High Winds Return to the World Clipper Race

Following a few days of relative rest with only moderate winds the yachts of the Clipper 07-08 fleet are once again being tested by headwinds of more than 30 knots. Now, however, the sea temperature and air temperature have dropped significantly and this will test the crews to their limits.

The stronger winds are set to persist for the next 36 to 48 hours before the centre of the high pressure pushes out over the Yellow Sea which will bring very light winds across the fleet as they approach Qingdao.

Race Director Joff Bailey says, "I spoke to Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper skipper, Hannah Jenner, by satellite phone this morning and she told me every inch below decks is wet either from condensation, wet sails, waves down hatches or crew coming below decks with wet oilskins. Several of the other skippers and crew have been telling us how rough the conditions are."

Bruce Macky, a round the world crew member on westernaustralia2011.com said, "These are bigger seas than I have seen in the Bass Strait."

Experienced circumnavigator Duggie Gillespie, skipper of New York, says, "This is the Southern Ocean weather we did not have. Working hard and having roughty-tufty sailing stories forming as we make New York go as fast as we can to Qingdao. Wet cloths, wet boat inside and out and water everywhere. And don't forget the cold - it's chilly," says the typically understated Scotsman.

Hull & Humber and New York continue to battle for the top spot with only one nautical mile separating their distances to finish. However, Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper and Durban 2010 and Beyond are close behind and it's starting to look as though it will be these four teams that will be contesting the podium positions over the next few days.

At the other end of the fleet Liverpool 08 and Nova Scotia are both starting to come back closer to the rhumb line after they both made bold moves in different directions; Liverpool 08 towards the Chinese coast and Nova Scotia to the east. These tactical moves do not appear to have paid off, but neither has either team lost any ground.

The Qingdao crew, sailing into their own port, have been dogged by the home port curse for the whole of this race after almost diverting to Manila for a sick crew member.

It is expected that all of the yachts will be safely tied up in the new Olympic Marina in Qingdao by Sunday.

RACE POSTIONS AT 0600 GMT, 12 FEBRUARY 2008

1. Hull & Humber: Distance to Finish (DTF) 438
2. New York: DTF 439 (Distance to Leader +1)
3. Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper: DTF 451 (+13)
4. Durban 2010 and Beyond: DTF 456 (+18)
5. Jamaica: DTF 476 (+38)
6. westernaustralia2011.com: DTF 496 (+58)
7. Uniquely Singapore: DTF 507 (+69)
8. Liverpool 08: DTF 545 (+107)
9. Nova Scotia: DTF 561 (+123)
10. Qingdao: DTF 685 (+247)