Clipper
2002/2003 Race - Steady Progress past Nantucket
05:08, 06 September 2003
by Colin de Mowbray
The
8 Clipper yachts are progressing to plan to Halifax.
During the night they are passing to the south
of the Nantucket shoals where the shallow water
stretches 60 miles south of the famous Cape Cod.
To the north west of them they have the world
famous sailing centre of Newport while directly
north is the island of Martha's Vineyard. The
latter is aptly named as Assistant Race Director,
Tim Hedges and his wife Rebecca will be celebrating
their daughter Martha's first birthday this week
end. For the record (and because I am writing
this report and not Tim) I would just remind the
world that they met when Tim was Skipper of Chrysolite
(now Glasgow) and Rebecca was a crewmember in
Mermerus (now Jersey).
Moving
on to hurricanes, Bermuda has had a direct hit
from Fabian which is now tracking north along
the predicted path. The Clippers will experience
the long swell from the hurricane and they may
get some northerly winds but the storm will pass
safely to the east of them. Presently they have
calm conditions and the mist has come back so
they will be watching their radars carefully.
Apart
from being 'Jaws' country the area to the north
of them is the exclusive summer retreat for many
of America's wealthy families, including of course
the Kennedy tribe.
Arrangements
in Halifax are all confirmed. The Royal Nova Scotia
Yacht Squadron immediately answered the call to
host the Clippers when they arrive. Their club
house is conveniently located to the south of
the harbour as shown on the previous web report
(ARCS Charts). When the Clippers arrive they will
be fuelled and sent on their way as quickly as
possible. They know they are on a mission to get
out to sea and go as fast as possible as they
race across the Atlantic and on to Jersey.
Glasgow
will be re-supplied with more onions as they claims
someone half hitched theirs from the jetty. This
is no joking matter as onions are quite the most
important of all the vegetables carried. Not only
are they used in almost every dish but when stored
in nets they outlast all the other vegetables.
Is this a case of someone knowing Glasgow's onions
as well as their own?
Source:
Clipper
2002/2003 Round The World Race Official Site
