It’s the million dollar question. You’ve raced 5,600 miles across the planet’s biggest ocean, you’ve battled through storms, been knocked off your feet by the force of the water crashing over the open deck, surfed down waves taller than houses, been scared, exhilarated and exhausted in equal proportion and for the last four weeks lived on diet largely made up of pasta and sauce – but just what do you want to eat for your first meal ashore?
The crew of Cape Breton Island, who are set to take line honours when they cross the finish line later today, are all set to celebrate with pizza – delivered to the boat when they arrive in San Francisco Marina next to the Golden Gate Yacht Club. A quick email from the yacht this morning to family at home has secured the number of a pizza delivery place.
But as skipper Jan Ridd explains, the Pacific isn’t letting them go without a final test. “Less than ten hours to go and the battle that has been the North Pacific will be over for the Big Blue Canoe,” he says. “The Pacific isn’t quite done with us, sending forth a different challenge today. Following the repair of our mainsail yesterday and sliders today we were able to re-hoist our main and get some power back – just in time for the wind to disappear!
“It does seem to be our curse that just as the finish starts to loom the wind that has been so steady fades for six to eight hours. We are now, however, cracking along again at nine or ten knots.
“Thoughts are set towards creating the perfect finish line treats before we move into party mode tomorrow morning, afternoon and night! Our excitement is, however, dampened by the thoughts of so many of our mates in the rest of the fleet that won’t be there to join in the usual fun. To them: sail fast, sail safe and we will see you on the pontoon for what will be a warm welcome!”
Qingdao and Jamaica Lightning Bolt are locked in a battle to be second across the finish line and it’s closer than it might appear on the Race Viewer. Yesterday we reported that Jamaica Lightning Bolt had applied to the Race Committee for redress for the time they spent assisting California.
Race Director Joff Bailey says, “Jamaica Lightning Bolt claimed a time redress of 32 hours 15 minutes for the assistance they gave to California over approximately 3.5 days after they lost their mast.
“This was calculated based on the average VMG (Velocity Made Good – ie speed towards the finish line) over the previous nine days, the weather during the period of assistance, the Distance to Finish (DTF) when Jamaica Lightning Bolt stopped racing and changed course to provide assistance and the DTF when Jamaica Lightning Bolt finally started racing again and therefore the miles lost whilst giving assistance.
“The Race Committee has reviewed the request for redress and agrees that it is a fair time allowance for the distance lost by Jamaica Lightning Bolt during the period of assistance. As such the Race Committee agrees with the request for redress and 32 hours 15 minutes shall be deducted from the Jamaica Lightning Bolt finishing time. This revised finish time will be used to calculate overall finish positions.
“The Race Committee would also like to thank the crew of Jamaica Lightning Bolt for the speedy reaction to the situation and the assistance they gave to California.”
Qingdao’s skipper, Chris Stanmore-Major, comments, “The news of Jamaica Lightning Bolt’s redress comes as no surprise aboard the Dragon. It was clear from the start that after the assistance they gave California they would seek redress using the means available under the Racing Rules of Sailing. They are now approximately 20 hours ahead of us on corrected time although still ten behind on the water. It would take an uncharacteristic error On Jamaica Lightning Bolt’s behalf or an unfortunate weather pattern to slow them down sufficiently to allow us stand on the podium ahead of them but stranger things have happened and we shall continue to make the best headway we can at full race speed in case Lady Luck fancies throwing us a bone at the last moment.”
And while Jamaica Lightning Bolt surfs towards the finish line – recording a top speed for this leg of 22.4 knots with Belinda Smith on the helm – Mother Nature still has a few surprises to spring on the crew.
Skipper, Pete Stirling, reports this morning, “Life was sweet with the miles slipping effortlessly by under the keel. Life was obviously a bit too sweet because out of nowhere a particularly large wave picked up the back of the boat and, despite the best efforts of the helm to counter it, spun the bow up into the wind. The poled out Yankee 3 backed and the spinnaker pole ripped a section of the mast track it was attached to from the mast. The spinnaker pole was catapulted aft, fortunately wedging itself firmly in the leeward rigging whilst the Yankee was flogging out of control. Immediately the shout from the on watch of ‘all hands on deck’ was heard down below.
“This is only the second time since leaving Hull that such a call has been heard. The crew know it is serious when they hear this and the response was impressive with all the crew on deck within a couple of minutes, some even appearing in their pyjamas. The situation was quickly brought under control with the Yankee sheeted in on the leeward side before dropping it and the spinnaker pole carefully disentangled from the rigging. Apart from a slightly bent spinnaker pole and the damage to the mast track we came away relatively unscathed, largely due to the fast and professional response of the crew.”
Uniquely Singapore has clocked the highest 12-hour run of the fleet. “The wind has picked up and is giving us some good speed and the crew are now fixed on the GPS as they see the miles go down,” says skipper, Jim Dobie. “There was an unusually big swell today which must be a pulse or leftover from quite a large system and which has been uncomfortable to deal with.
“The Race Office confirmed news of Jamaica Lightning Bolt’s redress and we are now following the battle which is taking place between Qingdao and Jamaica Lightning Bolt – it should make for some interesting viewing all the way to the finish,” he adds.
Spirit of Australia and Hull & Humber, accompanying California are set to pass the ‘fewer than 1,000 miles to the finish line’ milestone today. It will lift the spirits of the crews who have been severely tested – and definitely not found wanting – on this marathon leg from Qingdao, China, to San Francisco, California.
The Scottish entry is not far behind, skipper Matt Pike saying, “Edinburgh Inspiring Capital keeps on trucking towards the Golden Gate Bridge, fiddling her way between the windier lows and the slowly developing high pressure system. The first rendezvous points for meeting California are passed; their speed is better than expected and we can’t go any faster, so we are shadowing them as best we can but the most comfortable angle for them to motor is different to our best speed/wind angle. We will see if we can cross paths before the finish – hopefully in a couple more days as the distance reduces hour by hour.”
Cape Breton Island is on course to cross the finish line later today and will arrive in San Francisco Marina several hours later – updated ETAs will be posted on the official race website, www.clipperroundtheworld.com and on Twitter: twitter.com/Clipper0910.
POSITIONS AT 0900 UTC, TUESDAY 30 MARCH 2010
1 Cape Breton Island DTF 66
2 Qingdao DTF 594 DTL +527
3 Jamaica Lightning Bolt DTF 682 DTL +615
4 Uniquely Singapore DTF 892 DTL +826
5 Hull & Humber DTF 1036 DTL +970
6 California DTF 1037 DTL +971
7 Spirit of Australia DTF 1039 DTL +972
8 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital DTF 1105 DTL +1038
9 Team Finland DTF 3421 DTL +3354
10 Cork Did not start