Clipper 2002/2003 Race - The Scousers do it again!
17:42, 29 July 2003
by Sarah Beaugeard

Adam and his magnificent crew lead the way to New York ....

Well, it seems that Liverpool Clipper have decided that they like stealing the glory of Race Starts by stealing away another brilliant race start. At 1215 local time, Race 14 from Salvador to New York got underway.

As the fleet prepared this morning in torrential rain it looked as though the race start was going to be uncharacteristically wet. Thankfully the sun gods smiled at us and once more the squalls passed as the brilliant sun came out again. Liverpool Clipper crossed the line first, with fairecrackers exploding onshore they had a nice distance between themselves and Bristol Clipper who were in hot pursuit. Slipping into third Rupert Parkhouse and his team were trimming hard as they passed the committee boat. Following on from them, a close pack of four. Cape Town, Jersey, Hong Kong and London all squeezed through the line between the committee boat and the lighthouse just off the breakwater of the CENAB centre where the fleet has been based for the stopover.

Winning the prize for having the longest stopover, New York Clipper skippered by Ross Daniel were obviously reluctant to leave. Having arrived first into Salvador, they were the last boat to cross the start line. Something I don’t think Ross had planned however, the race is on and the chase has begun…with his crew sporting new t-shirts with the slogan “Go get em Rosco” across the back I don’t think they are planning to stay at the back for long as they race to take their boat to its namesake city.

As the mini flotilla of spectator boats, press and committee boats made their way up the coast the fleet was already splitting. London Clipper had chosen to stay closer into shore than others, which does not appear to have done her any favours. Further out to sea, Jersey Clipper who had inched their way up the fleet were almost abreast of Glasgow Clipper and closely chasing Bristol. Adam Kyffin was proudly helming Liverpool Clipper out in front as they passed the St Antonio Lighthouse at least half a mile in front of the fleet. The next twelve hours will reveal how they all fare.

Judging from the weather onshore over the past few days the fleet will spend their first night at sea in fairly squally conditions. At present there is a nice breeze blowing, about a force 4, which in fairly calm seas should make for a lovely nights sailing for the beginning of the final leg, Leg 6 of the Clipper 2002 Round the World Yacht Race.

Once more we are now sitting in a slightly quieter CENAB centre. The bar is as empty as the eight berths that had provided a great home to the Clipper fleet once more. Many thanks to all of the staff here who have made Salvador feel like a home from home for all of us. As the crews race towards currents which will whiz them along the coast, the Doldrums that they hope to avoid and the Eastern seaboard of the USA the next *‘Club Sandwich’ of a race promises to be a great one to watch and there is only one thing left to say:

Next stop New York!

*Nautical term copyright Colin de Mowbray

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