Please select your home edition
Edition
April May June Leaderboard 2023

The Clipper Race Leg 5 - Race 7, Day 4: Back in action

by Clipper Round the World Race 27 Feb 2020 13:24 GMT 27 February 2020
The Clipper Race Leg 5 - Race 7, Day 4 © Clipper Race

It's been some time since the Race Viewer has depicted the combined Clipper Race fleet as achieving a speed over ground of more than five knots, but the fourth day of Race 7: The Lakewood Hills, Zhuhai Race can boast that.

The upwind conditions have meant life on board is wet, at an angle and requires constant focus, as Punta del Este Skipper Jeronimo Santos Gonzalez explains: "The strong winds, currents, squalls and relentless short waves are breaking into our bow, is making this part of the race a fight to get speed and not to stall the boat in every wave."

Despite the fleet being spread across the course Punta del Este and Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam are currently neck and neck trading places with each gust.

Says Josh Stickland, Skipper of Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam: "We are and have been tussling with Punta del Este for the last 36 hours, they have opted for full Main and us one reef. So, when it gusts, we make gains and when the wind dies they make gains and so on and so forth it's been playing out like this. I guess we will only be separated when one of us decides to go for the Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint."

Not only are the teams facing challenging weather conditions but many report having to navigate around large fishing nets, buoys and other vessels in the busy commercial waters.

As Rhiannon Massey, Additional Qualified Person (AQP) on Qingdao, explains: "For red watch this morning we found the delights of long line fishing nets and buoys. The nets were first spotted on AIS, and continued upwards of five miles long, as we sailed closer more and more were spotted. Fortunately, we managed to avoid hitting any of these. Morning had broken by the time we were near them and we were able to keep a much better lookout in daylight."

Often a welcome distraction from life on board the wildlife continues to impress as Seumas Kellock Visit Sanya, China Skipper, describes a recent encounter: "Clyde our eagle-eyed Kiwi spotted a splash. Now, I appreciate a splash out in the sea doesn't seem so significant and normally, had it have been anyone else, I probably would have ignored this splash. However, since Clyde is not a fantasist, I too looked out to see what it was all about. I'm sure glad I did look because sure enough off our starboard bow were two sperm whales jumping for joy at the sight of seeing a round the world yacht race (or possibly for other reasons). As we sailed on, they got closer and closer until they were only a couple of boat lengths away."

Nine of the 11 teams headed for the first Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint this fascinating contest has the avid Race Viewer guessing which team will claim the bonus points on offer. As it stands it's a very open race and victory could be seized by any one of the 11 competitors, watch this space and Race Viewer. Game on!

Related Articles

Clipper Race fleet embarks on transatlantic race
Race 2 set off from Puerto Sherry, Spain to Punta del Este The Clipper Race fleet has departed for Punta del Este as the second race in the circumnavigation left from Puerto Sherry, Spain yesterday, which was the first stopover destination following an electric Race Start from Portsmouth, UK. Posted on 16 Sep
Perseverance crowned race 1 winners
First prizegiving ceremony of this Clipper Race edition, at Puerto Sherry Marina The first Prizegiving ceremony of the 2023-24 edition took place at the Puerto Sherry Marina, with a stunning Spanish sunset and plenty of the local aperitifs to celebrate the achievements of Race 1. Posted on 13 Sep
Clipper 2023-24 Race arrives in Puerto Sherry
Perseverance taking the win of the first race of the circumnavigation Race 1 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has finished with Perseverance taking the win of the first race of the circumnavigation. Posted on 11 Sep
Clipper Race fleet departs Portsmouth
Light conditions and the Solent's strong tidal flow made for a particularly tactical start One of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet, the 40,000nm Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has begun, setting sail from Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, yesterday, and will take almost a year to return. Posted on 4 Sep
Clipper 2023-24 Race Start Celebration Day 4
A wrap on the day's action ahead of start day Another sunshine filled day down at Gunwharf Quays as the fourth day of the Clipper Race Start celebrations draws to a close. Posted on 2 Sep
Clipper 2023-24 Race Start Celebration Day 3
Just a couple of days to go until the fleet departs for the global circumnavigation The sun returned for day three of the Clipper Race Start celebrations - and it was a day filled with plenty more excitement, World Street Food, and on the water activity in the marina as the countdown to Race Start draws in. Posted on 1 Sep
Clipper 2023-24 Race Start Celebration Day 2
It may have been a rainy day, but that didn't stop supporters heading out It may have been a rainy day, but that didn't stop Clipper Race supporters heading out to soak up the atmosphere on day two of Race Start festivities! Posted on 31 Aug
Clipper 2023-24 Race Start Celebration Day 1
The Race Village is officially open in Gunwharf Quays It's Day 1 of the Race Start celebrations in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth and the Race Village is officially open! Posted on 30 Aug
Washington, DC confirmed as Clipper Race host port
The US capital will welcome the eleven strong fleet at the end of Leg 7 Washington, DC debuts on the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as both a Host Port and Team Partner on the upcoming edition. Posted on 21 Aug
A debut team entry in the Clipper 2023-24 Race
Dutch initiative to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer A Dutch initiative, working in collaboration with the Princess Máxima Center for Paediatric Oncology, will be making a debut team entry in the Clipper 2023-24 Race, under the team name of Perseverance. Posted on 21 Aug