Clipper Race: Rescue Delays Final Finisher

(January 10, 2016; Day 8) – After a non-stop arrival window in the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race which saw eleven teams cross the Henri Lloyd Hobart to Whitsundays Race 6 Finish Line overnight between the hours of 2137 and 0935 local time, there is now just one team left to complete the race fleet in Airlie Beach’s Abell Point Marina.

Mission Performance is 80 miles away (at 1200 UTC) and expected in to Airlie Beach between 1000 and 1200 local time (000 to 0200 UTC) after diverting to come to the aid of a non-Clipper Race yacht in distress on Day 5 of the race.

Crew and visitors are being encouraged to give the team something of a hero’s welcome as it sacrificed its race position, as per the laws of the sea, for going to the assistance of another vessel in distress which included a difficult rendezvous, crew transfer and mast climb.

Making his final blog of the All Australian Leg, Mission Performance Skipper Greg Miller says: “And now the time is here, and so we make the final curtain.

“The last blog of Leg 4 and what a leg it has been, three challenging and rewarding races, one iconic and ‘bucket list’ race in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, one that every sailor wants to have a go at.

He adds: “Just got the devastating news that PSP Logistics and Visit Seattle have crossed the finish line and we still have 160nms to go. With all the will in the world we are not going to make it in the 11hrs 39minutes we have to beat them. To that end it is with sadness that we are accepting twelfth position in the fleet for this race. All is not lost though. We still pick up the two points for the ocean sprint! Three points, a rescued yacht and another 1700nms of sailing with some amazing scenery.”

Summarising the final exciting race conclusion which saw just 42 seconds separate race winners LMAX Exchange and GREAT Britain and other to-the-wire battles which included Da Nang – Viet Nam pipping Derry~Londonderry~Doire to fourth place, IchorCoal overtaking Unicef in the final miles, and just nine minutes between tenth place PSP Logistics and eleventh place Visit Seattle, Race Director Justin Taylor said:

“It’s been a nail biting race, not just for us watching from afar but for the skippers and crew too. Constantly looking over your shoulder at the competition wears the nerves like you would not believe. The difference between these teams is measured in seconds; they matched each other tactically; rinsed every ounce of boat speed from the yacht. It’s come down to the team who made the least mistakes…well done to all the teams but especially to LMAX Exchange’.

Crew and skippers have arrived three days ahead of the expected arrival window into Airlie Beach so will all now enjoy an extended break in the stunning Whitsunday area in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Clipper Race will depart Australia for the 6,070 nm leg from Whitsundays to Da Nang, Vietnam on Monday, January 18.

Event Website – Race Viewer – Team Reports – Facebook

Report by event media.

Background: The 40,000 mile Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race began in London, UK on August 30 for the fleet of twelve identical Tony Castro designed Clipper 70s. The series is divided into 16 individual races, with the team with the best cumulative score winning the Clipper Race Trophy. Each team is led by a professional skipper with an all-amateur crew.

The ports along the race route are Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Cape Town, South Africa; Albany, Sydney, Hobart and Airlie Beach, Australia; Da Nang, Vietnam; Qingdao, China; Seattle, USA; Panama; New York, USA; Derry-Londonderry, Ireland; and Den Helder, Netherlands before returning to London by late July.