A stormy night brought mixed fortunes as Derry “LondonDerry” Doire extended its Race 6 lead and Henri Lloyd retired with a rudder problem.
The 12 yachts are currently competing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race which doubles as Race 6 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
After yesterday’s incredibly close day’s racing and gale force conditions overnight through the notorious Bass Strait, the Derry Clipper has extended its Race 6 lead as it heads down the Tasmanian coast in its final 100 miles to Hobart.
In an unfortunate contrast of fortunes and a serious blow to its current Clipper Race lead position, Henri Lloyd, who led the fleet at one stage yesterday, was forced to retire from the RSHYR last night after it lost a rudder bearing east of Cape Barren Island. The team is now motorsailing to Hobart.
The strong overnight wind conditions clearly favoured the larger boats as many of the Clipper 70s have seen great improvements in their overall Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race standings.
The Derry entry has gained more than ten positions, now sitting 27th position overall out of 94 starting teams.
Skipper Sean McCarter is enjoying his lead position but is not banking on the 123 points just yet.
He said: “We had a great day yesterday with numerous kites up and down, all flirting with their upper wind limits and in the last case, flirting with a 50 knot squall front. Luckily we managed to keep all the sails intact but in these conditions, you are only ever one wave or one big gust away from disaster.
“We have managed to eek (or should I say pound) out a little bit of a lead overnight but are taking nothing for granted as the final 40 miles through Storm Bay and up the Derwent River are notoriously cruel.”
GREAT Britain (30th overall line honours) is still chasing hard in second place, also having caught up approximately ten overall positions in the RSHYR fleet.
OneDLL remains third in the Clipper Race fleet (34th overall) and is racing incredibly tightly together, with Old Pulteney fourth (39th), PSP Logistics fifth (43), Jamaica Get All Right Sixth (44th) , Switzerlandin seventh (47th), and Qingdao in eighth (49th).
The Clipper Race fleet is now racing down the coast of Tasmania and is expected to arrive in Hobart in the early hours of Monday between midnight and 11:00 local Australia time.
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