Clipper 2002/2003 Race - London's on a mission
06:41, 21 September 2003
by Colin de Mowbray

The only thing certain for this race is that it remains wide open. Liverpool outflanked Bristol in the north and now leads their trailblazer by a small cushion of 3 miles. These two boats to the north had the windward advantage until yesterday afternoon. Now Jersey to the south is the windward boat but they dropped right back yesterday and at one point were 39 miles behind the leading pair. In the last 12 hours Jersey supporters can take heart as, with their freer wind, they reclaimed 15 of those miles. At 0600 GMT Liverpool and Bristol have been averaging 7 knots since the 0300 Radio schedule and Jersey has averaged 8.5 and have taken another 5 miles out of the lead.

While the excitement may appear to surround these three there is a joker in the pack who could have the last laugh. Rory Gillard and the crew of London Clipper have been making steady progress at each successive 12 hour radio schedule. They have taken a middling course between the two northern boats and Jersey in the south. This took them into third place yesterday evening and they continue to lead Jersey as the two groups converge. Gentlemen, we have a four horse race ….

Of special interest is that neither London nor Liverpool have managed a win in any of the previous races despite being regular front runners. Both are well capable of achieving a win in this race and it is a reflection on the spirit within the fleet in that if either did achieve this it would be an enormously popular victory.

Positions are changing further back with Justin Taylor's southerly lunge now paying dividends which has enable Hong Kong to re-take Glasgow for sixth place but they still remain 30 miles astern of New York which is presently going well but does not have any playmates near at hand.

Glasgow are now 5 miles directly astern of Hong Kong but one slip and they could get through. Further back the crew of Cape Town remain in good heart but the weather has been unkind to them and they have been the last to benefit from the change in the wind direction. Sometimes this is a cruel and agonising sport but they will now be sailing fast and be totally focused on reaching Jersey.

After the question of who is going to win this race the biggest question is 'When will the boats arrive?' The good news is that the small depression that has caused them to slow over the last 36 hours will now become their friend. The SW winds will speed the boats towards Jersey and this is making the planning look brighter. I still refuse to mislead everyone by publishing the ETAs that everyone wants to hear as opposed to realistic ones. The strong winds will start to die down on Tuesday but it appears they may remain stronger for longer (have they been getting my Viagra junk mail?). My estimate is that the first boats will arrive at St Helier at midnight on Monday or early Tuesday morning. (Remember that traditionally they arrive at 0300). Anything before this must be looked upon as a bonus; sometimes bonuses happen…..

The one certain planning factor is that they will depart the harbour at about 0600BST on Wednesday 24 September to catch the ebb tide to take them up to Land's End and then north to Holyhead and Liverpool.

For all supporters in Jersey, the plan is to meet at the St Helier Yacht Club this evening (Sunday) where Sarah Beaugeard will update everyone further.

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