Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world. In April 2009 he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his return to Falmouth in Suhaili, 312 days after setting sail on a voyage no one else had ever accomplished. In 2007 he completed his second solo circumnavigation as a competitor in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race. Sir Robin is the founder and Chairman of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and is an inspirational figurehead to those who undertake this challenge of a lifetime.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world
With a race track 35,000 miles long, the halfway point of Clipper 09-10 has yet to be reached – that point is when the fleet closes in on Qingdao during Race 6.
The arrival in Asia marks a significant change of culture from anything the crews have experienced before. We bring the fleet in to the Indonesian island of Batam to end Race 5 so that we can arrive en masse in Marina at Keppel Bay just across the straits in Singapore.
Keppel and their partners at the Singapore Tourism Board have been firm supporters of the Clipper Race since we launched the fleet of Ed Dubois designed Clipper 68-foot ocean racers in 2005. The welcome they laid on when we arrived this year was as spectacular as ever and, with massed drummers, confetti cannons and high ranking officials applauding the teams as they berthed, it was a real pleasure to return and mingle with friends.
As you are probably aware, we have nine boats in Marina at Keppel Bay. The nine Irish tricolours flying from the masts of each of the boats in the marina are a mark of respect for the Cork team and tell their own story. This is the first time in more than 2,000,000 miles of sailing that Clipper has lost a boat. The most important thing is that all the crew are safe, thanks to the prompt response of the two nearest competitors who were on the scene within an hour and took charge of the evacuation. Sadly the boat herself was beyond salvaging.
There is a well known saying that I won’t use in a public forum – but when I say, ‘things happen,’ I’m sure you will get my drift. Racing around the world will inevitably bring a whole series of challenges and it’s not the issue that things happen but how you deal with them in the aftermath.
I am proud of the reputation we have at Clipper in solving problems. We have already sourced a replacement yacht so that Cork can re-join the race when the fleet emerges at the Atlantic end of the Panama Canal and allow the team a triumphant homecoming when the race reaches Kinsale in Ireland. That yacht will need to be branded, kitted out with the same wardrobe of sails as the 68s, rated to meet all the required marine safety standards and fitted with an identical set of communication equipment and none of this has cost our sponsors a penny. While the work on Cork 2 progresses, we have provided crew places for all the Cork team members for the next three races on yachts across the fleet so they can continue with their personal odyssey in the meantime.
But back to Clipper 09-10. The heat in Singapore is warm and the humidity high. Getting here – especially over the last few hundred miles or so – would have been a real challenge to those on board. Dealing with high winds and cold is easy, as one simply batons down the hatches, puts on more layers and use the breeze in reefed sails to good effect. Doldrums sailing in intense heat can easily lead to loss of concentration, poor sail trim and as a result, loss of miles.
The finish into Singapore was close right to the end and it was good to see the Cape Breton Island team collecting their first yellow pennant. They have been close to the podium on several occasions and it was great that their sponsors had made the trip over from the depths of a Canadian winter to cheer in their team.
This will be the last time the teams enjoy the tropics for many months. They have been in a Southern hemisphere summer since crossing the Equator on the way down to Rio and crossed back to the northern hemisphere as they closed in on Singapore. In many ways the coming leg from Singapore to Qingdao is the toughest in the race, starting with light warm winds and finishing with strong, freezing headwinds and short, difficult seas. Seamanship is what counts. To win a race you first have to finish. The Volvo Race saw four of its seven entries retire damaged on the same voyage last year. But, as one crew member said to me in Qingdao two years ago, "That was tough, but now I feel I am a real sailor." And at the end of the leg lies the additional reward of the fantastic reception in Qingdao.
But for now, the delights of Singapore await. Many of our sponsors are in town, eager to take their products, services and tourism message to the locals and, in turn, to engage with local businesses here and establish new trading opportunities with Singapore based companies. It’s a key part of what the Clipper Race delivers and in these trying economic times, it is a wise brand that goes on the offensive and uses our race to explore new opportunities.
After five races, Spirit of Australia leads the race with 50 points, closely followed by Team Finland on 48. With a maximum of 90 points still on offer for the winners (plus additional points from scoring gates), every single team still has plenty of opportunity to lift the Clipper Trophy when the teams complete their circumnavigation on their return to the Humber in July.