Clipper fleet are fighting hard for consistent breeze

It has been another frustrating 24 hours for the ten international teams participating in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race as  light airs and glassy seas continue to frustrate the fleet’s progress.
 
Visit Finland’s tactical gamble to head on a westerly course has seen the team maintain its lead, whilst Gold Coast Australia, De Lage Landen and Geraldton Western Australia strive to outdo one another, with seven miles separating the three teams.
 
On board the Dutch entry, skipper Stuart Jackson reports that the team is fighting hard to get some constant speeds in the light conditions and for Gold Coast Australia, constant sail changes are on the agenda in a bid to keep moving and to hold the emerging yachts from the east at bay until the wind fills.
 
Geraldton Western Australia has also had a busy night of sail changes which has paid dividend as the team move into a podium position over De Lage Landen.
 
Sailing further east and experiencing marginally steadier conditions are Edinburgh Inspiring Capital and New York; both have entered Stealth Mode overnight, which allows them to race under a cloak of invisibility and conceal their positions from the rest of the fleet for a period of 24 hours.
 
Singapore has taken a tactical gamble by sailing on a more easterly course in the hope of better conditions. The crew witnessed a rare meteorological phenomenon overnight when a water spout circled the boat.
 
The Race Viewer clearly illustrates how the fleet is beginning to spread out as it heads further north. With less than 1,000 miles to the finish line near New York it will be interesting to see which boats benefit most from their tactical decisions.

Position    Team                                    DTF    DTL

    1    Visit Finland                            932NM    0NM

    2    Gold Coast Australia               957NM    26NM

    3    Geraldton Western Australia    962NM    30NM

    4    De Lage Landen                     965NM    33NM

    5    Qingdao                                973NM    41NM

    6    Derry-Londonderry                980NM    48NM

    7    Welcome to Yorkshire             983NM    51NM

    8    Edinburgh Inspiring Capital      998NM    67NM Stealth Mode

    9    Singapore                             1017NM    85NM

    10    New York                            1053NM    121NM Stealth Mode

- Clipper Race Media