Following the light wind and clear skies of the start, the Clipper fleet
encountered totally different conditions overnight and through the early
hours of this morning. A cold front has swept across the Bay of Biscay
bringing rain and winds of 25 knots with occasional gusts of 30 knots.
Since the fleet’s departure the wind direction has been predominantly from
the south-west which has proved challenging for the fleet as this is the
direction they need to head. The necessary tacking has caused the fleet to
split with Jamaica and Hull & Humber choosing a more northerly course and
New York heading south with the rest of the fleet spread inbetween over a
100 nautical-mile line.

Race Director Joff Bailey said: “The boats are so close in terms of their
Distance To Finish (DTF) that until the wind changes into the north-west we
will not know who had the right tactics. Liverpool 08 and Durban 2010 and
Beyond are doing well in a more central position but Hull & Humber or New
York could pull up through the fleet if the wind gods smile on them.”

Reporting from Uniquely Singapore last night Skipper Mark Preedy said:
“We’re trucking along at a steady 9 knots and the crew are starting to
settle into the daily routine that will become very natural over the next
three weeks.”

The good news for the fleet is that once the cold front has passed the
winds are forecasted to become more favourable north-westerlies allowing
each of the boats to make a more direct route to the famous headland.

This second leg takes from the fleet from La Rochelle, France, to Salvador
da Bahia, Brasil. www.clipperroundtheworld.com