Spirit of Australia pulls out lead as rest of fleet parks up - 07 March 2010
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.”
This way, that way, forward and backwards
02 September 2010
“We’re going this way, that way, forward and backwards over the Irish Sea, a bottle of rum to settle my tum and that’s the life for me.” Jim Dobie dredges up a childhood memory in his report from on board Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, currently competing in the Severnstar Round Britain and Ireland Race.
More >
Fickle winds slows progress
01 September 2010
As the sun rose on day nine, the fickle winds had caught up with Hull & Humber and skipper Piers Dudin admitted that the reality of meeting their ten day target in the Round Britain and Ireland Race will not be possible unless “the earth spins the other way!”
More >
Ticking boxes
31 August 2010
The Clipper entries continue to encounter a variety of mixed conditions in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race as they close in on the final sprint to the finish.
More >