Sailing through contrasts - Robin Knox-Johnston

Just over two weeks ago the Clipper crews were enjoying the heat and sun of the Caribbean, now they have moved to the rain and fog of the north east Coast of America and the Grand Banks off Nova Scotia. It’s the sort of contrast that sailors take in their stride as they traverse the world, and shorts and t-shirts are replaced by thermal gear and wet weather gear as temperatures drop.

Jamaica is, well Jamaica. The land of rum, sun, Bob Marley’s music and sandy beaches lapped by warm seas. New York is so big and bustling that the yachts are dwarfed amongst the skyscrapers. We took some of our city sponsors, Hull and Humber, Jamaica, Nova Scotia and Glasgow out to see Manhattan Island from its finest viewing point, the harbour, sailing with a pleasant wind as far as the Statue of Liberty.

Then it was back to sea through a fog, under the high Verrazano bridge, past Ambrose Light tower, the traditional starting point for Atlantic Sailing records, then to clear the Nantucket shoals and Cape Cod, and north to Halifax itself where we greeted them in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Halifax, home to the Royal Navy during the war with the United States in 1812, collecting point for the hundreds of convoys that kept Britain fed and supplied during World War II, is a wonderful port city, but not so huge that it seems impersonal. The fleet takes a break here before heading round to the impressive natural harbour at Sydney for their final two days in North America.

Then its off to sea again, the expected fog that lifts dramatically as you clear the Grand Banks, the lookout for the occasional icebergs that come south with the Labrador current, and the race to Cork in Ireland.

You do see the world with the Clipper Race, and the best way of exploring our planet is by boat.

- Robin Knox-Johnston