It was all just too quiet.
09:00, 12 July 2003
by Tim Hedges

The fleet continue to make good progress towards Salvador with 200 miles plus being the norm over the last 24 hours, but as the boats head up into the tropics conditions have been getting trickier. Idyllic visions of tropical sailing have been replaced by the realities of overcast skies, stronger winds and potent squalls.

Yesterday's report described the situation on Glasgow when a powerful gust ripped off the head of their spinnaker. They are now sailing with poled out headsail in about 25 knots of true wind. Bristol skipper Richard Butler has described in his diary the intense pressure of remaining in constant readiness to peel or drop, with someone almost permanently stationed at the end of the pole. Jersey, already suffering at the back of the fleet, will thank no one for some fairly severe sail damage they experienced a couple of days ago. Skipper Simon Rowell is keeping the details close to his chest, but any sailmakers in Salvador better clear their calendars.

But the worst story so far has come from London. Skipper Rory Guillard reported yesterday that London had been hit without warning by a massive squall. The wind had been fairly steady at around 18 knots true, comfortable conditions for the medium weight spinnaker, when it suddenly increased. The crew prepared to lower the sail but were unable to get it down before the helmsman lost control and the boat broached violently. The crew did manage to get three quarters of the sail down, but sadly the remaining quarter remained at the top of the mast. In the process, with the boat lying right over on its side, water steamed into the saloon through an open hatch, and the No. 2 jib, which was lashed on the deck, washed straight overboard. When skipper and crew eventually got things back under control, and a crewmember had retrieved the remains of the spinnaker from the masthead, they were left with a very wet boat, a ruined spinnaker, no No. 2 jib and an SSB radio that had turned up its toes meaning they no longer had radio contact with the rest of the fleet. Luckily their satellite communications remained intact so they were able to relay the sorry tail to race HQ, and to confirm that despite the excitement the crew were all well.

With no SSB radio, they are unable to take part in the daily radio reports and will be sending their positions to us direct via satellite, however the times of receipt may be somewhat erratic over the next day or so.

As for the racing, that continues apace with New York maintaining their lead, Cape Town still in second, and now heading further north again, and Bristol fighting valiantly for to take back second place. There is then about a150 mile gap to the south east before Glasgow, Hong Kong and Liverpool who are all close contenders for fourth place, and Jersey who will not be at all content to remain in 8th. There is still a long way to go.

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