The excitement was all taking place in Liverpool and we received no news of the start at all. No one sent news or updates to us in Singapore...how sad! I could only look at the time and wondered how they crossed the start line and sailed out of English channels...
After the first hour of racing in the 05-06 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Liverpool 08 was leading the fleet towards the Irish Sea for the first race towards Cascais, Portugal.
Liverpool 08 rounded Brazil Gate in the Mersey at 1301 BST, with Jersey Clipper, Durban, New York and Cardiff all less than five minutes behind at the start of the 1000-mile race. Jersey Clipper passed the start for the second time in the lead just ahead of Liverpool 08. But Liverpool 08, sponsored by the host port and buoyed by the local support, managed to pull away into the lead as she cleared Brazil Gate.
After crossing the start line in the lead at noon, Qingdao was overhauled by the leading five boats, pushing her into the bottom half of the fleet as she passed the final control gate before the fleet leave the Mersey. Danny Watson and his crew on the Clipper 68 sponsored by Qingdao, the host of the sailing at the 2008 Olympics, reached Brazil Gate at 1307 just six minutes behind Liverpool 08.
Glasgow, Uniquely Singapore, westernaustralia.com and Victoria, Canada brought up the rear at Brazil Gate, but with less than 13 minutes separating the fleet it is very close racing for the 10-strong fleet as they prepare to head south towards the Bay of Biscay.
Fluky, light winds left the fleet to tack around the marks in front of the crowds of spectators lining the banks of the Mersey, as the aerobatic display team flew overhead.
Race Director Tim Hedges said: “The crews will be glad to get out of the Mersey and settle into the watch system as they head towards the Irish Sea. After all the excitement of the start they will be keen to get on with the race and it looks like a very close and exciting race at the moment.”
Fleet positions at Brazil Gate (All times BST)
Liverpool 08 1301
Jersey Clipper 1304
Durban 1305:20
New York 1305:48
Cardiff 1306
Qingdao 1307
Glasgow 1309:22
Uniquely Singapore 1309:40
Western Australia 1311
Victoria, Canada 1314
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