Whale Of A Collision In Day 2 Of Clipper Race’s Cape Town Leg

5th October 2017

MacDara Conroy

PSP Logistics is returning to port for emergency rudder repairs Credit: Clipper Ventures

#ClipperRace - PSP Logistics is returning to Punta del Este today (Thursday 5 October) after a collision with a whale in the first 24 hours of the Clipper Race’s second leg caused damage to the starboard rudder.

All crew on board are safe and well and there is no risk to the yacht, but race control has instructed the team to motor-sail back to Uruguay for full repairs.

It’s a disaster for PSP Logistics, who were in fifth place in the standings — and second to arrive in Punta del Este — after the first leg from Liverpool was completed a fortnight ago.

Racing remains tight for the top eight teams out of Uruguay, spread out over just 17 nautical miles as of 3pm this afternoon Irish time.

Yesterday’s “windy and wild” start for the Stormhoek Race to the Cape of Storms saw leaders Dare To Lead play their Joker Card, meaning they will double any points earned on crossing the finish line in Cape Town around two weeks from now.

“We had an awful start in 40 knots of wind and we made some bad mistakes, but actually have ended up in good shape, pushing hard through this wild night,” said Dare To Lead’s skipper — and Capetonian — Dale Smith.

Liverpool 2018 were first across the Leg 2 start line but are pushing to keep second away from Visit Seattle just 2.5nm behind. Greetings, Garmin, GREAT Britain and Sanya Serenity Coast round out the chasing pack.

Qingdao slipped from third down to eight, at which point the fleet spreads out, with NASDAQ some 30nm behind the leaders, Northern Irish-skippered HotelPlanner.com about 6nm behind them in 10th, and UNICEF backmarking almost 60nm from the leaders.

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.