Youngest Clipper Race skipper finishes second in tight race
by Morgan Kasmarik 18 May 2018 12:41 BST
Clipper 2017-18 Race Visit Seattle © Matt Dixon
Visit Seattle, skippered by 24-year-old British Sailor Nikki Henderson, has held off a strong fight from GREAT Britain to take second place in Race 10 of the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race from Seattle, USA, to Panama.
Despite racing over 3,000 nautical miles (nm) in 18 days, less than an hour separated Visit Seattle and GREAT Britain at the end of Race 10, which is officially known as the Garmin American Challenge.
Visit Seattle was highly competitive throughout the race down the western USA and Mexican coastlines, with the team never dropping out of the top three. And Visit Seattle kept up the pressure right until the end, following race winner Dare To Lead across the finish line at 0031 UTC.
Skipper Nikki Henderson said: "What a finish! The last 24 hours have been such tight racing - and so tense.
"Really testing light-wind conditions that required immense levels of concentration and commitment - on the helm, trimming and tactically. This morning (anyone who has sailed with me will know these moments) I think we did about 10 gybes in an hour - just trying to work out which was the better course for wind and direction.
"To finish so close is testament to the quality of sailing and racing that we have had over the last year, and particularly this race."
The heat, light and variable winds, especially in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, were a constant challenge for those aboard Visit Seattle throughout Race 10 and Nikki added: "There was definitely luck involved as there always is in sailing, but the crew worked so so hard and they deserve the second place."
As well as the eleven points for finishing second, Visit Seattle will also add three bonus points to its Race 10 tally after picking up two points in the Scoring Gate and one point for being third fastest in the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint. The points will keep the pressure on the race leaders as Visit Seattle went into Race 10 in third place in the overall Clipper Race Standings.
"We are so proud of Nikki and the Visit Seattle crew for another outstanding finish," said Ralph Morton, Executive Director of the Seattle Sports Commission. "Their heart, determination, and skill navigating this sprint down the coastline inspired us daily and we're thrilled to see them end up on the podium!"
GREAT Britain pulled off the ultimate comeback to take the third and final spot on the podium. On the last full day of racing, GREAT Britain was in eighth place out of the eleven teams but navigated the light winds skilfully to cross the line 53 minutes behind Visit Seattle at 0124 UTC.
GREAT Britain Skipper Dave Hartshorn said: "That was a great race and the GREAT Britain team never gave up, even when we were behind in the rankings.
"Racing in such light conditions is a lesson in patience and everyone onboard pulled together and thoroughly deserve this success."
This is the second podium finish for GREAT Britain. The team also secured second place in Race 3 from Cape Town, South Africa, to Fremantle, Australia. The ten points for finishing third in Race 10 will be a big boost for GREAT Britain, which went into Race 10 from Seattle to Panama in seventh place in the overall Clipper Race Standings.
Although the original finish line for Race 10 was in an area due south of Isla Jicaron in Panama, the wind holes opening up in front of the fleet convinced the Clipper Race Committee to declared that Mandatory Gate 2 would instead signal race end. As outlined in the Race 10 Course Instructions, any of the mandatory gates could have been used as a potential finish line should the Race Committee deem it necessary to conclude the race in interest of the race and crew.
The Clipper Race is the only race of its kind for non-professional sailors. The race was founded in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world, as a way to give anyone the opportunity to become ocean racers. Over 5,000 have done just that through the Clipper Race, though more people have still climbed Mount Everest than circumnavigated the globe under sail.
Over 700 people, representing 41 nationalities and all walks of life are taking part in the Clipper 2017-18 Race, with crew either undertaking the full 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation or one or more of the eight legs that make up the eleven month race.
After crossing the finish line, the Clipper Race fleet will motor sail towards a scheduled re-fuel stop in Costa Rica, before continuing on to Flamenco Island Marina on the Pacific Ocean side of the Panama Canal.
After traversing the Panama Canal – one of the real highlights of the circumnavigation – the Clipper Race fleet will regroup to begin the second and final stage of the US Coast-to-Coast Leg 7, a 2,000nm race from Panama to New York, which will begin on Friday 3 June.
Panama is the eleventh of thirteen stops on the global 40,000 nautical mile Clipper 2017-18 Race circuit which began in Liverpool, UK, in August 2017. After Stopovers in New York and Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, the race will return to Liverpool's historic Albert Dock for Race Finish on Saturday 28 July 2018.