Clipper 2002/2003 Race - Slow and slower
08:30, 16 August 2003
by Tim Hedges

After an impossibly slow day yesterday, the tail end of the fleet are now making some progress, but only some as the merest hint of breeze swings slowly round from the southwest to the north east. A 12 hour run of 45 miles and 37 miles is not normally something to write home about, but for the crews of Glasgow and Liverpool respectively even this is a vast improvement on the 17 miles they managed between 0300 and 1500 yesterday. New York too have slowly found some pressure for their limp sails taking another 26 miles from the distance to the city of their adoptive city to add to the 16 from yesterday.

Cape Town however have not been so fortunate and have actually lost speed since yesterday, managing only 14 miles in the last 12 hours, a soul destroying average of just over 1 mile an hour! The west is obviously not the place to be, and it is interesting to see that up ahead both Hong Kong and Jersey have also slowed somewhat. Though sailing at speeds that others would give their last Rollo for, both have experienced a fairly major deceleration over the two 12 hour periods since 0300 yesterday; 70 miles to down to 51 for Jersey and more significantly 101 down to 28 for Hong Kong, and this could be the opening that Bristol need. Though still 200 miles behind Hong Kong they have today's highest run and will be desperate to claw back some of those lost miles. Though unlikely to catch Jersey, such things are not totally impossible and Hong Kong could be within reach given that both still have over 1000 miles left to sail. But for Bristol the most important factor will be increasing their margin on those behind as a third place will keep them as leaders overall.

Meanwhile London have not had an easy time. Completely becalmed and still experiencing charging problems Skipper Rory Gullard faced some tough calculations. The main engine uses far more fuel to charge the ships batteries than the smaller generator. This meant that they were depleting their fuel supply at a much faster than average rate. They sat at the back of the fleet with over 1,500 miles to the finsh, and it seemed that the boats ahead could well get the breeze first and sail off further out of reach. After consulting Race Director Colin de Mowbray, Rory took the most seamanlike option available starting his engine to motor up towards a Rendez vous with Ross Daniel on board New York to carry out a fuel transfer. This they have now done and Rory and his crew will be considering their options, but at least they now have the security of a full tank of fuel. New York's progress was not adversely affected and they continue racing. The Race Committee will be considering London's actions in full and will make recommendations accordingly.

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