Race Director's Report
Race 11: Panama to New York, USA

The Panama Canal is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the Clipper Race. I have transited it twice in my career and both times it was stunningly awesome. Its combination of carved out canal and inter-connecting lakes is astonishing.

After the fleet had regrouped on the Caribbean side of the canal it got under way again using a Le Mans start.

The first part of this race is usually always a light airs beat to the south-eastern corner of Cuba. Excellent helming is required to make sure you can make it in one long tack and through the Windward Passage. This stretch of water between Haiti and Cuba proved a real challenge for the fleet, as the wind started to come from a more north-easterly direction. It shook the fleet positions up with some surprising results. Visit Seattle found itself coming out of the islands in first place. No mean feat as the wind started to switch off and every metre was fought for. It also became tactical as to which side of the many islands one should pass.

As the fleet progressed north, there they were again, ClipperTelemed+. Finally it had found some form and was commanding once again. Garmin was also continuing to prove itself with another consistent performance, whilst Visit Seattle slipped back a little.

Then came the final drag race of 700 or so miles into New York Harbour. Would ClipperTelemed+ hang on for a very well deserved bullet or be the bridesmaids again. On the approach to the finish line and neck and neck with Garmin they both started to suffer from wind holes and light, fluky winds. A stressful time for any racing Skipper, as I know only too well. ClipperTelemed+ did hang on for its first bullet with Garmin second and Visit Seattle scoring its very first podium win.