Clipper Race: Atlantic Storm Divides Fleet

(June 24, 2016; Day 4) – A dramatic Atlantic storm stalled progress for some Clipper Round the World Yacht Race teams yesterday, widening the margin between the front and back of the fleet, and it is the boats to the south which are still enjoying the added power of the Gulf Stream which have made best progress over the past 24 hours.

ClipperTelemed+ reported a great day’s racing and has taken the lead after seeing its southerly position in the Gulf Stream pay off progressively over the past 48 hours, where it has climbed up from ninth place. Garmin, also positioned south is second, 7 nm behind, and yesterday’s leaderDerry~Londonderry~Doire is now third, but still making strong progress 9 nm behind the leader.

Dan Smith, Skipper of Derry~Londonderry~Doire states his team is aiming to get back into the full power of the Gulf Stream current in their quest to regain the lead in their race home. He says: “It’s been a day of squally weather with plenty of wind most the time. We’ve had the full range from about 10 knots to 35 knots of breeze with lots coming through with the darker clouds overhead. Despite the changeable wind we’ve always been able to hold onto the power because our course is slightly off the wind which has meant few sail changes other than a spinnaker drop earlier this morning.

“We are now pushing slightly south of the rhumb line course in order to get ourselves back on the conveyor belt that is the Gulf Stream. We’ve now picked up 1.5 knots of current and hope to use it to stop the boats that have been south and sitting on it for a bit longer from getting away and creeping ahead.”

GREAT Britainis fourth, southerly positioned Unicef has continued its climb back up the leaderboard and is now fifth. LMAX Exchange is sixth, Mission Performance seventh, Da Nang – Viet Nam is eighth, Qingdao is ninth, and Visit Seattle is tenth.

Mission Performance Skipper Greg Miller reports that his team were struck by lightning in the storm but that no one board was harmed. He explains: “Yesterday was a mixed bag! We were overpowered, underpowered, struck by lightning, wet, dry, warm and cold.

“The wind has been ‘alles uber de platz’! (All over the place) We have been working flat out to react to the weather and its changes. Luckily the lightning strike only took out our wind instruments and a battery voltage monitor, could have been much worse! So after a large squall and lots and lots of rain, the wind dropped to nothing, now, as I write this is it just starting to fill in. Fear not, we intrepid Warriors are ready for whatever the North Atlantic can throw at us!”

Further back PSP Logistics Skipper Max Stunell, in eleventh position, explains the force of the storm that hit and the affect it had on his team: “It was a morning of sail changes, the kite was up for a few hours until but there was a wind shift and we were unable to sail the required course. As it was dropped it was as if the gates of hell appeared to open in the sky accompanied by crashes of thunder and bolts of lightning.

“We were then subjected to an onslaught of torrential rain that lasted for the next four hours testing our waterproof clothing to its limits and beyond. This cloud was large enough to effect a group of boats around us but it looks as if the leading pack escaped and were able to stretch their lead.”

Skippers have been sending their best wishes to IchorCoal today after the team diverted towards Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada to medevac crew member Chris Drummond, 62, who complained of chest pains yesterday.

Deputy Race Director Mark Light has just provided the following update: “We can confirm that the helicopter medevac of Chris Drummond has been successful and completed at 0914UTC today. The boat has turned around and is now making best course and speed towards the position where they ceased racing and is awaiting further instructions.”

The team, which has two onboard medic crew, had been liaising with PRAXES, the Clipper Race’s Emergency Medical Support Partner, and the Canadian Coast Guard which dispatched the helicopter to the boat as soon as the team was within flying range. The latest update from onboard said that Chris was stable and we shall provide further updates on his condition as we have them.

In his detailed report today, IchorCoal Skipper Rich Gould makes best efforts to reassure as he praises the actions of his crew saying: “I would like all friends and family at home to know that all is well aboard, everybody is in good spirits and despite our situation there is still laughter in great supply. Fear not, the amazing IchorCoal crew have got it all under control.”

*All positions correct 1000 UTC

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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 is now racing from New York to London, starting the transatlantic crossing on June 20. The 4,894mi course includes three legs: New York, USA to Derry Londonderry, Northern Ireland; Derry Londonderry to Den Helder, The Netherlands; and Den Helder to London, UK. The Clipper Race fleet is due to arrive in Derry Londonderry, Northern Ireland between July 7 to 11. The global circuit concludes on July 30.

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.

Source: Clipper Round the World Yacht Race