Qingdao,
the Chinese entry in the famous Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
Tuesday, has completed the latest stage of the unique global adventure
in the 'Roaring Forties' of the Southern Ocean in a strong position,
with twelve races still to go in the global 16-race series.The Qingdao
also became the first team to break the 'barrier' of covering more than
300 nautical miles in a 24 hour period.Race 5 to Sydney of 'The Clipper'
-- the longest around the planet at 40,000 miles -- will start
Wednesday in Albany, Western Australia.After leading the fleet for most
of the race,disposable paper cups Qingdao
ran into a high pressure weather system and lost wind which enabled
three other boats further south to overtake them, but not before they
picked up three bonus points by crossing an extra scoring gate in first
place.Despite arriving fourth into Albany in Western Australia,
receiving 9 points, the team has a very strong position overall with
twelve extra points in total, making 37 in total, putting the team into
third place overall subject to final verification by the Race
Office.This is the best performance by a Qingdao entry in the Clipper
Race in five editions putting them in contention for a podium
position."We thought we could lead all the way but ran into high
pressure and lost the wind,tissue paper pom pom wholesale"
confirmed Qingdao Skipper Gareth Glover. "Despite dropping three places
in the last leg we're very pleased with our improved position overall.
The crew have done a great job in very tough conditions."The crew
featuring a number of Chinese members includes, Vicky Song who aims to
become the first Chinese woman to circumnavigate the planet in an ocean
race.http://cnbattachment.com/Song told Xinhua the oceans turned on competitors during the last leg.disposable wooden cutlery"This
was a very difficult race. I have never seen seas as mountainous or
winds so strong," she said from the race via statement.
"The
water was white with foam and the spray hit your face very hard in the
violent storm force conditions... It was an exhilarating
experience."Race officials also confirmed that on 11 November the
Qingdao team became the first to cover more than 300 nautical miles in
24 hours. "We were really moving in strong winds and covered 301.paper drinking straws7
nautical miles in 24 hours which has now been confirmed by the race
office. We are really pleased to have broken that record first," Glover
added.Race 5 to Sydney will start Wednesday in Albany, Western Australia
with a Parade of Sail off Middleton Beach, followed by Race Start in
iconic King George Sound.Eric Holden, skipper of Henri Lloyd, currently
top of the leader board, said: "It is a shorter leg than what we are
used to so we feel we can push the boat harder and faster, and keep up
the pace all the time."It will be good warm up training ahead of the
Rolex Sydney Hobart Race which will be good."It looks like there will be
high pressure fronts for most of the race, but it will be cold as we go
south of Tasmania. We won't be changing anything about what we have
done already, but we certainly won't be relaxing."As soon as the teams
leave Albany they can start to ease the sheets and head east across the
Great Australian Bight.Going south of the rhumb line to get stronger
westerly winds may be the fastest option but will add extra miles.The
race rules state the yachts must leave the island of Tasmania to their
port side -- meaning the teams head further south and stay in the more
reliable winds.The next stage of the race is an upwind leg against the
oceanic current running down the east coast of Australia.The race then
heads for Qingdao via Singapore, arriving in China in early March 2014.
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