​Time penalty for CV25

The Clipper Race Committee is announcing that CV25, Punta del Este, has been given a six-hour time penalty as a result of breaching part of the Clipper Race Course Instructions for Race 3: The Spinlock South Atlantic Showdown. Exclusion zones are written into the Course Instructions as an additional safety precaution.

In Race 3 there is a three nautical mile exclusion zone from all coastline, islands and off lying hazards (awash or above the water at chart datum), and in addition, no Clipper Race yacht is to roam into an area of less than 15m deep (chart datum). This was very clearly briefed to all Skippers prior to departing from Punta del Este.

At 1400 UTC on 8 November, Punta del Este inadvertently closed within three nautical miles of the Western Cape prior to closing within three nautical miles of Green Point Lighthouse. Although no advantage was sought or gained, this is a clear breach of the exclusion zone within the Race 3 Course Instructions.

The Clipper Race Committee has looked at all evidence and has been unanimous in its decision today to apply a six-hour time penalty, which is the minimum time penalty to be given in these circumstances. This penalty is added to the team’s elapsed time which will affect its overall finish position. The result of this is that Punta del Este’s finishing position will change from second to fourth place. Unicef and Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam will move up to second and third place respectively.

Punta del Este’s bonus point gained during the Scoring Gate is not affected.