Race Director, Colin de Mowbray, sums up the dash to Okinawa:
Looking back this was a race that had everything.
The initial hard and cold blow over the first 36 hours in the tail end of the Japanese winter. Some fast downhill sleigh rides in the middle followed by wind shifts and contrary and unpredictable currents. Next was the warm weather and the perfect calm rounded off by a thrilling run to the finish.
At 860 miles this may have been a short race by Clipper standards but it will be one that all the crew members will certainly remember.
After all these shenanigans where does this leave everyone?
Bristol had the luxury of a good cushion at the top of the table and so they still enjoy a 6 point lead. It does however mean they are not clear ahead and, more importantly, it has shown that even the favourite can have bad results and is not invincible.
Jersey has done well again and their second 2nd place running has put them firmly back into contention.
1625 GMT: Two mile from the finish Bristol moved out and set their spinnaker quietly so the others did not hear. It was a gamble with the wind just ahead of the beam and this time the dice did not fall in their favour and they dropped back 200 metres. London edged ahead of Glasgow just when it mattered and crossed the line 8 seconds ahead of her to take an amazing 5th place. Glasgow was 6th and Bristol 7th by a margin of 68 seconds. All three boats finished with 76 seconds after nearly seven days racing. Phew!
0900 GMT: Liverpool crossed the finishing line at 0856 GMT to win Race 7 of The Times Clipper 2000. Rupert Dean reported that "It has been one tremendous race. Every condition possible and the last 48 hours of calms the most demanding racing I could ever imagine. The crew are fabulous and we are thrilled to bits"
0820 GMT: There are now three groups to this race. Liverpool has managed to fight clear, and should finish at any time after 0900 GMT. The second group is made up of Jersey, Plymouth and Portsmouth and this is just too close to call at present. A good ten miles further astern Bristol, London and Glasgow are all together with Leeds tactically place to surprise us all astern. All the yachts are now indicating speeds of 5 knots or more.
0720 GMT: Liverpool had 9.5 miles to run. They are tracking 249 at 6 knots and just about heading for the southern end of the line.
1300 GMT: The race is set for an exciting finish as the six boats in the lead are separated by just eight miles, reports Race Director Colin de Mowbray. Liverpool retains the lead and has just 45 miles to go to the finish. Bristol has moved back into third place, with 72 miles between her and the island of Okinawa but Portsmouth, Plymouth and London are snapping at her heels. Each is just a mile behind the West Country boat. The sea is very calm but the wind is expected to pick up soon and propel the fleet to the finish line at the revised time of around 2100 GMT.
0300 GMT: Race Director Colin de Mowbray reports that the previous orderly race order is in tatters as fortunes change. Bristol has slipped to fifth place from third while London, previously in eighth position, has had an excellent 24 hours and has now moved up to fourth. Portsmouth has been having a cracking boat-to-boat race with Bristol and has also been able to see Glasgow on the horizon. None of these three are moving much at present but all are hoping that the wind will fill in from the north and prevent the others getting away. The race is expected to finish at around 1400 GMT today.
| Wednesday 14th March / Diary entry |
Bruce Hopkin, onboard the Bristol Clipper:
 Beginning to see some shipping and seabirds as we approach Okinawa and at last it is becoming warmer. We've seen all sorts of weather this race. My first night watch was close hauled in 40 knot winds, second was
becalmed, third was reaching in 20 knots, and fourth running before 15 knots! Tonight may be our last with just 197nm to go. Hope to arrive before dark tomorrow as RKJ advises we cannot enter the "marina" at Naha at night. In heavy weather we feel like a little cluster of honey bees (in our black & yellow oilies) fighting to control a piece of driftwood. It's hard work but the racing keeps us at it. Scary at times as the sea can be harsh and unpredictable, but we have 100% confidence in Bristol Clipper. Given the short notice of route change to Okinawa RKJ had to buy 3 Japanese charts for each yacht (Nos 226, 243 & 1276) so we are using these for our approach. Currently (0452GMT on 14 Mar) at 28deg10minN 130deg31minE. Just 4 knots of wind on a sunny afternoon so we are not making headway given the adverse current here. It may be light, but we are busy playing the shifts and changing sails accordingly. We are in 3rd position with
Portsmouth Clipper in sight just 3 miles ahead. The atmosphere on board changes as the end game commences. Boat speed, VMG (to waypoint at the
finish) and news of other yacht positions as the 12 hour radio "sheds" rule all. Concentration on the race at the moment, but we are all keen to see Okinawa on our surprise visit. Should be interesting! Regards to all. Bruce
Bruce Frank from the UK Hydrographic Office, who is a crew member in Bristol, reports that they are ghosting along in 4 knots of wind on a lovely sunny afternoon. This idealistic setting however is far from restful as they are now match racing with Portsmouth who is less than two miles away. Every wind shift means an alteration of course, tack or gybe as they try to hold their fragile third place.
The estimated finish time for this leg is 1400 GMT on Thursday 15th.
| Tuesday 13th March / Diary entry |
Bruce Hopkin, onboard the Bristol Clipper:
Hello from Japan, or rather offshore at 32deg24minN 137deg25minE. As you have probably heard by now Bristol Clipper won the race from Hawaii to Yokohama! We beat Jersey Clipper by just two miles, after over 3000 miles on separate routes. We spotted them on the opposite tack just ten miles from the finish! Brilliant race! We turned NW just after my
last email on 15 Feb. It soon turned colder, wetter and windier (over 40 knots at times), the workload rocketed, and it took a day for my stomach to remember how to behave. But we soon arrived in Japan - on the 26 Feb.
Yokohama Bayside Marina made us very welcome. Japan and it's people are fascinating. The heated loo seats over here are worth a mention - very comfy but get too hot after a while! We sailed for Shanghai on 5 Mar, but 40-50 knot winds resulted in damage to several boats. As repair facilities are non-existent in Shanghai Sir Robin decided to recall the fleet to Yokohama. In order to maintain planned arrival date in Hong Kong we are now heading for Okinawa rather
than Shanghai. 40 knot winds again for the first 36 hours, but it is now dead calm! Oh for a 20 knot breeze! Regards to all. Bruce.
Bristol has made the significant gains overnight. 48 hours ago it had all gone wrong for them, and they dropped back to 8th. Yesterday they had climbed back up to 3rd some 32 miles astern of Liverpool; today they have reduced that gap by another 10 miles.
The Clipper fleet has now left Yokohama en route for Okinawa. Bristol at one point was last in the race positions, but hauled herself up to fourth overnight. In front are Liverpool. Weather is down to a high pressure system over China bringing NE winds between 15 and 20 knots.
Having got away in glorious weather the Clipper fleet have been making excellent progress to the south west in some exciting sailing conditions. Full story here.
Final Positions | 1 | Liverpool (0856) | 2 | Jersey (1207) | 3 | Plymouth (1305) | 4 | Portsmouth (1345) | 5 | London (14:24:02) | 6 | Glasgow (14:24:10) | | 7 | Bristol (14:25:18) | | 8 | Leeds (1603) |
Overall points table | 1 | Bristol (44pts) | 2 | London (37pts) | 3 | Plymouth (38pts) | 4 | Jersey (35pts) | 5 | Portsmouth (35pts) | 6 | Liverpool (29pts) | | 7 | Glawgow (18pts) | | 8 | Leeds (16pts) |
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