* Hull & Humber skipper safely medevaced to Japanese Coastguard vessel
* Spirit of Australia skipper takes command of Hull & Humber
* Team Finland’s mast clears customs

After sustaining a fracture to his right leg on the tenth day of Race 7,
Piers Dudin, Skipper of Hull & Humber has been safely medevaced by the
Japanese Coastguard. The 50 metre rescue vessel is now motoring towards
Japan where it will rendezvous with a larger vessel which has a
helicopter that will airlift the skipper to the city of Sendai,
approximately two hours north of Tokyo.

Reports from the boat suggest that a large wave hit the boat, causing
the skipper to be swept down the deck which resulted in the injury. Hull
& Humber crew member Tom Salt was on deck at the time. He says, “Two of
the crew were on the high side and got swept across the deck - one
stopping by the helm station and the other at the starboard quarter.
Piers was on the low side of the helm station and was swept into the
guard rail and then aft on top of the other crew member who was
uninjured. We believe that Piers caught the side of his right leg around
the forward starboard stanchion of the pushpit and the force of the
water broke his shin. Kevin (Austen) was on the helm, but managed to
keep control and did not lose contact with the wheel. Piers calmly
informed the crew he had broken his leg and was assisted down below,
giving calm instructions on what needed to be done.”

In a message to the crew, Clipper Race Chairman, Sir Robin
Knox-Johnston, praised the way the team had handled the situation. “You
have all been through a difficult ordeal over the last 36 hours, one
that very few people have to cope with. Thank you for the calm manner in
which you have dealt with the situation, this is a testament to you all
and also to the way Piers has instructed and managed the team. It is
also a sign of a very good team that can really pull together in times
of need.”

Following the incident and as one of the nearest vessels, Spirit of
Australia was called upon to shadow Hull & Humber as they headed west to
rendezvous with the Japanese Coastguard. With conditions safe enough for
a boat to boat transfer, skipper Brendan Hall moved on to Hull & Humber
to assist with the evacuation and has now taken charge of the English
entry for the remainder of Race 7.

In the meantime, round the world crew member Bob Bell has been appointed
acting skipper of Spirit of Australia on account of his experience and
qualifications.

Sir Robin says, “Bob is an exceptionally qualified crew member and has
completed approximately 10,000 miles of RYA courses, including RYA
Yachtmaster with ocean theory, and bareboat chartering. He also has more
than 35,000 miles experience from the Challenge Business, completing
their training course and taking part in the BT Global Challenge
2000-2001 race as a round the world crew member on the winning boat.
Added to that, Bob has 20,000 miles of offshore experience with Clipper,
including our comprehensive training course and more than 18,000 miles
of the 09-10 Race.

“He also has the support of another well qualified Yachtswoman, Liz
Simmons who is a qualified RYA Yachtmaster and the crew is now highly
experienced. With nine round the world crew members who have each
completed the Clipper training programme and 18,000 miles of the race,
they are a strong team and I have every faith in their ability.”

Spirit of Australia and Hull & Humber have now turned east again and
been instructed by the Race Office to keep in close company for the
remainder of the 5,680 mile race to San Francisco.

“We have made the decision for both boats to continue to San Francisco
due to the weather forecast,” says Sir Robin. “Between their current
location and Tokyo is the remnants of the last low pressure system which
is currently centered over the Japan sea delivering steady winds between
25 to 35 knots. To head to Japan would mean sailing against the Japan
current and a nasty wind over tide effect. These conditions are
forecasted to persist for the next 24 to 48 hours and will make for a
very difficult ride for any boat that is heading west. The safest course
for the boats is downwind and they have been instructed to head east and
take it easy whilst everyone settles in to the new arrangements.”

Amongst the rest of the fleet, conditions have calmed and the mood is a
somber one as Piers’s accident serves a sharp reminder to all of the
dangers of ocean racing. Jamaica Lightning Bolt’s skipper, Pete
Stirling, sums it up in his report to the race office today.

“First of all I must extend my heartfelt sympathy to Piers. Over the
course of the last year, since we have known each other, Piers has
become a good friend on land and a fine adversary on the water. It’s a
very cruel twist of fate that has caused him to be taken out of this
race in such a dramatic way. These things can happen in a blink of an
eye and it just demonstrates once again the immense power of the sea and
the amount of damage it can do. As one of my crew pointed out one cubic
metre of water weighs one tonne. On occasion we have a lot more water
than that coming across our decks and then it is also travelling at
speed.”

With two medics on board, Cape Breton Island, along with Spirit of
Australia, was initially called upon to rendezvous with Hull & Humber to
provide assistance if needed. They were stood down but the slight detour
has clearly not affected their performance and the team is now 75
nautical miles ahead of the chasing pack. However, following yesterday’s
incident skipper Jan Ridd’s team isn’t going to push their luck as the
Weymouth-based skipper explains.

“Last night we were carrying on the hunt for Hull & Humber and Spirit of
Australia when the satellite phone rang. I answered with a little
trepidation as we really only use this system for emergencies only. It
was Joff (Bailey, Race Director) who quickly explained that Piers had
been in a nasty accident and had possibly broken his leg and could we
standby to see if we could help as I have two qualified medics on board.
After a short while we were stood down which has allowed us to carry on
racing but under a very conservative sail plan. All of us have been made
very aware of the dangers of ocean racing.”

The Canadian team’s move to the front of the fleet means that their
North American rivals, California, will be fully focused on catching
them as they continue to chase the elusive home port win.

With the repairs to their mainsail now complete, skipper Pete Rollason,
says, “California is back on the race track at full speed. At about 0400
local time after battling for two hours the crew finally managed to get
the mainsail hoisted. The wind has eased this morning and so it’s just
as well the repair had been finished.

“We have used the respite offered by the light winds and sunshine to
conduct various equipment checks, undertake some preventative
maintenance and servicing, dry out our kit and recharge everyone’s
batteries.”
Likewise, Uniquely Singapore’s crew have used the break in the weather
to get their boat ship shape and ready for the next low pressure system.

“Singas has been a hive of activity today,” says skipper Jim Dobie. “We
have managed to fix our instruments which had been intermittently
shutting down due to some corrosion on wiring and connectors. Craig
(Davey) went up the mast and carried out a rig check and the team on
deck worked their way through halyards and sheets, checking wear and
chafe and repairing when necessary. As the next low starts to affect us
and the winds come in again, we are in good shape and itching for some
fast downwind weather. The race is still changing and we are now eyeing
up the gate and those extra points as we march onwards to San
Francisco.”

Meanwhile the crew onboard Edinburgh Inspiring Capital are busy
investigating a problem with one of their spreaders and are sailing
conservatively until the problem is resolved. This will come as a blow
to the team that is presently in second place and they will be hoping
that it can be sorted if they are to achieve their first podium of the
race.

Good news for Team Finland today as their replacement mast has now
cleared customs in Shanghai and is making its way by truck to Qingdao.
Expected to arrive at 1400 local time tomorrow, the crew will be
chomping at the bit to get to work and get back on the race track as
quickly as possible.

Positions at 0900 UTC, Friday 12 March

Boat DTF* DTL*
1 Cape Breton Island 3974nm
2 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 4048nm 75nm
3 California 4067nm 93nm
4 Jamaica Lightning Bolt 4069nm 96nm
5 Uniquely Singapore 4077nm 104nm
6 Qingdao 4129nm 155nm
7 Hull & Humber 4148nm 174nm
8 Spirit of Australia 4148nm 175nm
9 Team Finland 5612nm 180nm
10 Cork Did not start

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*  ”Sometimes you cry out in exhilaration and sometimes you just want to
    cry!” - California’s skipper on the joys of ocean racing.
*  Winds gusting in excess of 50 knots test the mettle of the crews
*  Fleet makes fast progress towards scoring gate and San Francisco.

The Pacific is throwing her full weight at the Clipper 09-10 fleet and
the last 24 hours have been tough. Now the winds have moved behind the
fleet they are making fast progress towards their goal of San Francisco
and they should continue to do so for the next few days.

The huge forces exerted on the 68-foot ocean racing yachts are powerful
and the massive seas and high winds mean the helms and on-watch crews
cannot lose focus for a second - but ask any of the crew and they’ll
tell you the thrill of riding the great ocean rollers is second to none.

Race Director, Jonathan Bailey, said, “It is clear from the forecasts
and subsequent reports that the fleet has endured some of the toughest
conditions so far. Lines that have breaking strain of many tonnes have
been exposed to huge forces and in those conditions it is inevitable
that things will break as the yachts battle against some of the most
extreme seas in the world. Kit preservation and good seamanship when
dealing with breakages is all part of the challenge and it is clear that
the teams are coping magnificently.”

Revelling in the conditions is the southern hemisphere entry, Spirit of
Australia.

“Surf’s up on the green and gold missile!” says Brisbane-based skipper,
Brendan Hall. “The last 12 hours have been some of the most exhilarating
sailing of the race so far. The large waves and 40 knot winds are now
behind us, pushing us along at terrific speeds. Helming in these
conditions is a knife edge proposition. Steer too far one way and the
headsail backs on itself, which can pop the hanks off; steer too far the
other way and a crash-gybe awaits. Concentration and assertive wheel
action is the key to keeping the boat on track. Still, the grin on the
face of the helmsman after a 20-knot surf is worth the pain and struggle
of getting here through the headwinds.”

Cape Breton Island’s eagle has soared up through the fleet to slip into
second place this morning and, says skipper, Jan Ridd, “We are sailing
very comfortably in a Force 9 gusting to Force 10 with some truly
magnificent seas, the Pacific showing its awesome power.”

However the Canadian team has negotiated some tricky conditions over a
wet and windy 24 hours. “We were sailing comfortably yesterday afternoon
with an economic sail plan when, in the early evening, the wind picked
up,” explains Jan. “We set about reducing sail area with the on watch
and once again my instincts were spot on. No sooner had we lashed the
headsails securely, a gust hit us which topped 56 knots. We went about
securing everything on deck and ensuring we were set for the night. I
must admit it was very unpleasant on deck with the true wind steady at
over 40 knots and a very confused sea as the wind backed.

“This morning, after a few hours sleep in my wet weather gear on the
floor beside the nav station, Luke (Dampier, 19, a student), one of the
watch leaders, woke me to tell me the wind had backed even more and
wanted to know if we could pole out the storm jib. After a quick
assessment we decided to change up to the bigger Yankee 3 headsail and
shake out a reef which meant a busy last hour to their watch. We held
those sails till just before lunch when again I started to feel edgy so
we hastily dropped the Number 3 and hoisted the storm jib again.”

Edinburgh Inspiring Capital has had a cracking run over the last 24
hours, lifting them from eighth to fifth place but they’ve had a sharp
reminder of the need to conserve their kit during this marathon race
across the largest ocean on the planet.

Skipper, Matt Pike, says, “This is more like a 68-foot windsurfer than a
yacht! There’s no place for a lapse in concentration. We plane at a
steady 15 knots until a big wave comes and hit 20 for a minute at a
time. A particularly vicious set came too close together and somehow we
made the top of the second crest, flying over it like a steeple chaser,
but this coincided with a 50 knot gust and we’re still clearing up four
hours later. The pole snapped like a match stick and a section of track
came off the mast. With nothing holding it, the sharp edges started
damaging the main and the cost of pushing hard suddenly became apparent.

“We now have the third reef in the main and the staysail and we’re still
topping 16 knots off the waves. The wind is a steady 35 knots with the
occasional gust of 40 and once the repairs are complete we’ll be back to
full speed.”

Jamaica Lightning Bolt’s skipper, Pete Stirling, explains the issue
isn’t the strong winds - it’s their inconsistency. “It’s been a couple
of days of vicious weather conditions which has slowed down progress
quite considerably,” he says. “Though it is quite possible to sail fast
in heavy weather conditions the problem is the weather is very
changeable which makes it very difficult to choose the right sail plan.
Last night we ran with a third-reefed mainsail and storm jib only but
this morning were forced to drop the mainsail when the reefing pennant
snapped and the block it passes round at the base of the mast was also
damaged. Repairs are currently underway to replace the broken line and
block. We are now running with the staysail only making a steady eight
knots boat speed in the right direction. We have seen 50 knots of wind
recorded on the wind instruments and expect it to get stronger tonight
so things could get really interesting! Still we have a very
conservative sail plan so should be able to handle anything the weather
can throw at us. The crew have been kept incredibly busy over the last
couple of days with multiple sail changes in very rough conditions.”

And while the Scottish and Jamaican entries have made gains, California
and Qingdao have seen their placings slip - in Qingdao’s case, from
third to eighth.

Chris Stanmore-Major says, “We found ourselves last night suddenly
caught in the middle of a 50-knot squall with apparent winds bouncing
higher than that initially. Luckily we were already pretty snugged down
but the initial blast was so strong it snapped the staysail halyard
sending the sail to the deck and half overboard and blew out the clew of
the storm jib, changing our mild mannered little friend into a crazed
animal shackled to the forestay. I was asleep at the time, taking an
hour as we had found our line, had good speed, a wind that was freeing
up and open water ahead. In a Wallace and Gromit manoeuvre I leapt clear
of my bunk and seemingly straight into my drysuit and was on deck before
I had both eyes open. Luckily the issue was not complex to deal with but
with the boat heading directly before the wind we still had too much
wind to re-hoist the staysail and we had to run the rest of the night on
trysail alone meaning we were slow and could not hold a course. The
outcome? Third to second last in the blink of an eye. This morning we
started to piece things back together and we started to rebuild the
storm jib.”

California has lost two places but is still very much in touch with Cape
Breton Island and Hull & Humber, their distances to the finish separated
by just three miles - astonishing after 1,300 miles of hard racing. Last
night was perhaps one of the hardest so far.

Skipper Pete Rollason reports, “The crew are absolutely exhausted after
enduring 50+ knot winds last night and making great speeds when all of a
sudden the second reef line snapped under the load, swiftly followed by
five sliders detaching themselves from the mast. The joys of ocean
racing; sometimes you cry out in exhilaration and sometimes you just
want to cry!

“The main has now been down and off for 12 hours with ongoing repairs
being completed as and when conditions allow, bearing in mind we still
have over 30 knots of wind. Hopefully we will be fully up and running
before dark and pushing hard to regain our second place and then resume
the kangaroo hunt.”

POSITIONS AT 0900 UTC, WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 2010

1 Spirit of Australia DTF 4291
2 Cape Breton Island DTF 4341 DTL +50
3 Hull & Humber DTF 4341 DTL +50
4 California DTF 4345 DTL +53
5 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital DTF 4391 DTL +99
6 Jamaica Lightning Bolt DTF 4404 DTL +113
7 Uniquely Singapore DTF 4437 DTL +146
8 Qingdao DTF 4439 DTL +147
9 Team Finland DTF 5612 DTL +1321
10 Cork Did not start

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* Low pressure system delivers strong headwinds across the fleet
* California makes repairs to mainsail in tricky conditions
* Edinburgh Inspiring Capital chases the pack in some very wet
   conditions

With the first 1,000 miles of the race to California almost completed,
the forecasted low pressure system has finally arrived and the skippers
who were cursing the lack of wind yesterday now find themselves with
more than they bargained for. Strong headwinds have been hard going on
the teams and they will all be looking forward to the wind shifting
round and a return to the fast downwind sailing the Clipper 68s relish.

What a difference 24 hours makes,” says Jim Dobie, skipper of Uniquely
Singapore. “Yesterday we were in little wind and then bang! In rushed 30
to 40 knots and it has been with us ever since. The frustrating thing
has been the angle we have been forced to sail at and have lost quite a
bit of ground to the south. But as the low moves through, the wind will
veer round and we can head due north again before the wind settles in
behind us and we can get back to the fast downwind weather we love.

“The crew are a little worse for wear with tiredness etched on their
faces and all their clothes wet and damp. But as I always say, nothing
stays the same in the ocean and once we’re back in the high, clothes
will dry, skies will brighten and the smiles will return.”

Hull & Humber’s skipper, Piers Dudin, says, “The seas are getting a
little confused and the occasional slam jolts memories of our trip past
Taiwan. We’ve nearly reached the top of the hill in terms of our upwind
beat and are looking forward to giving Hull & Humber an easier ride
downwind.”

“Even moving round below decks requires constant effort in the confused
seas and as the wind shifts it’s likely to become even more so.”

Life on deck is just as difficult as that down below and none more so
than for the crew on board California.

“We needed to take the mainsail down and completely remove it from the
mast track in order to repair the top five sliders that had become
detached, ” explains skipper Pete Rollason. “This is no easy feat in the
shelter of a marina, let alone on a rough ocean in the conditions we’re
currently experiencing. The crew worked tirelessly to complete the
repairs and with everyone exhausted and soaking wet we hoisted the
mainsail.”

The strong headwinds are certainly taking their toll but the wind
strength continues to vary making sail choice particularly tricky as Jan
Ridd, skipper of Cape Breton Island explains.

“Most of the crew are coming to terms with having to sail close hauled
for the next few days as we fight our way out into the Pacific. The wind
is building and dropping and the highest gust our instruments have shown
was 48 knots, which dropped just minutes later to 19 knots.

“With the wind varying so much, the boat was set up last night for the
worst, with the storm jib accompanied by our normal staysail and the
third reef in the main. If the wind built the staysail could be dropped
allowing us to go into complete safe mode. Today the problem we have is
the boat is a little underpowered and just as we think we should put
more sail up the wind builds, the boat heels right over again and the
decision is made for us.”

Qingdao’s skipper, Chris Stanmore-Major, believes the worst is yet to
come and if he is right the already tired crews will need to dig deep to
find that extra bit of strength and determination.

“A great night’s sailing on board Qingdao with us returning to the
conditions we favoured so much during our time in the South China Sea,”
says Chris. “Last night however was only a precursor to the real show
which will probably start within the next 30 hours.

“With 40 knot winds predicted we will be experiencing up to 50 on the
nose if we are unfortunate enough to be at that angle to the wind. My
hope is that we can take some of that brutish wind strength on the beam
to catapult the dragon forward to the super sonic speeds we love.”

For the team on Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, the change in conditions
came all too quickly but according to skipper Matt Pike his crew are
revelling in the challenge as they push to Scottish boat hard to make
gains on the rest of the fleet.

Matt says, “Misty drizzle and a rolling swell was the weather as we
chased the small patches of breeze to reach the fleet - all the time
knowing soon the wind would fill in. It came in one solid wave and
caught us midway between sail changes.

“The chase begins now through the wet. We have salty spray, the slightly
fresher rain and the most easily identified, the solid wall of water
that comes crashing back swamping the whole boat. Below is no better as
everything is wet, no longer just damp but wringing wet. The crew have
stopped mentioning wet bunks but just crash out as they are for a much
needed rest before going ‘over the top’ through the companionway and
back into the fight. Still smiling the hardened crew take our tough
little boat forwards and push to gain those precious miles on the
competition.”

Meanwhile, back in Qingdao, Team Finland’s crew will be keeping a close
eye on the fleet’s progress as they await the arrival of their
replacement mast. The 90-foot spar has left Luxemburg and whilst the
Clipper Race team is doing everything to ensure a timely delivery in
Qingdao the journey is at the mercy of shipping agents, airlines and
customs. Team Finland is just ten points behind overall race leaders,
Spirit of Australia, having been awarded one point by the Race Committee
for Race 6 from Singapore to Qingdao. They will therefore be hoping for
a fast run across the Pacific if they are to close the gap and regain
the top spot once more.

Positions at 0900 UTC, Monday 8 March

Boat DTF* DTL*
1 Spirit of Australia 4662nm
2 California 4712nm 50nm
3 Qingdao 4726nm 63nm
4 Cape Breton Island 4747nm 84nm
5 Hull & Humber 4748nm 85nm
6 Jamaica Lightning Bolt 4751nm 89nm
7 Uniquely Singapore 4766nm 104nm
8 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 4779nm 116nm
9 Team Finland 5612nm 180nm
10 Cork Did not start

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* Spirit of Australia pulls out a lead as the other yachts park up in
   variable winds
* Uniquely Singapore back to full strength after illness
* Non-stop evolutions for crew of Jamaica Lightning Bolt

The forecast headwinds have not yet materialised for the Clipper 09-10
fleet. Instead most of the teams on board the 68-foot ocean racing
yachts are contending with spells of variable and light winds which are
playing havoc with their speeds and ability to sail the course they
want. They have also spent lengthy stretches parked up, desperately
trying to find any breath of wind to keep them moving.

However Spirit of Australia, on a more northerly course than the others,
has been dealt a different hand, enabling them to pull out a lead over
the rest of the fleet. Skipper Brendan Hall says, “Japan faded into the
sunset last night, the last land we will see for another three weeks.
Thus far, the Pacific Ocean has not lived up to its name, delivering us
another night of near gale force winds and sheeting rain. More heavy
headsail changes were needed to keep Spirit of Australia on the pace.”

As Brendan says, their next glimpse of land will not come for more than
three weeks in this, the longest of the individual races that make up
the Clipper Race.

“Looking at the chart, the enormity of the ocean before us is daunting,”
he says, “But we have set ourselves lots of smaller milestones to aim
for and celebrate as we pass.”

Just 39 miles behind, the last 24 hours for California’s crew have been
frustrating as they find themselves with totally different conditions.

“This morning and overnight we have been beset by light winds, however,
with some favourable current we had been making good progress northeast
in the hunt for kangaroos. Then very suddenly the wind filled in to a
steady 20 knots from the north east which meant that we can no longer
take the course we want. It is so frustrating when you can get good boat
speed and not the desired course and we can only console ourselves with
the fact that all the other boats should be experiencing the same
dilemma. The forecast is for the wind to continue to build up to 30-35
knots from the north east and is due to last about 36 to 48 hours so we
will try to make the best course we can towards the Scoring Gate and San
Francisco.

“I hear that a number of crews have been suffering various illnesses and
California is no exception. We have a nasty cold doing the rounds that
is sapping the energy of those it gets hold of so we are working with
reduced numbers on deck while some people get some down time to fully
recover.”

Uniquely Singapore’s crew are back up to full strength after recovering
from the illness that has swept through their crew and there is a note
of optimism in skipper Jim Dobie’s report to the Race Office today.

He says, “After being at the back of the fleet since the start things
are starting to look up. As I write this I have now picked up Hull &
Humber, Jamaica Lightning Bolt and, of course, our companions, Edinburgh
Inspiring Capital. We’ve now got our act back together and the crew,
including me, are no longer queuing for the heads and reaching for
buckets - the bug has gone through, we have a full head count and can
now get to the business of racing.”

But, just when things are looking up, Mother Nature throws in a curve
ball and the wind doesn’t quite do what you’re expecting.

Jim explains, “Looking at the GRIB (weather file) we made a decision to
stay south of the incoming low which will take us away from the
favourable current but should allow us following winds sooner and not
such huge waves. However things are not going to plan… According to
our weather files we should be in some brisk headwinds but find
ourselves floundering around in little to no wind, trying to make some
headway. As we know, the ocean can change quickly so the next 24 hours
should see some dramatic changes in conditions and we’re look for any
signs of the movements of the low.”

Observing your environment to predict exactly when that pressure is
going to fill in and get your yacht moving again is a fine art and Cape
Breton Island’s skipper, Jan Ridd, seems to have the key.

“We are still in this unstable airflow with long periods of little or no
wind with short periods of a stiff breeze filling in,” he reports.
“Earlier this morning we were within sight of Hull & Humber and Qingdao
as we all ran into an area of light wind. When the crew asked me what
they could do, I said the best option would be to wait it out and see
where the wind fills in from. They were getting frustrated as they saw
both the other teams hoist their windseekers, trying to get the boats
moving. I still insisted we wait it out and, sure enough, within half an
hour we saw the wind build to a Force 6 and, as we sailed on course at
ten knots, we saw Qingdao hastily sailing away from the wind in the
wrong direction to reduce the apparent wind strength so they could drop
the windseeker without damage.”

Cape Breton Island is opting for a conservative sail plan for the coming
days to cope with the variable conditions, says Jan.

“All the boats are aware of an area of stronger winds to the north of
our position and every time the wind builds we are preparing ourselves
mentally for the expected 20+ knot head winds the forecast predicts. So
far all we have seen is brief spells which die as quickly as they start.
I am sure the wind will fill in eventually and we will start making some
good mileage towards San Francisco,” he adds.

Qingdao is just a mile ahead of the Canadian entry and experiencing the
same frustrations but the crew is coping well, according to their
skipper, Chris Stanmore-Major.

“With a weather file that shows I should be hammering east at 12 knots
hard on the wind with probably three reefs in, staysail and Yankee 3
flying and water rushing along the side decks, instead we are sitting in
a muggy patch of drizzle with sails slatting in a cheeky, choppy sea.
Rain runs down the crew’s faces as they stare upwards at the sails
trying to perceive some pattern or trend they can trim to but there is
nothing and, despite all the noise and motion, we remain resolutely
parked watching on the AIS every other boat picking its parking space
and rate of drift. The crew are unstinting in their efforts and humour,
making light of a frustrating situation.”

Qingdao has picked up a hitch hiker as well, reveals Chris. “In the
middle of this cold, wet, forlorn landscape a small, ragged scrap of
life has sought us out as a refuge and I write this eye to eye with a
house martin that has taken up residence in the nav station.”

Hull & Humber’s skipper, Piers Dudin, suggests the current situation in
which most of the teams find themselves adds to the excitement of the
race.

He says, “It’s good to have the whole fleet compressed again. It’s sure
to make for an epic few weeks. Breaking the back of ‘5,000 miles to go!’
is something you don’t get to do very often, rarely are such long
passages undertaken in one go. But after of months of training we like
to think we’re well set up for ‘The Big One’.

“The crew who joined us in Qingdao, Andrea, Tony, Nick and the ONE HULL
Ambassadors, Sonny and Nathan, have adjusted to life in ‘Umberland
admirably and are already solid handy crew members.

“The rain still fails to dampen spirits as we’re getting used to the
on-off weather patterns. We doubt it’ll last long and we’re set up for a
solid two days of up-hill deep-reef wave bashing, before the proper
downhill sled run begins.”

The hugely ambitious crew of Jamaica Lightning Bolt has been working
flat out to keep their yacht moving.

Pete Stirling says, “So much for the deep blue Pacific Ocean and
favourable winds. Apart from the lack of fishing boats and merchant
shipping this is really no more of a pleasure than the Yellow Sea was.
It is quite a bit warmer but with constant wind shifts a sloppy sea and
heavy rain. The standing joke amongst this morning’s 8am to 2pm six-hour
watch is that they only did one evolution. The thing is they did lots
but they never stopped between each of them. I did let them stop once
for 15 minutes for a tea break so I guess that means they did two
evolutions. This afternoon’s watch are waiting to get on deck with eager
anticipation!”

“After playing out our hand we have ended up with the rest of the fleet
in a tight circle waiting for the north easterly gale that has been
forecast,” says Matt Pike. He says the wet, tiring and frustrating
conditions are preventing Edinburgh Inspiring Capital from getting into
her stride.

“We had a great sail out through the straits from south Japan and were
looking to continue east then suddenly, and in about 20 boat lengths,
the wind was gone! Rain followed squall followed rain and pursuing the
best course to windward has us back in the pack. So now we wait and,
when the wind fills in, we shall be off on a new start and onwards to
California.”

POSITIONS AT 1500 UTC, SUNDAY 7 MARCH 2010

1 Spirit of Australia DTF 4736
2 California DTF 4775 DTL +39
3 Qingdao DTF 4802 DTL +66
4 Cape Breton Island DTF 4803 DTL +67
5 Hull & Humber DTF 4809 DTL +73
6 Jamaica Lightning Bolt DTF 4812 DTL +77
7 Uniquely Singapore DTF 4821 DTL +85
8 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital DTF 4828 DTL +92
9 Team Finland DTF 5612 DTL +876
10 Cork Did not start

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The last 24 hours have seen some big tactical moves, variable winds keeping the crews busy with endless sail changes and a great deal of reflection on the best way to tackle the high pressure system sitting between the ten yachts of the Clipper 09-10 fleet and their goal of Geraldton-Greenough on the coast of Western Australia.

Almost all of the teams have been experiencing light winds uncharacteristic of the Southern Ocean and for the crew of Spirit of Australia it made for a particularly sour-tasting start to the day.

“Lemons at breakfast. An hour of lemons,” writes skipper, Brendan Hall. He explains, “Lemons are what we call it when the boat speed reads 0.0. Two big, fat zeros, staring the helmsman in the face. There was not a lot more we could do. We had our lightest sails up and were trimming them constantly; there was just not enough wind to keep them full. The wind hole we have been driving north to avoid has swallowed us up and given us lemons. I just hope the rest of the fleet are getting some lemons of their own. We are just creeping along now, waiting for the wind to fill in.”

The good news for the Aussie team, and equally frustrating for the others, is the light winds are affecting most of the leading pack, with perhaps the exception of Cape Breton Island whose eagle has been soaring up through the fleet, regaining places lost when they found their own wind hole in spectacular fashion a few days ago.

The Canadian crew is hot on the heels of Uniquely Singapore, currently sitting in third place behind leaders Team Finland and Spirit of Australia. But if Jim Dobie, skipper of the Singaporean entry, has his way, they won’t be there for much longer.

He says, “It’s fairly obvious we made a tactical move over the last 24 hours. On the surface it might appear that we have lost a lot of miles on the back of the fleet but the miles lost versus our new position will, fingers crossed, pay off and allow us to keep our position and catch Spirit of Australia and Team Finland – a big ask! We can now look at regaining miles lost and we believe we’re in a better position to tackle the next few days and the high sitting off the Australian west coast.”

Although he was born in Singapore Jim’s family originally comes from Kalgoolie in Western Australia, and he knows a little bit about the weather there.

“The west coast is typically hot and dry as a result of these massive highs sitting off the coast. They don’t move much and it takes something dramatic to shunt them out of the way. So your options are go over the top, underneath or through the middle. A southerly route will keep the wind with you but you have to sail a longer distance; over the top you face head winds and, depending on its position, lighter winds but a shorter distance to sail; or through the middle is the shortest distance but the route takes you into areas with no wind.

“The next week will test our abilities to read the forecasts, sail well in light winds and cover the rest of the fleet. There could be some dramatic racing coming up.”

Peter Stirling, skipper of Jamaica Lightning Bolt, knows with fewer than 200 miles separating the leading eight yachts and a massive high pressure system between them and the finish line, it’s still anyone’s race.

He says, “The Southern Ocean is currently playing its latest hand with the weather trying to lull the crew into a false sense of security with calm seas, light winds and bright sunshine. Not for long though, because by tonight we will be beating into 25 knots of wind and big seas. Though the spray and waves landing on deck will be freezing cold the wind will at least be from the north and not blowing up from the Antarctic, so some small consolation.

“Though we lost our fourth place to Cape Breton Island during the night we managed to take ground out of most of the other yachts. Cape Breton Island is much further south than the rest of the fleet and experiencing different weather conditions. We still have a long way to go and are quietly confident we can regain our lost position and hopefully even get on the podium.”

The Jamaican team has been taking the opportunity the break in the weather has afforded them to do some essential maintenance jobs including replacing the starboard spinnaker halyard they had to cut during a broach a few days ago.

“Our prediction of the light wind conditions we experienced overnight was spot on and, although we have had a shocking night in comparison to those around us, this, too, was an accepted part of the equation,” Qingdao’s skipper, Chris Stanmore-Major, reported to the race office this morning.

“With the north west – south east axis of this high pressure lying directly across our path it would always be us to the north of the fleet that would get caught out first but it is our hope that those to the south of us will be caught later and for longer – allowing us to recapture our position or perhaps even gain some advantage.”

Edinburgh Inspiring Capital is slightly to the south of the Chinese entry and the crew have been busy throughout the last 48 hours adjusting their sail plan to the variable winds they have been experiencing.

“No sooner have we got the correct sail plan set and trimmed the wind changes again!” exclaims skipper, Matt Pike. “The last sched shows it is fleet wide and with so few miles between us all it’s time to plan the final push. Will the large high pressure remain stationary and force us down and around or will it track back north and give us a shorter run in? How far into it dare we go before we lose the wind altogether? We have been caught by that one before! By the latest positions it looks like no one wants to gamble and we’ll all be covering the positions of our rivals.”

California’s crew has had much the same workout, according to skipper, Pete Rollason. He says, “The crew has been doing a magnificent job with all the evolutions running like clockwork. During one watch yesterday we put in and shook out numerous reefs, poled out the headsail a couple of times and every time we completed the task the wind would either shift, increase or decrease.”

California has kept a fairly northerly position within the pack and, says Pete, “We are cracking along, beating into a freshening northerly wind having had a good run overnight, taking some decent miles out of the fleet. We are tracking slightly north, as are the rest of the fleet and probably all trying to figure out how this high pressure system is going to affect the outcome of Race 4.”

The high could provide an interesting end to this leg which has produced some edge of the seat racing throughout the first 3,000 of the 4,700-mile course.

“I believe it will be the deciding factor and whoever plays it well could make some massive gains,” agrees Pete. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves as that is probably three or four days away and later tonight we are looking at 35+ knots of wind (on the beam according to the forecast) which should make for a lively night and probably the last major blow of the Southern Ocean as we gradually track north to a warmer climate.”

While the rest of the fleet are preparing to leave the Southern Ocean, Hull & Humber’s crew are just getting used to life below 40 degrees south and loving it, according to skipper, Piers Dudin.

“Visions of the Southern Ocean have become reality. It’s easy to be poetic about what it’s like down here. But really it’s big winds, big waves, loads of birds and we’re having big fun! We changed down to the Yankee 3 and three reefs as the wind increased throughout the day to a consistent Force 8. Early on, just as the second reef was about to go in Hull & Humber picked up to 28.4 knots, sliding down an especially long wave with Charles Mischel on the helm. He was new to the boat in Cape Town but has become a full time member until San Francisco. ‘Keep it straight,’ was all I needed to say and he did exactly that as the waves in front were carved sideways.

“The wind’s settled to a Force 6 now and during the night Mike’s watch shook out the third reef and hoisted the staysail to help keep us on full pressure and course. We won’t be here for long but the Southern Ocean certainly lives up to its legend.”

The first yachts are due to reach Geraldton between 14 and 18 December, with Cork and Hull & Humber due to arrive before Christmas.

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Whilst she was set to leave South Africa this Friday morning, the Groupama 3 trimaran has now been forced to remain in the port of Cape Town temporarily after her generator failed. 

“We were in the process of charging the batteries one last time when, all of a sudden, the alarm sounded in the engine compartment. After a thorough check by Yann Mérour, it has been deemed to be out of service. It’s annoying as we should already be at sea by now but that’s just the way it is” says Fred Le Peutrec. He continues: “It’s better that this problem occurred now rather than after we’d set sail because, without power, we can’t desalinate the seawater. As a result we would have been forced to make a stopover, which is never simple in such a large boat”.

Around the basin where Groupama 3 is tied up, cameras from all around the world are trained on the drawing of lots for the World Cup football tournament. However, the main focus for the Groupama Team is arranging a new Yanmar engine block to be sent down from France: “We’ve found an identical one to ours, which is a positive step. We just have to get it delivered to Cape Town, which isn’t easy. If everything goes smoothly at customs, we should receive the block on Sunday evening, assemble everything onto it on Monday and then head out to sea on Tuesday” explains Fred Le Peutrec.

Though it may seem surprising that a yacht is stuck in port with engine failure, it is worth pointing out that, without power, Groupama 3 is deprived of:
- Communication with land
- Weather information
- Lights and radar
- Electronic instruments showing the strength and direction of the wind
- Freshwater, which is essential for hydrating the crew and the freeze-dried food.

And even though Groupama 3 has a wind generator and solar panels, they are only back-up energy sources and hence not sufficient to cover the 6,000 miles (11,200 km) under satisfactory conditions of safety: “From our arrival in Cape Town, we decided that Groupama 3 had to leave South Africa in as close to perfect condition as possible in order to validate all the repair work on the return delivery trip. The same is true for the engine” adds Fred Le Peutrec, who concludes: “By leaving Cape Town on 8th December, we still have a chance of making Brest before the Christmas festivity. Indeed this is the latest challenge we have set ourselves as, together with the start of stand-by for the Jules Verne Trophy remaining set at 1st January, there will be little time left to share with our families”. 

 
The organisation of Groupama 3’s crew between Cape Town and Brest:
Watch No.1: Fred Le Peutrec, Eric Lamy, Nick Legatt
Watch No.2: Lionel Lemonchois, Ludovic Aglaor, Clément Surtel
Watch No.3: Ronan Le Goff, Thierry Duprey du Vordent, Jacques Caraës
Off-watch navigator: François Salabert
Land-based weather adviser: Sylvain Mondon

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On stopover in Cape Town, South Africa since 21st November, after suffering damage during her Jules Verne Trophy attempt, the trimaran Groupama 3 will head back out to sea again tomorrow morning, Friday, bound for Brest. Having been repaired and reinforced by the team’s shore crew, the maxi trimaran is likely to take two to three weeks to cover the 6,000 miles (11,500 km) separating her from Brittany. 

Of the ten men making up the Jules Verne Trophy crew four will be onboard to deliver Groupama 3 to Brest, where she will begin a new period of stand-by to tackle the Round the World record on 1st January: “The presence aboard of the entire Jules Verne crew wasn’t justified. As such, together with Lionel Lemonchois, Jacques Caraës, Ronan Le Goff and six new crew, we’ll be in a position to validate the reliability of the repairs carried out in Cape Town” explains Fred Le Peutrec, who will be shouldering the role of skipper during this climb up the Atlantic.

“We’re going to make the most of this delivery trip to give some members of the shore crew a chance to sail, as they know Groupama 3 very well. They will include Eric Lamy, Clément Surtel as well as François Salabert. We will also be playing host to some other multihull specialists: Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, Ludovic Aglaor as well as a South African who notably sailed aboard Cheyenne, Nick Legatt” adds Fred Le Peutrec.

In all, Groupama’s stopover in Cape Town will have lasted nearly two weeks: “Once we’d worked out where the damage was, it was necessary to bring in the architects and engineers to determine the cause so that we could be sure about what repairs and reinforcement were required on the beam-float joints. There was great understanding in the collaboration between the Groupama Team’s research department and the architects from VPLP and HDS. As such we’ll be setting off with complete trust in what is a more solid boat in tip-top condition. It was very important for the whole team to take the time to do things properly, without being overly hasty” continues Fred.

Determined to set off on a fresh attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy from 1st January 2010, the crew of Groupama 3 has managed to find the energy necessary for this new challenge, despite the inevitable disappointment caused by this damage: “We were really on the pace. Despite our retirement, we monitored the evolution of the weather system we’d been sailing in. It was excellent as far as Australia. That goes to prove the quality of the work carried out by Stan Honey, our navigator, as well as Sylvain Mondon, the weather adviser at Météo France. This augurs well for the next stage and the five weeks of stand-by we’ll have at our disposal between 1st January and 6th February for our new attempt” comments Franck Cammas.

Returning to France a few days ago with Bruno Jeanjean, Thomas Coville, Stève Ravussin and soon to be joined by Loïc Le Mignon, the skipper of Groupama 3 will be monitoring the return delivery trip very closely: “We chose to repair Groupama 3 in Cape Town in order to validate her reliability at sea. Calculations have their limitations. Nothing can beat offshore trials for testing the structure and I have complete trust in the crew onboard to achieve this”.

As regards the weather, conditions will be favourable for getting back into the Northern hemisphere: “We’ll be setting off in 15 to 20 knots of SSE’ly. As such we’ll be on a reach along the coast until Sunday and then we’ll put in some westing to cross the equator at around 25° West. The next stage of the passage will depend on the depressions sweeping across the North Atlantic, but whatever happens we should make it into Brest before Christmas and hence spend the festive period with our families” concludes Fred Le Peutrec. 

 

The organisation of Groupama 3’s crew between Cape Town and Brest:
Watch No.1: Fred Le Peutrec, Eric Lamy, Nick Legatt
Watch No.2: Lionel Lemonchois, Ludovic Aglaor, Clément Surtel
Watch No.3: Ronan Le Goff, Thierry Duprey du Vordent, Jacques Caraës
Off-watch navigator: François Salabert
Land-based weather adviser: Sylvain Mondon

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Tied up alongside in the port of Cape Town since Saturday, Groupama 3 certainly isn’t being left in peace, far from it in fact. Barely had she reached the dock, then the shore crew managed by Yann Mérour, all of whom had made the trip down from Lorient, had taken control of matters with the assistance of the sailors. Structural analysis of the damage and observations made on site by composite specialists, confirm that it will indeed take a week’s work before Groupama 3 can head out to sea again, bound for Brest, for a new stand-by period set to begin on 1st January 2010. 

Benefiting from the technical means available in the Shosholoza base (a team which participated in the 32nd edition of the America’s Cup), Pierre Tissier, Sandy Blanalt, Sarah Lynch and Eric Beylot are all working on Groupama 3’s port float. In a dry, oppressive heat, which is favourable for working on carbon, they have begun by cutting out the faulty bulkhead and then constructing its replacement: “It’s never easy to work in such a confined space. Luckily this bulkhead is very close to the access hatch though. This enables us to poke our heads out into the fresh air on a regular basis. It certainly is hot though!” says Eric Beylot, who is almost missing the gloomy weather reigning back home in Brittany.

Having made the journey down from Johannesburg, three infra-red analysis specialists have inspected the affected zone without finding any side-effects. This is a good thing according to the skipper of Groupama 3, who only rarely leaves his telephone, as he’s in regular contact with his design office, the architects from the VPLP and HDS: “By running the data through their computers again, they’ve realised that the load case which concerns us today was not intended to exceed six tonnes. The sailing conditions we endured very certainly produced greater stresses than that. This is why we’re also going to reinforce the equivalent bulkhead on the starboard float” explains Franck.

As far as the rest of Groupama 3 is concerned though, she’s in perfect condition, ready to head back out to sea and set off once again to tackle this famous Jules Verne Trophy record, the value of which can now be appreciated even more: “It’s clear that in order to stand a chance of beating it, we’re going to have to go fast. We’re also going to have to go far, which we haven’t managed to do to date. It’s now down to us to prove we’re capable of that. From the moment the damage occurred, the whole crew have expressed their commitment to this. I’m proud of them and also proud of Groupama 3, which is an excellent boat. The same goes for my loyal partner, Groupama who, once again, are giving us their support in what is a difficult time” concludes Franck Cammas.

During this time, the rest of the crew are rinsing off the deck fittings and foulies, tidying up their `home’ and inspecting the deck from top to toe. Certain lines, such as those which control the descent and rise of the foils, are worn and have been replaced. When it’s time for lunch, conversations regularly revolve around the anecdotes experienced during the first 11 days of this Jules Verne Trophy attempt. These are always coloured by laughter which demonstrates, if there were a need, the extent of the bond between the ten crew, who together form a great team.

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