Race 8 Day 16: Conditions ease as the battle of Race 8 continues

The tough upwind conditions have proved a continuous challenge for the Clipper Race fleet over the past week, however with the weather set to calm and moderate slightly over the next 24 hours the juggling act at the top of the leaderboard in Race 8 continues.

With just a few miles separating the leaders of the pack, today OneDLL holds the crown with Derry~Londonderry~Doire and GREAT Britain chasing its lead. Skipper of the Dutch entry, Olly Cotterell describes the fiercely competitive last 24 hours:

“Well it is a close fought battle at the moment with Derry~Londonderry~Doire close off our starboard side and GREAT Britain just over the horizon I believe. The conditions continue to be uncomfortable though it does seem that the wind and sea have moderated just a little as the yacht is not crashing with all its might into the steep short chop quite as often.”

In the last 24 hours Mission Performance crossed the Equator joining the rest of the fleet in the Northern Hemisphere. With the wind expected to abate the promise of the north westerly trade winds means Mission Performance remains optimistic.  

However, for skipper Pete Stirling of Jamaica Get All Right , the constant heat and heeled over living conditions are taking its toll as the fleet battles it out in the Pacific Ocean.

“It's all about this business of living at an extreme angle in extreme heat with the boat slamming into waves. Nobody minds for a few hours or even a day or two but now it is no longer fun. What makes it worse is the fact that my bunk is on the wrong side of the boat, the high side. Last night I slept on the floor, it was just easier. The good news is that we plan to tack in a few hours’ time. Many things are infinitely easier on the other tack and best of all my bunk will be on the right side of the boat, the low side,” he added.

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To read all the skipper reports click here