Clipper Race: Stick A Fork In It

(December 14, 2015; Day 14) – Due to the continuing light airs affecting ClipperTelemed+, PSP Logistics and most recently Derry~Londonderry~Doire and Da Nang – Viet Nam, the final positions for Race 4 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race have been confirmed.

Da Nang – Viet Nam will finish in ninth place after Derry~Londonderry~Doire found itself becalmed in very light winds in its inshore position and accepted tenth place.

PSP Logistics Skipper Max Stunell, who has accepted twelfth place and is now approaching Sydney under motor, reports: “We are currently motor sailing towards Sydney across a flat windless sea hugging the shallow continental shelf to avoid the strongest of the Eastern Australian Current. The mood on the boat is good, this is possibly the first good day’s weather we have had since Race 1 and the crew are taking full advantage of the vitamin D and to recuperate after possibly the toughest race so far.

“Motor sailing has allowed us to start all those jobs that usually get done whilst alongside. This stop over the boats are going to be taken out of the water for an overhaul so there are many more jobs that we need to carry out. Today has also been about making up job lists and work rotas for Sydney.

“We are hoping with a clean bottom and a little bit of rig tuning we are going to be more competitive in the rest of the race. We are all excited about getting to Sydney for some R&R and looking forward to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race in less than two weeks.”

ClipperTelemed+ Skipper Matt Mitchell, who has accepted eleventh place, says: “We are moving again! Albeit under engine. Another race where the wind didn’t play ball, at least this time a direct decision by us wouldn’t have influenced how much wind we had this time. We had been making extremely slow progress overnight with barely a breath of wind which could only fill the sails in spits and spurts meaning speed was almost non-existent.

“Now we have been under engine for a few hours and myself and the crew have been starting our deep clean preparations as well as starting to tick a few jobs off the jobs list.”

Da Nang – Viet Nam skipper Wendy Tuck lived very close to the CYCA before taking up her role as Clipper Race Skipper and will soon be arriving to an emotional homecoming from friends and family. With her home within spitting distance, she says: “Yes folks we are still out here, and yes it is very slow. On the upside it has been a lovely day and we can see Sydney and it looks good. It’s a shame we still have a few miles to go.”

Keep up to date with all expected arrival times here.

Photos and arrival quotes from each team will be updated here when available.

Racing will commence again on Boxing Day when the twelve teams compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

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 fourth race began December 1 and takes the fleet on three legs within Australia: Albany to Sydney, Sydney to Hobart, Hobart to Whitsundays… a total of 5,105 miles.

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.