Crew Blog

A whole new experience

29 January 2008

This really is a new experience for us: Jamaica Clipper first in a schedule. No, it wasn’t a misprint, but we’re not quite sure how it happened. We’d just been sailing happily along, minding our own business when an e-mail arrived informing us that we were officially the closest boat to the waypoint. Now we’ve got a reputation to uphold here. Rushing is just not our style…

Needless to say, the crew were rather excited with this apparent change in fortune. The schedule has been printed out, and there have been calls to laminate it, for posterity. Not wishing to hog the lead, we’ve let Danny take a turn, and we’ve held second place behind Hull and Humber for a couple of schedules now.

There is about to be a fair bit of movement in the positions over the next 24 hrs or so, as the fleet pick their different routes around the Indonesian Islands. We all need to be heading in a NE direction, but that is exactly where the wind is coming from. So we are all tacking our way towards Taiwan, alternating between an easterly and northerly course. The wind never stays completely constant, so sometimes one tack is more favourable than another, and we are constantly switching.

As we start to head north we’ll probably lose some of the advantage we’ve gained so far, but hopefully not all of it. We’d lost sight of the other Clippers for about 24hrs, but are expecting to sight at least one, if not more, over the next few hrs, as our courses converge. Racing with the other boats in sight is exciting and keeps everyone on their toes.

This might be unfamiliar territory for us, but we think we’ll might just try and stay at the top end of the leader board for at least a little while longer.

One love,

Claire

1. Helen S-P, At my desk 30 January 2008

Can’t tell you guys how much seeing you in first place has meant to me and my obsessive following of the scheds. It almost brought a wee tear to my eye. All my fingers and toes are crossed that you stay there but if you don’t that is ok too. Just keep on having fun and I’ll see you soon.

One love

Helen

2. sian reynolds, at my desk . . . . .still! 30 January 2008

Go Jamaica go!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done Simon & Crew - so proud keep up the great work! its not pink anymore - its fearlessly fushia!!!!!!!!!!! Sian x x x

3. Phil and Jenny Tissier, South Croydon 30 January 2008

Woooo Hooooo - go Jamaica go !!!!

Love to Bernard and the rest of the crew xx

4. Gus Steer, Irkutsk, Russia 31 January 2008

Go Jamaica..! Great to see the Rasta Rocket on top
One love
Gus

5. Lucy Mendham, unfortunately at my desk.. 31 January 2008

Go Jamaica!!! So brilliant to see you in the lead - fantastic work Simon, Claire and all the crew. Look forward to seeing you on that podium in Qingdao, Love from Lucy (nova scotia) x x

6. The Jeffery Gang, Gayton 31 January 2008

Hi Dave W

Fantastic sailing - at last Jamaica leading the race.
GO GO GO !
Love J.J

7. Chris Pearson, Birmingham 31 January 2008

Yo Jamaica,

Absolutely fantasic!!!! Well done Simon + crew, just keep that beautiful boat going as we know you can and.......who knows. I know there is a long way to go but you can’t blame us here being more than slightly excited about the possibillities.

One love.
Brummie Chris.

8. Clive, Whitton 31 January 2008

Capt B and all onboard Jamaica, keep on jammin !!! we are all behind you

The Committee

9. billy, lancashire,uk 31 January 2008

hello Jamaica I confess that really Im rooting for hull number but had to tell you its good to see you guys having a spell at the front I always said if youre clever enough you can go just as fast lying in your hammock bacardi breezer in one hand and a bit of rope or a steering wheel in tother this eyeballs out testosterone frenzy sailing is just toooo much like hard work show them how its done. Stir it up little darlins. the ice in the bacardi that is. PS dont tell danny I wrote

10. Chas Smith, Brixham, Devon 31 January 2008

Yo Jamaica,
Good news to see you taking the strain as number one here’s hoping that you’re going to get used to it. Claire I saw your dad in town the other day, he didn’t do a jig but was rather pleased with how the boat was doing.
Chas.

11. tom williams, on the water....wakeboarding! 01 February 2008

Nice one dudes - go dad! hope you dont get too much of a head rush being so high up the leaderboard. Were taking bets this end that Dave will stay on for a few more legs! - Go on dare you???? Now wheres that cheque book?

keep it up

Tom and Loz x x x

12. Liz Watson, chichester UK 01 February 2008

Harry, great to see that you are pulling your weight and are now in 1st place, keep it up! Happy sailing, love lizzie

13. roy smith, sherington england 01 February 2008

Oh happy day Oh happy day
When Jamaica was when Jamaica was
Ahead of the fleet.....oh happy day
Ahead of the fleet...... all the way?
lets go Jamaica!

14. SDJG, Middlesex 01 February 2008

Great Stuff Jamaica - keep going, you are beginning to make it look easy....Bernard, see you soon for a catch up beer, or two?

S, D, J, G

15. tony & norma reynolds, south wales 02 February 2008

Superb tactics Simon.Enjoy the “Pole Position” Beware “The Black Pearl” is hunting you down!Keep up the good work,clearly the “chiilling and jamming"is paying off.Love to all onboard,stay safe

16. Neil Bone, At Home and upright 02 February 2008

Well done Jamaica. We all knew you could do it so now keep it up.
Congratulations to Simon and all of the crew - new and RTW! Just shows what happens when the dead weight leaves the ship.
Regards to all,
Neil.

17. Dawn, Wantage 03 February 2008

Well done, it is refreshing and a joy to see you in the lead. Keep it up! Love to Bernard and best wishes to all of you. Keep it up........
Dawn x

18. Kent Cassels, Rio de Janeiro 03 February 2008

Hi Jamaica, well done and keep up the good work!! Simon, great to see you on top bud - eat ‘em up!! Cheers from Rio

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