Clipper Race: Britain stacks at Scoring Gate
The fleet of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is flying along to Whitsundays with the top runners just more than a thousand nautical miles from the end line near the Airlie Beach with Da Nang – Viet Nam keeping a short lead with just thirty nautical miles separating the top 8 squads.
Great Britain was the very first through Scoring Gate at 18:16 UTC (January 3, 2016) followed only twenty-six minutes later by LMAX Exchange, taking 3 and 2 points respectively. The final point was snatched by Derry Londonderry Doire.
Peter Thornton, the Great Britain skipper, talked about the tense fight. He told that that little race for the gate previous night was a bit acute. He thanked LMAX Exchange for his increased number of white hairs, heightened blood pressure as well as general lack of sleep. He added that the forecast wind shift in the final stages did in fact come through in the nick of time and enabled them to stay ahead which ge was delighted with, as the people were working pretty hard in some challenging helming and trimming conditions – especially at night.
Olivier Cardin, the LMAX Exchange Skipper, paid tribute to the winner. He said that they were sailing to the Scoring Gate just behind Great Britain. They were, unfortunately, not able to take the lead. He congratulated to Skipper Peter’s crew. Race Director Justin Taylor told that they have sacrificed their spot in the fleet to get the extra points.