Video Highlights: Clipper 2019-20 Race 7

The seventh race of the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race was a ten day 1,600 nautical mile test in which teams experienced everything from beating upwind in 40 knots of wind, to surfing at boat speeds in the 20s. Not to forget the periods of really light winds in the Luzon Strait that had all on board trying to eke out every ounce of speed.

The heavy upwind conditions meant the teams lived life on a lean, shorts and t-shirts were exchanged for Musto waterproofs as the crew acclimatized to the conditions.

Tactically the teams had the opportunity to gain additional bonus points with the inclusion of a second Scoring Gate alongside two Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprints; North and South. This added competitive edge, alongside the shorter course, meant all teams were focused. There were many sail changes throughout the different watch systems, as the teams adapted to the conditions and concentrated on getting as many of the points available as possible.

Upon their return to Subic Bay, the Clipper Race Skippers and Race Crew said Race 7 had everything. It was an interesting and exciting race!

Video uploaded Mar 9, 2020.

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

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 during Race 6 from The Whisundays was enacted and the fleet finished in Subic Bay, Philippines.

Additionally, Races 7 and 8 were combined to avoid the Race 8 finish port of Zhuhai, China.

Starting on February 25, the course for Race 7/8 took the fleet north from the Philippines, across the Luzon Strait and around the western most cluster of the Japanese Ryukyu Islands before returning to Subic Bay for the finish.

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.

Source: Clipper Round the World Yacht Race