A SHIPS TALE - CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD RACE 2013/14

I saw three ships.....well actually, it turned out to be twelve!!!  On the 14th February, I happened to glance outside my window here on Sentosa, and this is what I saw. A colorful clipper yacht with "Old Pulteney" emblazoned on it's side.

Not knowing anything about sailing, but intrigued, I headed for Google and found out that this yacht is one of twelve that are taking part in a round the World clipper race, Singapore is one of the 16 stopover points on the journey.

I feel so lucky to have been able to see these yachts right here in my back yard (so to speak).  The twelve teams, all identical 70 foot racing yachts, sponsored by different "brands", spent 5 days in the One Degree 15 Marina, here on Sentosa.

The One Degree 15 Marina is literally a 10 minute walk from my apartment, so I got to see the yachts up close.  

"This is the only race in the world where the organisers supply the fleet of twelve identical, 70-foot, stripped down racing yachts – each sponsored by a brand – and manned with a fully-qualified skipper, employed to lead the crews safely around the globe.

It’s where taxi drivers rub shoulders with chief executives, vicars mix with housewives, students work alongside bankers, nurses work with vets and doctors team with rugby players. It’s an experience that will change people’s lives. Yet while the crews may be amateur, no one has told the ocean that."

The twelve teams are as follows:

DERRY LONDONDERRY DOIRE
HENRI LLOYD
OLD PULTENEY
JAMAICA GET ALL RIGHT
GREAT BRITAIN
MISSION PERFORMANCE

INVEST AFRICA
SWITZERLAND
ONE DLL
PSB LOGISTICS 
GARMIN
QINGDAO

The teams started out from London on the 1st September 2013.  They will race around the globe in 16 different races (8 legs), arriving back in London again around the 12th July 2014.  It was amazing to think of these crews navigating around the globe in these yachts which don't seem very big at all, and with just around 55 crew members on board each yacht, it must certainly be a tight squeeze! Quite an adventure, especially as it is a 9 month long commitment.  "The adventure of a lifetime".

Singapore was the end of Race 8 (leg 5), the teams having sailed from Brisbane, a 33 day journey covering 4,500nM.  The Clipper Race has a truly fantastic website and Facebook page which I highly encourage you to visit.  There is so much fascinating information there, including diaries, logs and blog entries from captains and crew members from each of the teams.  I just think it is amazing.  Click here for the website, and be sure to really look around it.  So much wonderful information.  Can you tell my interest is totally piqued?!

On the 19th February, I got to see the twelve yachts sail right by my apartment here on Sentosa.  They were setting out to sea to get ready for the start of Race 9 (Leg 5) which would begin early on 20th February.  This leg of the race will be an approximate 16 day journey to Qingdao in China, covering some 2450nM.

I captured some video, it was really cool to be able to wave them on their way. 

 BON VOYAGE!!!

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