Race 14, day 1: Teams fly spinnakers in light, fluky conditions

The 2,850 mile Race 14, New York to Derry-Londonderry is underway after a Le Mans start off the east coast of the USA yesterday evening local time.

Just four miles currently separates all 12 teams, currently sailing in light, flukey winds before it is expected to fill in again from the south west tomorrow.

Pete Stirling, skipper of Jamaica Get All Right, which welcomed new crew member on board for Leg 8, Olympian Heather Fell, describes the Le Mans start organised by Henri Lloyd skipper Eric Holden. 

“All the teams started with full mainsails, staysails and Yankee 1 headsails and had to keep this sail plan and the designated course for the first ten minutes. During these ten minutes we prepared our medium weight spinnaker for a hoist and were one of the first teams to complete the hoist and the drop of the Yankee. 

“With light following winds forecast for the next few days this race looks like being a tactical one, certainly to start with which suits our style better than the long distance drag race that it might have been. For the final few hours of daylight, before a spectacular sunset, all twelve yachts sailed in close proximity with their medium weight or light weight spinnakers up, a spectacular sight.” 

The teams are now flying either a light weight or medium weight spinnaker with OneDLL leading, Henri Lloyd in second and Switzerland in third place.

Simon Talbot, skipper of GREAT Britain, currently in fourth, added: “We had a good start and the fleet has remained tightly packed, running under spinnaker in a gentle westerly breeze that we are expecting to continue to veer overnight to a more north westerly direction. This should help us make better course to our destination. 

“All on board are in high spirits and have been working well, gelling quickly with the new joiners and already performing well as a team.” 

To read all the skipper reports, click here.

 To read the crew diaries, click here.