Clipper Race: WTC Logistics claims Race 6

Published on February 14th, 2020

(February 14, 2020; Day 26) – The detour for the fifth leg of the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race has commenced as WTC Logistics, Qingdao and Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam have secured first, second and third podium places respectively by their Race 6 finish in Subic Bay, Philippines.

The fifth leg was to be divided into three races (6, 7, 8), with the first race to finish in Sanya, China. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, a course change was enacted and the fleet will skip Sanya and now finish where the second race was to conclude in the Philippines.

Visit Sanya, China crossed the line shortly afterward securing fourth place. Each team made a valiant effort in their quest to find victory, in a race that provided a nail biting and thrilling finale for all supporters following at home.

Whilst the podium places have been secured by the aforementioned teams, Race 6 continues and there are still vital points to play for and the competition remains very much alive. The remaining teams are battling against each other and some challenging weather conditions but morale remains high as the race within a race sails on.

Imagine your Korea and Punta del Este are the next teams scheduled to arrive into Subic Bay.

Speaking of the difficult conditions and navigating their way to the finish line, Punta del Este’s skipper Jeronimo Santos-Gonzalez said: “We have been stuck in a wind hole for some time now, since last night at the entrance of Subic Bay. It can be frustrating at times when there is no wind and the only thing one can do is wait for the wind to arrive but a few miles away you can see our competitors zooming away.”

Dare To Lead and Seattle have been enjoying a race against each other. Seattle Skipper, David Hartshorn said of the competition: “This morning at breakfast we were next to Dare To Lead, 400m on their starboard side, close enough for them to smell our bacon sandwiches.

“The previous six hours we had clawed back six miles on them, now once again they are 6.7nm in front of us. Awesome work Guy, but still 71nm before the finish line, well for us clearly, and it’s not over yet.”

Update: All 11 teams are now finished. For results, click here.

Race details – Team list – Race route – Tracker – Facebook

Delayed: Originally scheduled to begin on January 18, Leg 5/Race 6 – a 4280 nautical mile race from the Whitsundays, Australia to Sanya, China – was postponed twice, initially due to watermaker issues on three boats and then because of light winds. The 11 teams finally got underway January 22.

Course change: The fifth leg was to be divided into three races (6, 7, 8), with the first race to finish in Sanya, China. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, a course change was enacted and the fleet will skip Sanya and now finish where the second race was to conclude in Subic Bay, Philippines.

Motoring: In case of light winds and slow progress within the defined Doldrums Corridor, teams on Race 6 had the option to use their motor for prescribed amount of time and distance. Details.

About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race:
The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors.

Held biennially, the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race gets underway September 1 for the fleet of eleven identical Tony Castro designed Clipper 70s. This 12th edition has attracted 688 crew representing 43 nationalities for the 41,000+ nm course. The race finishes on August 8.

The course is divided into 8 legs and 15 individual races, with some of the crew in for the entire circumnavigation while others will do individual legs. The team having the best cumulative score over the entire course will win the Clipper Race Trophy.

The Clipper 2019-20 Race Route:
The fleet departs from London, UK to Portimão, Portugal; across the Atlantic to Punta del Este, Uruguay; the South Atlantic to Cape Town, South Africa; across the Southern Ocean’s Roaring Forties to Fremantle, Western Australia; around to the Whitsundays on the east coast of Australia, back into the Northern Hemisphere to China where teams will race to Qingdao, via Sanya and Zhuhai; across the mighty North Pacific to Seattle, USA; to New York via the famous Panama Canal; to Bermuda and then it’s a final Atlantic crossing to Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland; before arriving back to London as fully proven ocean racers.