Clipper Race: Big Winds for Vietnam Welcome

(February 16, 2016; Day 28) – Following the completion of the Da Nang New Discovery of Asia Race, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race teams are making best speeds to Da Nang in strong winds as the north-east monsoon approaches the Vietnamese coastline.

Visit Seattle Skipper Huw Fernie says: “These could be the windiest conditions we have faced all race, and it comes at a time when we are trying to slow down. With bare minimum sail left up we will be arriving in Da Nang too soon. Not a big problem as we can head offshore again.”

Race winner Derry~Londonderry~Doire is amongst the first teams to arrive on Wednesday 17 February and the rest of the fleet is anticipated to arrive at hourly intervals throughout the day.

The current ETAs are below in local time, Da Nang, Vietnam (UTC +7 hours) which will see the fleet berthed at Han River Port.

0900-1000 Derry~Londonderry~Doire
1000-1100 Garmin
1100-1200 GREAT Britain
1200-1300 LMAX Exchange
1300-1400 Qingdao
1400-1500 Da Nang-Viet Nam
1500-1600 ClipperTelemed+
1600-1700 IchorCoal
1700-1800 PSP Logistics
1800-1900 Unicef
1900-2000 Mission Performance
2000-2100 Visit Seattle

Please note that these are best estimates based on the latest weather and the average speeds of the fleet and are subject to change. For the most up-to-date ETAs, click here.

This is the final Daily Update until Race 8 to Qingdao gets underway on 27 February. Until then see the website and social media channels for the up-to-date, daily news.

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 fleet departed on January 18 from Whitsundays, Australia for the two-part 6,985 mile course that stops in Da Nang, Vietnam before restarting on February 27 and continuing to Qingdao, China.

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.