Clipper 2002/2003 Race - Make hay whilst the sun shines
10:20, 05 August 2003
by Tim Hedges

All the boats continue to make good progress but there is a certain sense of inevitability in the air. They may all be sailing fast at the moment, but all are aware that the faster they sail north, the sooner they will stop when they eventually run into the ITCZ. This is a real case of making hay whilst the sun shines, but even the boats in the lead know that their gains now may all come to nothing when 200 mile days become a distant memory.

As with the equator, this will be the race's fourth encounter with the notorious doldrums, but familiarity does not help. No matter how experienced, no sailor can avoid the frustration and tedium that this belt of fickle winds and squalls deals to those who cross. The best one can do is to endeavour to pass through it as quickly as possible, and this is where navigational strategy can come into play. By careful study of all available weather information, the teams will all attempt to cross where the band has squeezed to its narrowest point. If they can time it so that they are sailing north when the ITCZ is drifting south then so much the better, though there is a lot of luck involved here. The redeeming feature is that hopefully the crews will find this particular encounter slightly less bruising as others as at this time of year this particular area of ocean is less effected than others they have sailed through.

At the moment though they are all enjoying extremely pleasant sailing conditions, most beam reaching with spinnakers set and poles far forward. The wind has eased to a force 4 and the sea is slight. Although neither the fastest nor most exhilarating of conditions it is a very comfortable way to make progress. The Race officers on the Isle of White could well wish for similar as Cowes week approaches another day of light winds and soaring temperatures. In fact for once the Solent is forecast to be hotter than the 29 degrees C the crews are feeling just off the equator!

The only change in race order sees Bristol gain one place over Liverpool to take 4th place. At the moment the middle of the fleet is certainly the place to watch, especially with London now a mere 0.2 of a mile behind Liverpool. The next few days could be really interesting.

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