Race 3 of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race got underway on the 25th October at midday local time. leaving Salvador, Brazil, for Durban, South Africa. The wind was 20 knots easterly and the 10 boat fleet were blessed with sunshine. During the first night of racing the fleet has made very fast progress down the Brazilian coast. Several of the boats have reported 12-hour runs of more than 120 nautical miles in a moderate easterly breeze. The race tracker on the second day showed the fleet spread in a 125 nautical mile arch from south west to north east but separated by just 55 nautical miles to the finish. With two possible routing options, due south or to the south east, there was much discussion in port and furious studying of the weather data to choose the correct path upon leaving Salvador. On this day the group heading East very covering more sea miles although going slower.

On the 27th “Hull and Humber’ diverted closer to the Brazilian coast as 17 year old crew member, Sam Willis, had a suspected appendix problem. He was successfully transferred to a Brazilian Naval vessel after consultations had been made with the Race officals and medical staff of the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. ‘Hull and Humber’ continued the Race.

On the 29th it was reported that ‘Western Australia 2011.com’ were heading South as were some of the fleet after weather reports indicating strong winds in the South. ‘Nova Scotia’ and ‘Jamaica’ were already well placed in the South and expected to benefit. Soon it became apparent that the yachts on the easterly course were already suffering from light airs with ‘Durban 2010 and Beyond’ posting a 12-hour run of only 51 nautical miles. ‘Qingdao’ continued to do well at the front of the fleet posting a 12-hour run of 102 nautical miles.

On the 30th and 31st light winds and squalls dogged the fleet, requiring plenty of sail changes. However all the crews were preparing for what has been nicknamed ‘Big Friday’. With a large depression moving east towards the fleet the winds were expected to increase and by Friday reach 40 knots. And on the 1st November strong winds arrived in the south, reaching ‘Nova Scotia’ and ‘Jamaica’. In his report to the Clipper race office this morning. The Canadian boat posted a 12-hour run of 118 nautical miles, beaten only by Jamaica at 122 nautical miles.

“The wind finally arrived and as the day passed we have come from three knots with a spinnaker to almost 30 and the number three. We came south for the winds and now have so much to do to make it pay. The next three days is our little window of opportunity. May the wind gods be kind to all, just a little kinder to us,” said Rob McInally, skipper of Nova Scotia.

Both Jamaica and Nova Scotia set out their stalls early on in this race, heading south, away from the rest of the fleet, in order to pick up the strong winds at the bottom of the south Atlantic high pressure system.

Race Director Joff Bailey says, “Both Nova Scotia and Jamaica, and to a certain extent westernaustralia2011.com, have a lot of miles to make up over the next few days as their speeds start to increase. The wind strength will keep building during today and will peak at between 40 and 45 knots and the current northerly direction will slowly back to the north northwest, giving these boats a better sailing angle.

One of the problems they will find is that the weather system associated with these winds is travelling at about 40 knots. Although the modern hull design of the Clipper 68s can achieve surfing speeds of nearly 30 knots, the average speed in these wind conditions will be between 10 and 12 knots and this means the weather system will rapidly overtake the fleet in a couple of days. Those boats that have gone south early have to make up the difference in the next few days or the tactic will not pay off.”

Qingdao and New York continue to forge a good lead ahead of Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper but it would appear from the skipper’s comments this morning that Qingdao still had time to celebrate Hallowe’en. “Funny old night, real mix of weather. The crew are revolting, truly revolting!! Some of the masks and costumes worn on watch last night (Hallowe’en) would look good in a Steven King film. Some didn’t need a mask!!”

Having been the northernmost marker in the fleet for much of this race, Durban 2010 and Beyond is frantically trying to get south to try to benefit from the stronger winds. Skipper Ricky Chalmers’s frustration is evident in his report to the race office this morning. “We spent the night tacking on wind shifts trying to get South to ensure we stay in the favourable winds today,” he says. “Most of the tacks were horrible and the winds have eased, so the tacking angle was very bad - but we are better placed, so let’s see what the day brings.”

The crews and skippers of Liverpool 08 and Uniquely Singapore were also very frustrated with their positioning this morning; Liverpool 08 managed just 26 nautical miles in the 12 hours to 0600. Decency prevents us revealing their reaction here. Mark Preedy, the skipper of Uniquely Singapore, reported, “A frustrating night. Seem to get on the wrong side of all the squalls. Then we escape the clouds, the moon graces us with its presence and the wind goes straight on the nose. The crew are not enjoying the dilemma of when to go south.”

As the racing tactics play out and the wind gods play havoc with the wind direction, one thing doesn’t change on board: discussions about food. It is always a major topic of conversation and thoughts will already be turning to the dream plateful on arrival in Durban - usually steak. The skipper of Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper, Hannah Jenner, knows what won’t be on her fantasy dinner menu if her comments this morning are anything to go by. “Finally, thank the Lord, the crew have run out of that filthy substance, otherwise known as custard. Happy, happy days! I no longer have to endure the smell of it. Needless to say, they are not too happy about this!”

If you want to see the position of the yachts on Google and the leaderboard visit this page at www.clipperroundtheworld.com.

Thanks for the photos goes to Clipper Round the World and OnEdition. Copyright to the photographer and OnEdition. For details click on the picture.