Admiral of the North
09:13, 08 July 2003
by Colin de Mowbray

The right hook northern boys are in seventh heaven. Ross Daniel and the New York crew now have a healthy 35 mile lead as they have managed to keep the wind by a brilliant outflanking movement on all the others. However they are not alone in their glory as Roger Steven-Jennings is also on a northern flyer. London was a little late to join the party but has still been doing well - but some others have a much sadder tale to tell.

And how the mighty have fallen …The four boats in the south have all suffered by cutting the corner and falling prey to the High. Interestingly, although previous leaders Glasgow and Hong Kong have now dropped to 5th and 6th, some 120 miles behind the leader, it was Jersey slightly further north that suffered worse. Their 24 hour run at 1500 of 38 miles was a bitter pill, especially compared with New York's 168 miles. They have finally got underway again but are in 8th place and 176 miles from the leader. Liverpool is the fourth member of this gang and has been fairing little better and is down to 7th place wondering what they can possible do to make amends.

Bristol Clipper's excellent website (http://www.bristolclipper.com ) publishes a 'What the Butler wrote' column which gives a very honest insight to how Skipper Binks sees the race tactics. He explained he was not initially prepared to shoot off on a flyer to the north as his interest was best served covering Jersey. He now accepts the value of heading for the wind at all costs and his brave strategy has been well rewarded. They have been steaming for the last 12 hours and are back in fourth place.

Most of the fleet have now crossed their starting longitude at Liverpool of 003'W. Simon Rowell in Jersey however decided that this goal looked too far away on his present progress so decided that such a desperate situation required desperate means. They have sacrificed their only bottle on board to the Great Wind God. Many thanks to the good guys in Sea Point Spar - Jersey have once again got some wind and are on their way with an average speed of over 5 knots.

The route to Salvador is very similar to the famous Cape to Rio race which the Royal Cape Yacht Club run every three years. The last race was run in January this year and was reported by the newscaster on the radio as the Cape to 10 Rand race (… as in R 10). The three young South Africans crew members in Cape Town Clipper have all done this race and will be taking all the credit for their present success. My personal view is that Roger Steven- Jennings, who is a serving Captain in the South African Navy, will have been taking advice from the three Admirals who are based in Cape Town and had doubtless been discussing his plans for his return - the threat of being appointed to the Ministry in Pretoria seems to be working.

48 hours ago, Cape Town crewmember Peter Horwood reported: 'I gather that my mother is on the phone to my wife at regular intervals asking why Cape Town are in last place. I reported that we have a plan which we reckon is a good one and we ask that you remain patient and everything will be OK. We have invested as much as we dare in travelling North and now we have, in the last few hours gybed and turned to a more Westerly course. In the next couple of days we shall begin to see what sort of advantage we have gained over our southerly competitors.' Nice one cape Town!

Source: Clipper 2002/2003 Round The World Race Official Site