UPDATE: Da Nang New Discovery of Asia Race Enters Final Hours

UPDATED at 0730 UTC, Sunday 14 February

Message from Race Director Justin Taylor:

"Please be advised that Visit Seattle has accepted my offer of twelfth place and Mission Performance has accepted eleventh place.

"There was no prospect of them bettering their positions and therefore there was nothing to be gained by sending them further south and away from Da Nang.

"They will now make their way to Da Nang to arrive with the rest of the fleet."

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After twenty-five days racing almost 6000 nautical miles from The Whitsundays, Australia, to South East Asia, the Da Nang New Discovery of Asia Race will draw to close in approximately 24 hours’ time.

When the race course was originally extended due to the fleet’s unprecedented speed through the Doldrums, the Race Director informed all Skippers that when the arrival window drew near, their progress would be closely monitored to ensure that all teams could get into Da Nang as close to 17 February as possible (ie. The first day of the estimated arrival window which was due to run from 17 – 21 February).

As with any race, the teams have been making their way to various waypoints in the course which has allowed competitive racing to continue. This means the Race Finish can be set at one of these marks without affecting tactics.

With the fleet spread out over 1000nM, and taking into account the extension, the finish to this race is unique to ensure the teams get to enjoy as much time in Da Nang as possible. Race Director Justin Taylor explains how the race will end: “Given the current positions of the teams and the conditions they face, I anticipate that the first yacht should cross the new finish line in the early hours of 15 February local time (ie. The evening of Sunday 14 February, UK time). There will also be a time limit set for 2100 UTC on 14 February.

“The teams that have not crossed the finish line by this time will have their distance measured to the finish line via the remaining waypoints. By this method I will calculate the final finishing positions for the fleet.”

Once the race has been called by the Race Director, all teams will be free to make best passage to Da Nang, where they are expected to arrive on 17-18 February.

This is the first time that Da Nang, Vietnam has been a host port in the Clipper Race and the city has put on an exciting array of events for the crew upon arrival. Each team will also be welcomed on stage by local dignitaries as we celebrate their impressive feat of reaching their fifth continent in this round the world endurance challenge.

With all to play for in the last few hours of this race, stay tuned to the Race Viewer to see if the Derry~Londonderry~Doire crew can hold on for victory, and if they do, who will be joining them on the podium?

To see what lies in store for the Clipper 2015-16 Race Crew and supporters during the Da Nang stopover, click here.

Don’t forget that the second episode of the Race of Their Lives 2 documentary which follows the 2015-16 crew’s circumnavigation has its UK premiere on Sunday 14 February at 1200 GMT (1300 CET) on Bloomberg TV (UK channels Sky channel 502; Virgin Media channel 609 and Freesat channel 208). It will also be broadcast across Europe, the Middle-East and Africa on Bloomberg TV.