Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

The Clipper Race Leg 5 - Race 7, Day 7: A fleet reshuffle?

by Clipper Round the World Race 1 Mar 2020 15:01 GMT 1 March 2020
The Clipper Race Leg 5 - Race 7, Day 7 © Maeva Bardy

Now that all eleven Clipper Race teams have rounded the Japanese Ryukyu Islands, concentration is firmly focussed on the second half of the race, with the Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint South, two Scoring Gates and the finish line all providing point scoring opportunities.

Race 7: The Lakewood Hills, Zhuhai Race has seen Qingdao and Unicef retain a steady lead. Could day seven see a change in the leaderboard, as all teams endeavour to outwit the impending and unpredictable weather conditions?

Skipper of Qingdao, Chris Brooks pondered the the next phase of the race saying: "Race Viewers at home will know better than I as to how the fleet is progressing, but likely, the teams are coming along the coast of Taiwan on a northerly breeze. We are sat offshore between our competitors and the mark but the fear is they may circumnavigate past us before the pressure reaches us in around six hours. The next 12 hours will be very telling indeed."

Certainly, the fleet is closing in on each other and the Race Viewer depicts a much closer cluster of teams than has been the case in previous days.

Race 6 winner WTC Logistics has struggled to find form this race but is hoping to tactically out manoeuvre the opposition in the coming days, as Skipper Rich Gould explains: "After seemingly being on the wrong side of every wind shift on our way up here, it looks like things are finally starting to go our way.

"The last sched was very encouraging, and the next one is due within the hour. Looking at the positions of the boats ahead of us (which at the time of writing is still ALL of them!) and the weather forecast it would appear that the front runners are being hindered by either a lack of wind and/or wind from the wrong direction."

Meanwhile the race within a race continues between Visit Sanya, China, Zhuhai, Punta del Este and Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam. All teams report the on the close competition being fought between, only five nautical miles separates the components. With Scoring Gate points and a potential podium place up for grabs, concentration is key with no team willing to relent to the other.

Punta del Este First Mate, Ryan Barkey, explains further: "The importance of this pack lead can't be overstated. Turning our attention a day or so down the line, the Scoring Gates will be our next big tactical question mark. As it stands; Qingdao and Unicef are holding the lead, potentially one gate will be stripped of five of its available six points, leaving the other gate ripe for the picking; or an even split."

As this fascinating race continues to unfold, life on board remains one of comradery and joviality. Each day the Clipper Race teams find ways to celebrate their journey outside of racing.

Birthdays and milestones are observed together as a crew family, today is no exception with the celebration being on board Zhuhai for Skipper Wendy Tuck's birthday. Many happy returns Wendo, from the Clipper Race.

The closing stages of Race 7 look likely to be a challenge for all of the teams, avid Race Viewer followers will be hitting refresh on the hour, every hour, to see how the exciting second half unfolds.

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