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SAILING PROGRAMME for 2008
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Social Programme 2008
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Friday 18.00-21.00
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Your News & Views
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29 Sep
Round the World Starts Here
Set framed by the skyline of Liverpool and Birkenhead the dramatic stage of the Mersey river in full flood of tide we witnessed the first moments of a 10 month drama as it unfolded. There was an impressive flotilla of ships, boats and yachts on the water to give the Clipper teams a great send off. The crews were clearly buoyed by the warmth and enthusiasm of the crowds.
Marshalled in the half tide dock the 10 clippers wait for the Lock Out onto the river.
10 clippers successfully negotiated an upwind start, and rounded a windward mark. DSQ for being OCS would have been unfortunate for any boat at this stage (but I don't think the Race Officer deployed the black flag). They glided gracefully back up river, gybed at the leeward buoy and headed out to sea. Durban skillfully remained in the leading pack. Positions shifted in the fluky wind but this was no procession. It was a race from the very start....
The Durban hull motiff ..................................................Liverpool fire ship
Follow Durban's progress on the official Clipper web site Clipper Race News and specifically for Durban on howzitdurbs.co.uk
The first stop in leg 1 is Cascais in Portugal. A great win for Liverpool 08 with Western Australia taking second. Durban finished brilliantly in third place knocking firmly on the door of the two favourites. The second part of the first leg continues on to Salvador. CENAB, Av. da Franca, s/n Comercio, CEP:40010-000, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil.
Durban crew on a circuit of the Canning dock just before the Start.
Beating against the wind to escape to sea.
Hoylake Lifeboat. (hope we won't be needing that then)
Liverpool 08 leading out of the Mersey.
30 Sep
Email from Crew Member Frank Brown.
Hi Mark
Thanx for your text (*1 See below). We're so pleased to have your support and that of the other members.
My e-mail 'on-board' is... (*2 submit your emails via Rear Commodore (Social) please) and I will try to keep you updated fairly regularly. (I will give you the boat e-mail when i contact you next). The first race was hectic with tactical battles and position changes throughout. Slow progress battling against head winds and a fair amount of sickness on board. Nevertheless very exciting and we were pleased to bag a podium position - a good start.
A couple of days in Cascais allowed us to wind down enjoy good food and beers!, and shower! A lovely town and well worth a visit.
Race 2 saw us slow off the line, but quickly into our stride and we raised and held a spinnaker in up to 38 knot winds throughout the first night, to secure a reasonable lead. 247 miles covered on day one, with speeds up to 19.9 knots. Since then we've been trying to maintain and increase the initial lead, have had a spinaker halyard break purely though strain, and marginally avoided being run down by a tanker which failed to observe any of the rules. Apart from that, plain sailing!
best wishes to all. Frank Brown.
*1 Text sent on 14 Sep following the visit to see Durban and the team on Tue evening 13 Sep in Albert Dock
Frank please thank Craig and the crew for the warm welcome last night. We are looking forward to being your fanatical supporters throughout your adventures. Good Luck! From Dee Sailing Club.
*2 We will send messages of support, questions and of course the essential hints and tips on Ocean Racing from the members of DSC via Rear Commodore (Social).
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