Islands is underway After a fantastic stopover in Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam it was time to for Race Crew to hit the high seas once again as Race 8: Sprint to the City of a Hundred Islands kicked off. Posted on 3 Mar
Two Chinese teams take top two podiums
In seventh stage of Clipper Round the World Yacht Race It was a duo of Chinese teams, representing the cities of Qingdao and Zhuhai, who took first and second place in the latest stage of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Posted on 22 Feb
Fond farewell to Southern Hemisphere
As Clipper Race fleet crosses the Equator A momentous occasion in any sailors' career, the Clipper Race fleet has officially crossed the equator, for the second and final time of the circumnavigation, crossing from the Southern Hemisphere back into the Northern Hemisphere. Posted on 7 Feb
UNICEF and Perseverance win bonus points in Race 7
The Scoring Gate results for Race 7: Endless Discovery in Ha Long Bay are in The Scoring Gate results for Race 7: Endless Discovery in Ha Long Bay are in, with only two yachts taking the gamble and pocketing some bonus points. Posted on 5 Feb
Race 7: Endless Discovery in Ha Long Bay sets sail
A thrilling Le Mans Start Leg 5 of the Clipper 2023-24 Race got under way at midnight UTC on 28 January by way of a Le Mans Start to kick off Race 7. Posted on 29 Jan
Race 7: Endless Discovery in Ha Long Bay
The Clipper Race fleet prepared to embark on Leg 5, the Asia Pacific Leg The Clipper Race fleet prepared to embark on Leg 5, the Asia Pacific Leg. This leg is renowned as the most fast paced of the entire circumnavigation, promising a rollercoaster of challenges. Posted on 28 Jan
Skipper and AQP thoughts ahead of Race 7
The race to Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam is the first instalment of Leg 5: Asia Pacific Challenge Race 7 is the first instalment of Leg 5:Asia Pacific Challenge which sees the eleven Clipper Race teams embark on a 4,515-nautical-mile marathon to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Posted on 27 Jan