28 November 2005

The 10 yachts competing in the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race set sail from Durban on Sunday, heading into the Southern Ocean to visit Australia for the first time in the 10-year history of the event.

It seemed the whole of Durban came out to bid the race farewell, with skydivers flying the world's biggest South African flag, beach festivals, over 500 boats, canoeists and surfers out on the water, and more than 50 000 well wishers lining the coastline.

Liverpool 08 was first to cross the start line, but too early and she had to do a 360 degree turn to get tback on course, putting Durban in first place. Glasgow soon took the opportunity to snatch the lead. With good clear air and their genoa flying, the Scottish entry stormed forward, leaving the fleet behind.

Harsh conditions
The new route that takes the fleet from Durban to Fremantle in Western Australia will take the amateur crews into some of the harshest conditions they will face during the 10-month circumnavigation.

On the leg, the 10 Dubois-designed yachts will enter the area known as the Roaring Forties - the latitudes between 40°S and 50°S - at one of the toughest times of the year, where the prevailing westerly winds are strong and steady.

"This is a real landmark for the Clipper Race," said Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Clipper Ventures Plc chairman. "Our amateur crews are heading into the Southern Ocean for the first time, at one of the most difficult times of the year. The conditions they will face would test professional crews to the limit, so it will be a great achievement when they reach Fremantle just before Christmas."

Durban 'an ideal stopover'
"Durban is a model for an ideal stopover on a round-the-world yacht race," Knox-Johnston said. "The facilities and hospitality have been phenomenal. The City of Durban has been inspired by the race and the public have been coming down to the Clipper Race Village to support the local entry, Durban Clipper."

The Clipper Race Village was a hive of activity during the stopover, with live music, local food outlets and street entertainment as the crews prepared their boats for the 4 350-mile race to Australia.

Over 300 local school children visited the Clipper Race Village during the stopover, as the yachts opened their hatches to some of the race's youngest followers as part of the Clipper World Classroom Programme.

The pressure is on for westernaustralia.com as they race into their home port. The Aussie entry is currently atop the leaderboard after three races. The fleet is expected to arrive in Fremantle on 17 December.

Leaderboard

	The Durban Clipper bears a blend of South Africa's flag and Durban's logo (Photo: Clipper Venture Plc)

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