Clipper 2002 Race

[tome]

Anyone following this? I'm in armchair sailing mode as boat's out of the water having bottom manicured.

Our interest stems from Karens brilliant Day Skipper instructor Sam Fuller who is skipper of New York Clipper - youngest skipper and first female. There's a twice daily update on their web site and they left Liverpool for Lisbon Monday.

My dosh is firmly on Sam for the first race. She's way to the W of the fleet now and should get a good slant when the next low brings SW winds across Biscay.

Anyway, http://www.clipper-ventures2.com/raceviewer/index.htm if anyone wants to take a look.

Tom

 

[sailbadthesinner]

saw the entire fleet in falmouth seeking shelter when i was.

i ain't old but christ the crews look young. ( some nice totty on board bristol BTW)
anyway mum saw them set off with a friend who had a flat overlooking the mersey.

they don't half look small with a crew of 14 /15 on them.
thanks for the web site will follow now.

Come on brain.get this over and i can go back to killing you with beer

 

[ccscott49]

Big bruv was there to see them off, start delayed due to bad weather, but saw them off! He thought they looked the part! But mentioned how much money Sir RKJ must be making!

 

[Peppermint]

I always follow this one..

..as A. I delivered the first boat, now NY Clipper, from Ipswich to Plymouth and
B. for most of the time in the UK they, like "Peppermint", are based in Shamrock Quay.

My moneys on London either for the race or the biggest parties. They've got a massive boat fund.

As to RNJ making a fortune well it might make up for last time and for all of those "Project" racing boats that don't seem to work very hard.

Tom

 

[sailbadthesinner]

aay it was cancelled due to bad weather
that afternoonmum heard holyhead lifeboat was called out to the harbour as red flare was seen
coast guard and lifeboat crew called boat went round harbour
after a while kids were seen runnning from scene

bloody dangerous that
some people

Come on brain.get this over and i can go back to killing you with beer

 

[Jeremy_W]

My money's on Jersey for the first leg as they've the highest proportion of dinghy sailors. Sam Fuller is the Clipper team's least favourite skipper as she hasn't got the hang of being available to the Press.

 

[tome]

Hah!

When did PR skills ever win a race? Sam's the one and Jerseys not read the weather. She's got some bottle and is well west of the fleet, perfect position for a fast reach when the rest of them will be beating.

Watch this space and be ready to swallow your words...

 

[Jeremy_W]

I don't know what makes you think PR skills win yacht races. As for Jersey, I think that the proportion of dinghy sailors is very pertinent to boat speed.

Sam's been banging the corners for most of the summer. She's very happy to be right out on one side or other of the fleet. Get it right and you win. Get it wrong and you can be last by a large margin and have a major motivational task to lift your crew's spirits for the next leg. Get it wrong twice in a row and face a crew mutiny!

 

[tome]

Jeremy

Re-read mine re PR skills, your post is a bit off-message if you'll forgive my Blair-yuk.

Bunch of dinghy sailors can maintain boat speed no doubt, but this is no race round the cans. Sam's gone bold on this leg and whatever the outcome she'll comand a great deal of respect from her crew.

Looks like there's little wind when they pass Finnistere so it could end in a frustrating maul to the finish. My money's still on Sam and I bet she take's the lead over the next couple of days.

 

[tome]

From 1000 report today, includes quote from Adam Kyffin skipper Liverpool which has sadly been forced to retire due to crew injury:

"On the sailing front Jersey leads London and the gaggle following at around 9' 20/30 West, namely Hong Kong, Bristol and Glasgow. Cape Town's charge to catch up has faltered as she has hit head winds. That leaves New York, currently in third place but well out to windward at 10' 34W. When speaking to Adam this morning, he simple said 'New York have got this race'. "

 

[Jeremy_W]

Maybe Adam was premature

1600 hrs 04/11/02.
Jersey 61.3 miles to finish
New York 70.3 miles to finish

 

[tome]

Re: Maybe Adam was premature

20:30 04/11/02
Jersey 23.2 miles DTF
New York 35.4 DTF

Jersey's gambled on the inshore route and have gained wind, good on them it was a sensible call. Disappointed, but it's only race 1 and I hope Sam can pull off 3rd place.

Liverpool haven't done badly either! They sure as hell can land a casulaty and get under way quicker than Cape Town can undo a spinnaker wrap.

So 1-0 to the dinghy sailors...watch this space!

 

[Jeremy_W]

Sam's made a bold dash to the West again. One of the Liverpool crew told me that Sam was absolutely fearless about "sailing her own race" as he put it, during the training races. It certainly adds to the entertainment value.
All the others have gone for the old cruising rule about heading South till the butter melts, then hang a right.