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Posted - 22 Oct 2007 : 10:35:46
"Durban 2010 and Beyond Wins" 1st Leg
Durban 2010 and Beyond has won the second race of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race from La Rochelle to Salvador da Bahia. Crossing the finish line at 15:45 UTC the South African team have gained the maximum 10 points by winning the first ocean crossing and the result has moved them to the top of the overall leader board from their fifth place position at the end of Race 1.
Originally sixth across the start line in La Rochelle on 23 September and ninth heading out into the Bay of Biscay at the start of Race 2, Durban 2010 and Beyond has demonstrated that ocean racing is about long term planning and tactics and not short term gains.
Joff Bailey, Race Director: “Ocean racing is a marathon and not a sprint and Durban 2010 and Beyond has proved this. They have made some good tactical decisions and kept focused to achieve a well earned victory.”
Having crossed the fnish line between the Punta de Santa Antonio headland and the north cardinal buoy marking the Banco de Santo Antonio off the coast of Bahia, Durban 2010 and Beyond is now making its way to the Terminal Maritimo da Bahia where the fleet will be berthed for the duration of their stay in Salvador.
2. Clipper Round the World Race 07/08
Some Clipper news about the Durban visit from Colin da Mowbray
With Ernie's victory in the World Match play golf, the Springbok's victory
over the Pumas and Durban2010 and beyond's forthcoming victory in Race 2 of
the Clipper 07-08* I can think of few better times to write everyone an
introductory note about the Clipper race visit to Durban!
* For latest news check out: www.clipperroundtheworld.com
CLIPPER RACE VISIT TO DURBAN
Estimated Arrival Date: Saturday 17 Nov. (Earliest estimated arrival date:
Thursday 15 Nov)
Race Re-Start: Sunday 25 Nov
Berthing Venue: Durban Marina
Host Yacht Clubs: Point Yacht Club & Royal Natal Yacht Club
OUTLINE PROGRAMME
November
15 Thu Earliest estimated date for first yacht to arrive
17 Sat Estimated time for first arrival
20 Tue 1900 Prize Giving and Mayor's Reception. City Hall
25 Sun 1000 Yachts depart Yacht Mole
1045 Yachts sail past Wilson Wharf (Lady in White sings)
1300 Race Re-Start off North Beach
Note: Various additional events will be added to this outline. Please
contact me to include more events and I will add them to the master
programme.
THE RACE VISIT!
The Clipper Race visit to Durban in November 2005 was a great success. It is
everyone's intention to build on the previous visit and make the forthcoming
one into a flagship event for the city. To do this we need to pass the word
and get everyone involved and excited so that the visit is enjoyed by a wide
selection of people, and especially those outside the sailing community.
I ask for your help in passing the word about the visit and thinking of ways
that everyone can get the maximum advantage from the race visit. There will
be opportunities for visits to the yachts for organised groups, schools and
so on. The Yacht Mole area will become alive and once again I am sure the
race will leave a legacy with the city when it departs.
With the excitement of the World Cup Soccer Draw on 25 November, the race
start, which is on this day also, is timed to act as a major attraction and
will be yet another example of showing Durban to best effect on the world
stage.
I can not guarantee that Durban 2010 and beyond will win into her home port,
but I can promise a great show from all ten yachts. I have no doubt that
everyone will support the race visit and make it an outstanding event.
Please feel free to contact me or any of those listed below with any ideas.
http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/multimedia/race_viewer/
Info supplied with thanks from Point Yacht Club - Durban |
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Posted - 18 Nov 2007 : 08:45:12
Durban welcomes Nova Scotia
17 November 2007
Nova Scotia has crossed the finishing line just off Durban and has now joined the other nine yachts in the Clipper fleet that are already berthed in Durban Marina having completed Leg 2 in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race.
At the Royal Natal Yacht Club, the oldest sports club in Africa, Skipper Rob McInally and his crew tucked into the supper of bacon and eggs and cold beer offered to every sailor arriving there at the end of an ocean race.
He said, “It’s been a very exciting race, we’ve had some fantastic sailing. It’s been a bit slow over the last few days but it’s been such an amazing welcome. It’s absolutely fantastic to be in Durban. We’re just overwhelmed at the welcome we’ve had.”
Also on the pontoon to greet one of the Nova Scotia crew in particular was Operations Director of Clipper 07-08, Colin de Mowbray. He presented a bouquet of flowers to round the world crew member Dr Lucy Mendham who helped treat him when he suffered a heart attack during the stopover in La Rochelle.
Line honours in Race 3 of Clipper 07-08 went to Hull & Humber, who crossed the line at 0108 local (2308 GMT) on Thursday 15 November, followed six minutes later by New York at 0114 local (2314 GMT) who will take the points for first place after Hull & Humber incurred a four-hour time penalty for not returning to the point where they stopped racing and started their engine in order to carry out a medical evacuation.
Of this race Rob says, “We didn’t exactly come first, however there were lots of wins along the way. We’ve developed as a crew, developed as a team, we’ve all got so much better with the helming and faced we some great weather and for the future it’s really looking good.”
Overnight crowds welcomed westernaustralia2011.com who arrived just ahead of the home favourite, Durban 2010 and Beyond at the end of the gruelling race across the south Atlantic.
Durban-born skipper, Ricky Chalmers, whose parents and brother were in the marina to greet him, said, “I have never sailed into Durban before. It’s such a thrill and it’s fantastic to be here.”
In the last stages of the race Durban 2010 and Beyond suffered a ripped mainsail but managed to keep pace with their southern hemisphere rivals until the last few miles.
Uniquely Singapore arrived just half an hour behind them and Jamaica tied up alongside as dawn broke over the South African city. There was no let up in the rain though. Ironically the light airs that had dogged the tail end of the fleet, slowing their progress into port, disappeared and strong winds made pulling alongside a tricky operation for the skippers at the helm of the 68-foot yachts.
After a traditional Zulu welcome the crews were treated to bacon and eggs and beers in the Royal Natal Yacht Club, which is hosting the fleet along with Point Yacht Club. Many have been reunited with friends and families who have travelled to Durban to meet them and all have been able to catch up with their friends on Hull & Humber, New York, Liverpool 08 and Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper who arrived through the early hours of Friday morning.
The crews have been spending their first day ashore, going through immigration formalities, catching up on some much needed sleep and beginning the important task of preparing the yachts for the next ocean passage and the infamously punishing conditions of the Southern Ocean. There has been little respite in the rain, which means soaked foul weather gear has had no chance to dry out so far.
Leg 3 of the Clipper 07-08 Race from Durban to Fremantle, Western Australia, starts on Sunday 25 November.
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Posted - 17 Nov 2007 : 08:10:47
Durban 2010 and Beyond arrives in home port after tough final day of racing
17 November 2007
Durban 2010 and Beyond arrived in her home port in the early hours of Saturday morning against a backdrop of howling wind and lashing rain. Ricky Chalmers and his team had experienced a tough final day of racing with extensive gear damage including a shredded mainsail as they made their way towards Durban. The South African team crossed the finish line at 0137 local time (2337 GMT) just ahead of Uniquely Singapore who finished at 0216 local time (0016 GMT) after finding some wind in the final hours of racing to carry them to the finish.
“It’s been a pretty tough day,” said Ricky after arriving in Durban. “Earlier today we were had to drop our kedge [anchor] as there was no wind and then suddenly we had 50 knots to deal with.”
Earlier, westernaustralia2011.com crossed the finish line in Durban at 2255 GMT on Friday in a brisk south westerly breeze after a day of battling with light airs.
Skipper Martin Silk said: “It’s been full on for the last few days and I haven’t slept for 48 hours, but it’s great to finally be here.”
Upon arrival in Durban’s Yacht Mole, the crews were given a traditional Zulu greeting followed by a slap up breakfast of bacon, fried eggs and toast in the Royal Natal Yacht Club, co-host of the fleet alongside the Point Yacht Club.
Jamaica was the ninth Clipper to arrive in Durban. Simon Bradley and his team arrived around two hours after the Singaporeans entering the Yacht Mole in torrential rain as dawn broke. Nova Scotia, the last of the ten Clippers still racing, is expected to arrive around Saturday lunchtime.
Durban is experiencing unstable weather at present and the yachts have experienced a tough passage up the South African coastline. The teams have been tested to their limits with constant wind shifts and seemingly endless sail changes
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Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 12:28:23
Too close for comfort
14 November 2007
The racing has got even closer overnight with headwinds slowing down the leaders and bringing up the chasing pack. New York has managed to hang on to first place but only just with Hull & Humber still nipping at their heels and only one mile separating them to the finish. Hull & Humber reported this morning: “Sailing within a quarter of a mile of New York on a fabulous morning under a couple of miles off the coastline. Ten more knots of breeze and it would be perfect!”
If New York can hang on it would be a tremendous victory for the US entry, having had two ninth places so far. Lizzie Nicholas, Race Secretary, acknowledged New York’s great performance in the race from Salvador to Durban: “New York has performed consistently well in this race, making some good tactical decisions and proving that they have what it takes to be competitive in the overall race. If they do relinquish the lead with only 200 miles to go of a 2,400 nautical mile race, they will of course be very disappointed. But a podium finish for them, in any position, will give a huge confidence boost to the crew, it will move them up the leader board and signal to the rest of the fleet that they will need to keep a close eye on them.”
The following pack has also bunched up overnight. Liverpool 08 Skipper, Ben Galloway, described the view that greeted him with daylight this morning: “A bit of a shock to the system this morning! We knew we hadn’t performed as well as we could have done through the night, but it was a very strange sight come sunrise. South Africa to the left of us, beautiful; South Africans (Durban 2010 and Beyond) to the right of us, not quite so pretty; Jocks (Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper) in front of us, so It was with trepidation that we glanced behind to see if the box was complete, thankfully it wasn’t!” However, with Qingdao only 11 nautical miles behind them Liverpool 08 will know that they cannot be complacent in that direction either. Ricky Chalmers, skipper of Durban 2010 and Beyond, is also feeling the pressure of racing in such close quarters: “Liverpool 08 are catching us and Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper are getting away from us - trim guys, TRIM!”
The conditions across the fleet are quite varied at the moment with the lead boats feeling the effects of a north easterly head wind when they need to go north east. With unfavourable wind and the potential negative influence of the current, it will feel like an uphill struggle for the boats. Those boats rounding Port Elizabeth have had a faster angle on the wind enabling them to catch up with the boats ahead. The whole fleet will benefit later today with the local forecast for Durban predicting a shift in the wind to south westerlies which will speed the yachts towards their destination.
Lizzie Nicholas, who arrived in Durban yesterday in preparation for the boats’ arrival, said: “There is much speculation amongst the Durbanites about when the first boats will arrive. The early hours of Thursday has been a favourite prediction but the longer the wind stays in the north east, the more the ETA is pushed out. But they will be getting a very warm welcome at whatever time they arrive!” The race village and host yacht clubs, Point Yacht Club and Royal Natal Yacht Club, are a hub of activity as final preparations are being made for the fleet’s arrival. The race team builds in number today as more of the shore support arrives.
Meanwhile, the South African entertainment and hospitality has started early and the fleet continues to be amazed by the wildlife and beautiful coastline. Both Jamaica and westernautralia2011.com describe visits by pods of whales overnight and some rather close encounters: “Lots of wildlife including whales and plenty of big ships. The whales take avoiding action, the big ships stand on and we avoid!”
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Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 10:31:59
Fleet slow down as conditions ease
10 November 2007
The lead pair of Hull & Humber and New York blasted through the 1000 nautical mile Distance To Finish mark last night with some impressive 12-hour runs as the rest of the fleet began to slow down.
Following a week of steady winds that has provided almost every team with 100+ nautical mile runs every 12-hours this morning’s schedule indicates the speeds are beginning to drop as the weather system that they had been surfing upon moves away. Ricky Chalmers, Durban 2010 and Beyond skipper, commented this morning: “Lumpy, sloppy seas and light winds, it’s been a horrible night flopping nowhere under the 2.2 spinnaker.” Skipper Hannah Jenner on Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper shared the same sentiments: “Looking forward to moving again, trying to motivate a spinnaker to fly when the wind dies and the swell is still running is neither conducive of sleep or sanity!”
Currently lying in 4th place and by far the furthest south of the fleet Liverpool 08 appears to have started the climb north. Ben Galloway the skipper was very optimistic at this mornings schedule about their chances of a podium finish: “A gnats whisker over 1000 nautical miles to the finish we are situated behind New York, Hull & Humber and Qingdao and are confident of moving up positions in the remaining days. Yesterday’s weather file showed those boats to the north will be getting lighter winds and hopefully, a slower point of sail. Only time and the ever-waited for scheds, will tell!”
At the other end of the fleet Nova Scotia is now recovered from the steering mishap is starting to build up speed again. Rob McInally the skipper commented: “Although a little colder it is beautiful. The Southern Cross is so bright and there are lots of stars to guide us at night. Mornings are early and we are sailing in the dark much less than when it’s light. We may be in tenth position but we will still put up a fight.”
The preparations around the marina in Durban are well under way and over the next four or five days the Race Team will be relocating to Durban in preparation for the fleet’s arrival. It is a little bit too early to accurately predict exactly when the lead boats will arrive due to the effects of the Agulhas current and the weather conditions on the east coast of South Africa. This area of South Africa is not called the ‘wild coast’ for nothing. With the surf crashing on the shore line, some fantastic cliffs and rock formations and the weather gods throwing all kinds of electrical storms at you the skippers and crews will have to be on top form along the coast otherwise they could end up losing race positions to their rivals at the last hurdle.
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Posted - 25 Oct 2007 : 15:24:16
Nova Scotia leads fleet across the start line in Salvador
24 October 2007
Nova Scotia was first over the line at the start of Race 3 from Salvador to Durban at midday local time (1500 GMT) on Wednesday in ideal conditions in the Bay of Saints with around 20 knots of easterly breeze and bright Brazilian sunshine. The ten boats opted for their largest headsails, the Yankee 1 and Yankee 2, as they headed towards Durban on their second transatlantic race of the ten-month series.
Uniquely Singapore was hot on the heels of Rob McInally and his Canadian crew as they crossed the line, followed by westernaustralia2011.com and Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper.
Uniquely Singapore opted for an offshore course and managed to pull ahead into first place as they headed off towards Durban in good breeze. Ahead of the race start, Uniquely Singapore Skipper Mark Preedy said: “As ever we have decided to race our own race. The crew is building in confidence and wants to see what they can do in this next race. Our plan involves breaking the ocean crossing down into stages to keep the crew focused during the long passage ahead.”
Durban 2010 and Beyond were last across the line as they started the 4100-mile race to their home port. Earlier today Durban Skipper Ricky Chalmers, who finished Race 2 to Salvador in first place, admitted that the pressure was high for the race into South Africa. “The pressure is on,” said Ricky, who currently leads the race overall. “We’re really looking forward to sailing into our home port and are really excited about the welcome that we know we are going to receive. The boat is ready so bring it on!”
westernaustralia2011.com jostled with Uniquely Singapore for the lead after the start, briefly pulling ahead of the boats closer to the coast. Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper, Jamaica and New York lost the breeze as they headed inshore and fell back down the fleet shortly after the start.
New York Skipper Duggie Gillespie was fifth across the line, after his crew carried out spinnaker repairs until the last moment at the Terminal Maritimo da Bahia. With the repairs to their crucial spinnakers still ongoing, the crew now faces continuing in the cramped quarters onboard in order to gain maximum boat speed en route to Durban.
Qingdao was in the bottom half of the fleet over the line, crossing sixth, followed by Liverpool 08, Jamaica and Hull & Humber with Durban 2010 and Beyond bringing up the rear. Ahead of the start, as his team made final repairs to their damaged spinnakers, Liverpool 08 Skipper Ben Galloway said: “We’re really happy to be in third place at the moment but we plan to push hard on this leg and get a first into Durban. It will be an interesting leg with complicated weather which will be a challenge for the crew, but one which I know they’re looking forward to.”
Hull & Humber Skipper Danny Watson said: “It has been a short but fantastic stopover and I’ve enjoyed being back in Salvador. We’re now looking forward to getting going again and the challenge of another ocean crossing and are looking forward to some Zulu parties in Durban.”
The fleet is expected to arrive in Durban around 17 November.
Article compliments of the the Clipper-round-the-world website
www.clipperroundtheworld.com |
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