Clipper heads for the heat

New York holds 50 miles lead still in round the world race

After a mid-race separation the Clipper 2002 fleet have now really settled into two groups. The front group we know all about; New York still leads with a 50-mile margin, with Bristol and Cape Town in second and third.

A further 50 miles or so back London Clipper are somewhat on their own, but it is another 100 miles to the east where the competition is really hotting up.

Glasgow, Hong Kong, Liverpool and Jersey are almost parallel to each other on a north - south line and only 13 miles now separates them on distance to the finish. Not only that but the wind has been easing from the front, so we may well see some further compression over the next day or so. Could it be that the race into Salvador will end with a close finish after all?

In all likelihood we will see them finishing in three separate groups. Tellingly Glasgow Clipper's 24-hour run yesterday was exactly the same as their distance from New York so, in other words, at that rate they would finish exactly a day later. Now, with speeds dropping, they will probably be more than 24 hours behind.

If the wind dies off ahead, the leading boats could slow down and those behind can catch up, but eventually they too will slow down. Short of the leaders hitting some very localised wind holes on the final approach to the finish, they now seem fairly safe. It is virtually impossible to overtake another boat directly ahead of you by following the same track, but this close to the finish there are few if any tactical alternatives.

So, we are left with our three groupings. There is a gentle breeze of around 11 knots true from the south east. The lightweight spinnaker would be the sail of choice for those with an intact sail wardrobe, the rest will be flying what they can. But all will be glad of a bit of peace after the squalls of the last few days.

Today's Bristol Clipper diary tells how they spent 26 hours fixing their mediumweight, a good time for the amount of damage it had sustained, while Ian Cooke's diary provides an interesting insight to London Clipper's catastrophic broach.

Clipper 2002 - Race 13 Positions
03:00, 15 July 2003

Pos Yacht Distance to Finish (nautical miles)
1 New York 613
2 Bristol 662
3 Cape Town 681
4 London 739
5 Hong Kong 837
6 Glasgow 841
7 Liverpool 843
8 Jersey 850