#ClipperRace - Life at an angle continues on Tuesday 5 June — Day 2 of Race 11: Nasdaq Race from Panama to New York — with the Clipper Race teams calculating their best approach to the first mandatory gate between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
The fleet remains split in two after yesterday’s start, though all teams are now on a starboard northerly tack. The group to the west remains strongest on the leaderboard, but the racing is tight in the leading pack, with just 18 nautical miles between first and eighth place.
Sanya Serenity Coast is currently second in the standings and skipper Wendy Tuck comments: “We have another day or so to go bashing away upwind and then the tricky tactics of which way to go through the islands. We are in AIS range with about six other boats so always nice to have company.”
Conall Morrison, skipper of third-placed HotelPlanner.com, adds: “Lots of boats are close on AIS and we can compare performance and sail plans against each other. PSP Logistics, GREAT Britain, and Nasdaq have taken a different route from the bulk of the fleet so time will tell which option works out better.”
PSP Logistics remains the most easterly team and those on board are still getting used to close-hauled racing, as skipper Matt Mitchell explains: “We should have a few days of this before we can get north enough to break out of the headwinds where we are likely to get some light winds before getting into the Trades proper to the north.”
While the east-north-easterly wind has strengthened slightly in the last 24 hours, so far, the tropics have been kind, with only a little squall activity expected ahead.
And in further good news, Clipper Race meteorologist Simon Rowell reports that as the ridge of the high-pressure system heads north, it should result in a burst of wind to move the fleet through the Caribbean island maze.
The 1,900 nautical mile race to New York is expected to take approximately 12 days, with the teams due to arrive at Liberty Landing Marina between next Thursday 14 and Friday 16 June.
While Race 11 is comparatively shorter than previous ocean crossings the crews have experienced so far, it is a tactically tough race as the route passes through a complex arrangement of islands and reefs.
Following this, fickle winds are also expected off North America so the competition will be one of frequent sail changes. Distance will be lost as quickly as it is gained so the pressure is on for the fleet.
Clipper Race director Mark Light explains: “Teams should not be complacent with the shorter distance of this race -- it is going to be tactically tough. The crew will need to look out for big squalls at night and the Race Office will be keeping a watchful eye out for any tropical revolving storms.
“After navigating the obstacles of the Caribbean Islands and their reefs, the route will skim the Bermuda Triangle and should try to make the most of the Gulf Stream that follows the eastern coastline of the United States -- extra gains of up to two to three knots can be made.
“With just three races remaining in this 40,000nm circumnavigation, it could not be closer in the fight for final podium positions. Race 10 proved that anything can happen in ocean racing as positions changed right up to the finish line.”
