Sydney Hobart Race Start | derry-go-round (the world)

And they are off! The 12 Clipper 70´s have joined the 2 Clipper 68´s (Including Sir Robin Knox-Johnston onboard CV10, which was the Derry-Londonderry entry in the 11-12 Clipper Race) and the other 80 entries, heading for Hobart.

There are two options for tracking the boats this race, the official Sydney Hobart race tracker showing the positions of all competing yachts and the Clipper race tracker.

If nothing else, your fingers will be getting a workout over the next few days, with both of the race trackers updating every 10 minutes instead of the usual 3 hours!

News | Sydney Hobart Race Start | derry-go-round (the world).

From Brest To Rio – Race 2

Derry~Londonderry~Doire @LegenDerry_Crew clears the windward mark first as Race 2 starts from France

BTulegrCMAApbok.jpg large— The Clipper Race (@ClipperRace) September 9, 2013

And they are off! Race 2 of the Clipper Race started today, with all 12 yachts embarking on their first ocean crossing. Derry~Londonderry~Doire have had a great start, first to the windward mark and then have been leading the pack… but it’s still early days.

Skipper Sean McCarter said in his report

The Bay of Biscay is looking like it will be a bit hairy, it is a pretty notorious area for bad seas.

“It will be interesting to see who goes into Stealth mode around the Canary Islands to disguise their position and hide their tactics. Where people cross the Equator will also be a big discussion point so there is plenty to think about.”

Derry~Londonderry~Doire

You can follow the race’s progress via the Clipper Race Viewer, which is now using the Yellowbrick Trackers on board – there is also an app for that!

CV30 is the new CV26

Team Sean CV26 crew will be racing on CV30… confused… yes, well so are we!

clipper 13-14 race, clipper 70, cv26, team seanCV26, which arrived in the UK last month, will be crewed by Skipper Simon Talbot with the Great Britain entry. It looks like Clipper have switched the hull numbers around so that the boats that have had their sponsorship deals announced have a lower hull number as these ones have been in the UK for longer, are already on the water and can be wrapped with the sponsor’s logo.

The location of CV30? It was due to arrive in the UK on the 19th of July to be commissioned, a process that involves installing all the equipment required to transform the new yacht into an operating and habitable ocean racer.

According to Clipper, after the hull arrives they:

  • Give it a good scrub! As they get rather filthy whilst being transported
  • Fit the keels, rudders and bowsprits
  • Install and set up the electronics
  • Commission the engines, generators and water makers
  • Fit the radar towers and steering protection
  • Install the rigging and safety lines
  • Fit the bunks
  • Step the masts and tune the rigs
  • Put all the equipment from sails to saucepans on board
  • Carry out test sailing

Some of this commissioning work was started by some of the Clipper maintenance team in China for the last two hulls built (CV30 and CV31), to reduce the commissioning time once the hulls arrived in the UK.

The crew of Team Sean CV26 CV30 are hoping that all this work will be completed before boat prep week, which starts in a little over 2 weeks time. The delivery trip from Gosport to London takes place in 3 weeks time… fingers and toes are crossed that everything will be completed on time or we could be on the look out for some lasers to sail around the world in ;)!

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