10:47 PM Tue 16 Mar 2010 GMT
Team Finland has left the Olympic Sailing Centre in Qingdao and has begun her race to San Francisco where she will join the rest of the Clipper 09-10 fleet.
The yacht was held up in Qingdao after being dismasted during the race from Singapore. The team in China took delivery of the rig on Saturday and while monsoon rains and lightning on Sunday put a small spanner in the works, and lifting the 27-metre mast into place was completed on Monday morning, standing rigging installed and today skipper and crew were able to take her for a test sail.
Race Director, Joff Bailey, says, 'At approximately 0930 GMT (1730 local) Team Finland departed Qingdao, 14 days after the rest of the fleet. The darkness was creeping across the landscape as the drummers and ladies with cymbals made more than enough noise!'
Team Finland will now make her way back down through the Yellow Sea, negotiating heavy shipping and fishing fleets, and out into the Pacific Ocean which, so far, has dealt the fleet some pretty tough hands.
Uniquely Singapore's skipper, Jim Dobie, says, 'It's been a bit of a pleasant break today from the winds and the chance for the sun to come out as we celebrated another birthday on board - this time it was Hugh's.
'During the last day we have lost some ground to Jamaica Lightning Bolt and we are now back, looking to reclaim the miles to see if we can aim for those two gate points. This should hopefully happen later on tomorrow and is our main aim for the time being.'
At 0900 GMT the leading yacht, Cape Breton Island, had approximately 50 miles to run to the Scoring Gate, with Jamaica Lightning Bolt and Uniquely Singapore in hot pursuit.
The points are not the only concern for the Uniquely Singapore team, explains Jim. He says, 'We are keeping our eye on what's going to happen past the gate so we can best place ourselves for the next weather systems coming in. As we move further and further east across the Pacific the lows are now going over the top of us so we are trying to
place ourselves in between those and the high pressure systems, the main aim being not to be caught too far south where we could end up in the middle of a high.'
With a lead of more than 90 miles over their closest competitor, Cape Breton Island look set to claim the three points for being first to cross the scoring gate later today.
They've slowed down a little though, reports skipper, Jan Ridd. 'After a few days of exhilarating downwind sailing in Force 7 to 8 winds we are now serenely sailing along in much calmer seas and a relative gentle Force 5 to 6,' he explains. 'The only problem is the boat now feels as if it is going so slowly after a few days of being fully powered up and surfing down huge waves! To be sailing comfortably along at nine knots feels very slow - of course it is not; we are still maintaining a respectable boat speed and the crew have been working tirelessly, changing up to bigger sails as the conditions allow, all the time counting down the miles to the scoring gate. The temperature has dropped again as we head north and even below decks thermal clothing needs to be worn.'
More news from Sendai, Japan, where Hull & Humber's skipper, Piers Dudin, is being treated in hospital after sustaining a broken leg... Race Manager Lizzie Nicholas is with him in Japan and reports him to be in great spirits, despite the awkwardness of the 'scaffolding' holding his broken bones in place. He will have another operation in Japan this week before flying home to the UK where he will begin an intensive programme of physiotherapy to get him back to full fitness.
His crew, meanwhile are hard at work on board. 'While Hull & Humber is racing to San Francisco, we are making sure she is in A1 shape to continue her race campaign from there,' says Brendan Hall. 'The sun came out this morning allowing the motivated crew to get on with many maintenance tasks and making sure the sail wardrobe is free from little nicks and tears, which can lead to bigger problems later. The benign conditions are set to end this evening, when the next developing low is set to advance on us from behind. We will be ready.'
So, too, will Spirit of Australia, where acting skipper, Bob Bell, says, 'We're sailing in currently benign conditions with Hull & Humber astern of us and Edinburgh Inspiring Capital now just 2.5 miles ahead. All is well on board, already good morale receiving a further boost by the birthday celebrations of Michael Hanssen, one of the watch leaders.'
POSITIONS AT 1200 UTC, TUESDAY 16 MARCH 2010
1 Cape Breton Island DTF 3092
2 Jamaica Lightning Bolt DTF 3176 DTL +84
3 Uniquely Singapore DTF 3202 DTL +110
4 Qingdao DTF 3212 DTL +120
5 California DTF 3275 DTL +183
6 Spirit of Australia DTF 3322 DTL +229
7 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital DTF 3325 DTL +233
8 Hull & Humber DTF 3325 DTL +233
9 Team Finland DTF 5602 DTL +2510
10 Cork Did not start
(DTF = Distance to Finish, DTL = Distance to Leader)
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