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As the Clipper fleet looked on, marvelling at the concept of going sailing for five hours and coming home to a hot shower and a bar, rather that going off watch to cook for fifteen, some were lucky enough to catch a ride. From Ocean racing to round the cans chasing, a refreshing change!

Suddenly tired skippers and crew were bouncing round foredecks and marvelling at the wanders of Kevlar and carbon. The biggest complaint of the day came from Simon Rowell, there was no kettle onboard the Etchells he was racing. Sailing without such an important tool is something he does not like to do very often!

Meanwhile further up the fleet a beaming Rory Gillard got line honours with the team that he had actually raced with before. Rory surprised us all by going out racing the day he arrived here! Probably the fists skipper I have ever come across who was keen to get back on a boat after finishing a leg of the Clipper Race! Well done Rory!

Excitement is building as lots of new faces arrive in the yacht club. This is a major changeover point in the race, with some boats will be gaining up to six new crew. This is great and is going to bring a breath of fresh air into the fleet. New jokes, news from home and new books always go down a treat! It does however mean that there are a lot of goodbyes to say. Suddenly some of the major characters of the fleet are no longer standing at the bar or singing on the stage, faces that you assume you will see are no longer there. This being the nature of the race, crew get used to changes at the end of each leg, however, for some 'Round the Worlders' it will mean a total change in the personality of what has now become their home. Before we turn the page and start the second half of this race, we would like to wish everyone who is leaving our Clipper family here, 'Bon Voyage' See you in Liverpool!