The Official
Website of the
International
Sailing Federation

As the forecast predicted, virtually all the boats experienced squally conditions with frequent showers and for several hours were forced to sail close hauled into a south westerly, a situation reflected in today's lower mileages.

Jersey Clipper still clings to the lead but only just with Bristol just a mile further back, but the real winner from this particular hand has been Adam Kyffin and his Liverpudlian crew. A strong third for several days now, Liverpool Clipper have nonetheless been continually looking over their shoulder towards London who remained just a few miles behind, doggedly determined to regain their initial podium spot. Today though they can look solidly forward. The highest run of the fleet has put Liverpool Clipper within 11 miles of Bristol, whilst London has lost nearly 20 miles on the leader.

Hong Kong and Glasgow remain joined at the hip, but Rupert Parkhouse and the Glasgow crew retain the upper hand just over 6 miles to the north west. They will be out of visual contact at deck level, but with radar or a sharp eyed crew member up the mast keeping tabs on the other's actions they are likely to continue to shadow each other in an exciting race to the finish.

After the drama of their man overboard, Cape Town Clipper are back up and running and despite a lower days run have their sights well and truly fixed on the finish line as they aim for the island of Oahu, whilst further back Sam Fuller and the New York crew are wishing that the boats ahead would run out of wind for at least 24 hours. The consolation for them is that though it is now unlikely they will avoid an 8th place finish, the party will be in full swing by the time they get there!

Potentially one of the most exciting developments in today's positions is the track that Jersey seem to be taking through the islands. Unless they gybe north which looks unlikely they will pass through the Alenuihaha channel between The Big Island of Hawaii and Maui, whilst the rest of the fleet look set to take an outside route to Oahu.

Latest Positions

04:00, 30 January 2003