Clipper Round the World Race

[TonyS]

How does Richard Hewson do it? He, on Gold Coast Australia, has won each of the 4 legs to Oz including 3 ocean crossings by days or hundreds of miles. He sailed hundreds of miles further than the others on this leg and found the wind that eluded the other 9 crews. The boats are identical. You would think the other skippers would follow him but no they just sail into the centre of highs and stall.

 

[cgull]

I wonder how he does it, seems to get a big lead at the start and maintains it throughout the leg,just looked and they are almost in port, some 450 miles ahead. But looking at the skippers details he has a lot of good experience, would be good to sail on that boat!

 

[TonyS]

I would feel sick if I was on Edinburgh. On each leg they only get half the time in port compared to Gold Coast. Must be poor for morale. Also Gold Coast did it without their main spinnaker which had to be cut away after a wrap!

 

[KellysEye]

It's often down to the crew. If they insist on taking turns doing everything they will be at the back of the pack. If they agree to things such as the best helmsmen helm the best trimmers etc. Those who can't do the cooking. Add in a good skipper and you get a top three boat.

 

[TonyS]

It's often down to the crew. If they insist on taking turns doing everything they will be at the back of the pack. If they agree to things such as the best helmsmen helm the best trimmers etc. Those who can't do the cooking. Add in a good skipper and you get a top three boat.

That is interesting. Have you been on the race?
There is not a lot given away even in the crew blogs. However, GC seem to have a regular competition for the fastest speed reading between watches and people are recorded as excellent trimmers. You never find anything on Edinburgh referring to performance. All the crew on GC refer to the gourmet meals which sounds as if they have some expert cooks. The skipper himself puts it down to good management in today's race news.

 

[davidwf]

I think the Skipper of GC is the key the way he skirted the High to keep in the good winds whilst the rest went straight into it was particularily impressive. However he has sailed those waters before so I expect local knowledge also helped.

Have a friend on De Large Landen which is doing better after they changed skippers and looks to be coming in 2nd today.

If you look at timings the fleet are due to sail out onto the next leg 6th November a week today, GC arrived yesterday so has a full week to turn the boat around and get the crew rested. If you look at Singapore in 9th ( Edingburgh is in Stealth mode) they have another 524 nm to run and only made 41nm in last 12 hours. Assuming they up their pace and cover 200nm a day that means they will arrive in 2 1/2 days time say 2nd Nov and have to turn the boat around and rest the crew in 4 days as opposeds to GC with 7 days.

If you end up last I think it's very hard to get into the front given the short stopovers in port.

There is a great Andriod App and I suspect an Iphone one to if you want to follow the race.

 

[JKay]

Discovery channel 520 on sky

I hour programme ref clipper race and crews now on