Clipper Ventures 10 flies heavyweight kite as it starts Bass Strait crossing

Following a frustrating period in light airs, Clipper Ventures 10 has had a 'magical' 24 hour kite run flying the heavyweight spinnaker on day two of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The Clipper Events Sydney-based yacht spent 10 hours wallowing in less than 5 knots of breeze yesterday with smaller, lighter boats sailing past, pushing it back in the fleet rankings.

The breeze then filled in from the North East and the international crew changed from the lightweight spinnaker up to the mediumweight and finally heavyweight spinnaker as the wind continued to increase.

The team - made up of past and future Clipper Race crew - also made its mandatory reporting call at Green Point allowing it to proceed across Bass Strait, the sea separating mainland Australia from Tasmania.

Piers Dudin, who skippered in the Clipper 09-10 and 11-12 Races, said: "We will shortly be alongside Flinders Island and start to make our way down the east cost of Tasmania. We are due to knock off 240 miles today with 237 miles to the finish, sending us into Storm Bay on Monday evening.

"The crew is in good spirits and working hard through the sail evolutions. Surprisingly we are all in shorts and t-shirts as we cross Bass Strait."

Crew member Stewart McKean said he was really impressed with the enthusiasm of the crew that had never met two weeks ago and he was looking forward to sailing along the east coast of Tasmania on Monday.

Yachting journalist Kevin Green is also a crew member and reporting from Clipper Ventures 10.

He added: "It has been very interesting learning the Clipper Race philosophy for sailing and racing. There is a training method for everything which is very impressive.

"It has been an interesting race with mixed weather conditions resulting in a lot of sail changes for the crew. So far a typical Sydney Hobart with strong Southerly and then Northerlies. This is a mild Bass Strait crossing compared with previous Sydney Hobart races."

Earlier today, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI claimed RSHYR line honours for a record eighth time at 15.03.26 AEST in the time of two days two hours three minutes and 26 seconds.

The Clipper Ventures Australia base is open for training and events, and in the Clipper 2015-16 Race the round the world fleet will once again compete in the RSHYR during Leg 4 as part of the 40,000 mile circumnavigation.

Click here to sign up online or contact the Clipper Race UK base: +44 (0) 2392 526000 / Clipper Race Australia base: +61 (0) 29363 2020.

To watch a review of last year's Clipper 70 fleet in the Sydney Hobart, click here.

We will be posting blogs and pictures from Clipper Ventures 10 on our site daily here and on our Twitter and Facebook feeds.

To track the boat, you can use the official RSHYR race viewer.