The fleet of 10 68-foot matched ocean racing sailing yachts of the Clipper 11-12 Round The World Race have gone through an exciting 24 hour period, with only ten miles between the first and the second place competitors Gold Coast Australia and sailing yacht Visit Finland.
Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race - Race 11 – Day 11 - Photo credit OnEdition
With around 24 hours until race finish near New York, Skipper Richard Hewson explains his tactical manoeuvres that have allowed the Australian entry to steal back poll position in Race 11, “Gold Coast Australia has been charging up the coast like a freight train over most of the day on a tight reach with reasonable winds. We have finally managed to take the last of the 40 mile lead that Visit Finland held over us a few days ago, bringing us into first place.”
On board the Finnish entry, skipper Olly Osborne reports that the team is doing its best to pack in as many miles as possible and with less than thirty miles separating the top three yachts on the leader board the race finish could be one of the closest yet. For current third place competitor yacht Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, the heat is on to hold its position against the rest of the fleet and secure the team’s first podium win of the series.
The first of the yachts is estimated to arrive late evening local time on Saturday, 26 May (early hours Sunday 27 May GMT) and the rest of the fleet is expected to finish over the next 12-18 hours.
The yachts will muster at Liberty Landing in New Jersey for a few days before the whole fleet sails in a formal parade across to New York where it will berth at North Cove Marina in Manhattan’s financial district for a busy programme of activity with Clipper Race sponsors.
