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    Race 5: Sta-Lok Endurance Test

    The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. This unique, epic event sees teams battle extreme conditions as they race more than 40,000 nautical miles between Host Ports around the globe in a true test of fortitude and determination.

    The start of Leg 4: The Australian Coast-to-Coast leg, commences with Race 5: Sta-Lok Endurance Test.

    The Clipper Race teams will leave Fremantle and dip back down into the Roaring Forties, the most southerly point of the entire circumnavigation. Vigilance will be key as the crew experience some of the most inhospitable parts of the planet where icebergs flow north from Antarctica. Luckily, the laid-back beaches of Newcastle, New South Wales, will provide a well-earned stop ahead of the next race up to the tropical paradise of the Whitsundays.

    Keep an eye on this page for all of the latest updates as the Clipper 70’s compete in Race 5: Sta-Lok Endurance Test.

    Follow the race

    Deputy Race Director – Dale Smyth

    “It’s a really challenging but exciting race that the crew are going to have. Because of the weather conditions from the beginning of this race, it’s looking to be quite a tough start. Traditionally here there are a lot of southerlies that blow, so it’s quite a hard beat right down until the fleet gets past Cape Leeuwin, and even then, it’s still a challenge trying to break through an area of high pressure until they get far south enough to start getting some westerlies. Once the teams are down in the south, they should get some good running conditions.“

    Mike Miller, PSP Logistics

    “It’s going to be a challenge for us all, but the chance to show what we’re here for. We’re going to be sailing around the bottom end of Tasmania, the southernmost tip of Australia. It’s right down close to the 45-degree ice limit, so really down where the Roaring Forties are in full, full steam. I’ve sailed down there a couple of times before the scenery down there is absolutely extraordinary.

    “It should be quite an interesting start. From a skipper’s perspective, it’s going to be quite a challenge as to whether or not we put up a spinnaker. It’s quite difficult to manoeuvre in that type of situation when you’ve got to be very careful not to be blown too far downwind to get over the start line, you have to time it absolutely to perfection.”

    Nano Antia Bernardez, Yacht Club Punta del Este:

    “The first half of the race is going to be very, very difficult. It’s going to be fun, and people are excited, and we need to come back higher now.

    “It’s a very special part of the world to sail around Tasmania, there are so many whales, dolphins birds altogether. It’s one of the places I’ve seen more sea life in my life. It’s absolutely amazing. And if we get close enough to see the Tasmanian cliffs with those amazing, very sharp edge rocks, it’s just one of the most beautiful islands in the world for sure. And for the crew, it’s going to mean getting out into the ocean and seeing the real the adventure.”

    Hannah Brewis, Washington DC:

    “It’s going to be it’s an interesting, interesting, really tactical race. A downwind start, which is notoriously a lot harder than upwind starts as we do a short seven mile run downwind past Rottnest Island. And then after that, it’s back up upwind again. So yeah, it’ll just be about sail changes and just keeping going. And once you get round the island and start heading south, it’s going to be quite rough.”

    Latest content from the Clipper Race crew

    See and hear some insights from the Clipper Race crew as they talk to Sta-Lok about what endurance means to them.

     

    “Endurance to us means “finding a way” even when it seems impossible in the moment. Our crew rose to the occasion after our spinnaker exploded and we faced 2 days of head on winds in a stormy sea state. We helped each other not just with the difficult, strenuous, and wet tasks on deck but by being kind and helpful to those not feeling well or struggling to move below deck. We depend on the strength and endurance of one another and the design of our dependable Zhuhai to get us to port safely and with joy!” 

     

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