ST. KITTS' HIDDEN SECRETS - Insider’s Top Ten List

Basseterre, St. Kitts – While many secrets are best kept secret, others are just too good not to be told. These priceless St. Kitts treasures have long remained “under the radar,” yet they’re sure to make a lasting impression on visitors. Travelers seeking an authentic Kittitian experience that few people know about will not want to miss these!

1. Crater Lake on Mt. Liamuiga: Standing tall at 3,792 feet, Mt. Liamuiga is the highest peak on St. Kitts. The name Liamuiga is derived from the Kalinago name for the entire island of St. Kitts, which means, "fertile land." Adventurers seeking a challenging hike through the lush, verdant rainforest will be pleasantly surprised at the wonders existing far up the slopes. Upon reaching the summit caldera, which is approximately a mile across and a full 1,000 feet deep, there is a magnificent crater lake and steam vents emitting hot steam from deep within the mountain's interior. On a clear day, the panoramic views are breathtaking, including the entire island, the pristine Caribbean Sea and surrounding islands of Saba, St. Eustatius, Anguilla, St. Barts and St. Maarten.

2. Ancient Shipwrecks: In addition to numerous reefs, shoals and abundant marine life, the virgin waters surrounding St. Kitts have yet another wonder. A recently conducted Maritime Archaeological project revealed several hundred pristine wrecks of galleons, frigates and freighters dating back to the 17th century that were sunk in various naval battles and skirmishes. One recently discovered and excavated dive site is located at White House Bay, where the wreck of a 1740s English troopship rests.

3. The Tomb of Sir Thomas Warner: The final resting place of the first governor of the West Indies is located in Middle Island, St. Kitts. Sir Thomas Warner made his inaugural visit to the island in 1623 and has become widely regarded as the principal figure in the colonial history of St. Kitts. Buried in the very same graveyard is Samuel Jefferson, great-great-great-grandfather of the third President of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson.

4. Wingfield Estate: With excavations still ongoing, Wingfield Estate continues to reveal new structures and secrets. Formerly home to Thomas Jefferson’s great-great grandfather, this site is a new “must see” on St. Kitts. The sugar estate ruins house one of the Caribbean’s last surviving aqueducts as well as many original structures, equipment, tall chimney, boiling pots and plenty of other interesting historical elements that guests can view, tour and be awed by. A short walk will take you to Romney Manor, the property’s great house, which is presided over by a majestic 350-year-old Saman tree whose branches cover a full ½ acre of the manicured 10-acre grounds.

5. The Old Treasury Building: Erected in 1894, this monument was known as the Gateway to Basseterre to those who arrived by sea. In 2002, the building was transformed into a National Museum that exhibits cultural and historical artifacts that played a role in the development of St. Kitts. One of the largest public buildings in the city of Basseterre, this is the perfect place to get to know the rich historical background that shaped Kittitian culture and traditions.

6. The Strip at Frigate Bay: Hidden in plain sight is this exquisite strip of beach on the Caribbean side of St. Kitts. While it has become well known as a night life hot spot, it’s also a wonderful place during the day to try a variety of watersports from jet skiing to snorkeling to fishing charters or simply relaxing in the soft sand and soaking up the warm sunshine.

7. The Georgian House: Located south of Independence Square, the grandiose structure remains one of the most eye-catching examples of 18th century architecture on St. Kitts. It is thought to have once served as a holding place for slaves purchased from the auctions prior to their transfer to the plantations. Rumor has it that the basement of the building is haunted, as people have reported hearing the sharp sound of shackles moving across the floor.

8. Carib Brewery St. Kitts Ltd: Producing annually over 750,000 cases of the island’s beers, malts, stouts and soft drinks, the Carib Brewery is one of the leading beverage makers on island and in the Caribbean region. Travelers can see the beverage-making magic unfold by making an appointment to witness the process. This excursion is both fun and educational for the entire family and visitors can also sample a complimentary beverage.

9. Diverse Dining Options: What foodies don’t know but will love to discover, St. Kitts has a range of cuisines available on island at venues ranging from casual to elegant. Nosh on sushi at a modern gourmet beachside establishment or try some authentic Kittitian-style cooking at one of the island’s roadside grills (all food handlers have health department administered certificates) serving some of the Caribbean’s best barbecued chicken and fish. From Italian to French or Asian-Fusion and Continental to Caribbean, it’s all available to please the palate of those who know the inside scoop.

10. The Market: For an exclusive glimpse everyday life on St. Kitts, stop at the local market in downtown Basseterre. The sights and sounds of this bustling place present an exciting and genuine experience, as local produce harvested from the island’s fertile soil is both bought and sold. Opposite the market on Bay Road is the ever vibrant Ferry Terminal, with a variety of booths selling delectable Kittitian fare.

Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and the more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at one of St. Kitts’ two casinos or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches. Guests can select from accommodations ranging from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels or resorts.

For more information about St. Kitts, please see the Definitive Caribbean Guide to St Kitts or contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888-395-4887, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn, visit www.stkittstourism.kn.

FREE DOMINICA PODCASTS AVAILABLE ON iTUNES

Roseau, Dominica – Discover Dominica Authority continues to hold a strong presence in the social media world as a result of their uploading a series of exclusive island podcasts on iTunes. Designed to give travelers an insider guide with on-the-spot local knowledge, the podcasts provide tips and insights of “the Nature Island.”

Unveil Dominica’s pristine waters and lush rainforests with seven different podcasts that cover the topics of; the Carib Culture of Dominica, how to master your own Creole cocktail, hiking, the secrets to Dominica’s responsible tourism, Waitukubuli National Trail, how to cook Dominica style and activities and attractions not to miss.

“We are pleased to continue to promote Dominica via social media. We discovered another resource to keep our visitors not only informed on what’s happening on island but also engaged,” commented Mr. Colin Piper, CEO/Director of Discover Dominica Authority. “With the creation of this series of podcasts, our travelers have the opportunity to experience and receive firsthand knowledge on the island before they step off the plane. The videos will help them gain a better overview of Dominica’s history, activities and cultural highlights such as our local cuisine.”

Follow this link to find the series of mini documentary videos on Dominica.

Known as “the Nature Island” and located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, the independent nation of Dominica (pronounced “dom-in-eek-a”) is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, encompassing an area of nearly 290 square miles. Of volcanic origins with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the last true oceanic rainforests in the world, more than 365 rivers, waterfalls the second largest Boiling Lake in the world and pristine coral reefs, Dominica’s natural diversity is truly unique. Dominica is also home to the last remaining settlement of Indigenous People of the Caribbean – The Carib Indians. A place where man and nature live in harmony, adventurers and nature lovers alike will revel in the Island’s eco-tourism options which include scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking/trekking, whale, dolphin and bird watching, sailing and fishing.

Dominica continues to be recognized for its attributes and responsible tourism efforts, including being the first country in the world to receive Benchmarking designation from the prestigious eco-tourism organization Green Globe 21. National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destination ranked the island as the top sustainable island in the Caribbean and among the top ten in the world. Dominica was recognized by Islands Magazine and was included in its 2007 Blue List for being a leader in responsible tourism and ensuring an environmentally and culturally sound island for future generations. Travel + Leisure also announced Dominica as one of the most compelling destinations to visit in their 100 Greatest Trips 2008 edition. Most recently, Dominica was recognized as the 2nd most “pure island” in the world in the April/May 2010 issue of Islands Magazine.


Contact: Marie Rosa/Candice Adams Kimmel
Adams Unlimited Public Relations & Mktg
Phone: 212 956 5900
E-Mail: Marie@adams-pr.com

Jamaica Lightning Bolt eyes up the trophy as Race 11 of Clipper 09-10 gets underway

Aiming to put their poor result in Race 10 of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race firmly behind them and regain their position in the top three of the overall leaderboard, Jamaica Lightning Bolt departed New York for the start of Race 11 – an 800-mile sprint to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

Speaking ahead of the race start Jamaica Lightning Bolt’s skipper Pete Stirling, said, “We had a pretty diabolical race on the last leg, finishing in eighth overall which was very unfortunate. It was a bit demoralizing but I’ve told the crew that every boat has had a bad race and that was ours. Having a knock back occasionally is not a bad thing as it makes us stronger. Everyone is really geared up and we’re moving on.

“I’ve been looking at the weather and the race could deliver a mixed bag really. It looks like it could be pretty calm to start, with the wind building a bit later on coupled with the possibility of fog, so we’re going to have to be prepared for anything.”

The Clipper fleet treated New Yorkers to a parade of sail past the Statue of Liberty before heading out of the Hudson to the site of Ambrose Lighthouse where Race 11 got underway at 1645 local time (2045GMT) with a Le Mans start.

With winds touching the 30 knot mark, most crews opted for a Yankee 2 and reefed mainsail combination with Cape Breton Island and California first out of the blocks after the Le Mans start. Overall race leaders Spirit of Australia were in hot pursuit though and followed Cape Breton Island's lead in shaking out their reef shortly after the start with the rest of the fleet soon following suit.

Despite their poorest result of the ten month series on the latest leg of the race, Spirit of Australia is still holding a comfortable lead at the top of the overall leaderboard. But with four races still to go and the performance amongst their competitors improving all the time, the Australian team cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

Competition is exceptionally close amongst the teams currently lying in the three places below Spirit of Australia, with just two points separating Cape Breton Island, Team Finland and Jamaica Lightning Bolt, who hold second, third and fourth place respectively. Hull & Humber are also not out of contention for an overall podium and with their first podium place result in Race 8 they will be hungry for another. Further down the order there is Asian rivalry between Uniquely Singapore, who scored their first victory in Race 10, and Qingdao who despite four third place results have yet to make it to the top of the podium. The team on board Cork will be hoping to show what their Challenge 67 is capable of and with stronger weather forecasted for this race than the last, they will be fully in contention. Keen also to prove their worth are California and Edinburgh Inspiring Capital who have yet to get a podium place result – so the final four races of Clipper 09-10 promise to be fiercely contested.

In addition to the closely fought points for the individual legs there is an extra dimension to the 800-mile race from New York to Cape Breton Island. Designated the ‘Eagle Spirit Race’ by Cape Breton Island’s sponsors, with the inspiration coming from the magnificent eagle that emblazons the side of their yacht, the team’s will be competing for the Eagle Spirit Trophy. There are three magnificent trophies up for grabs, each depicting a soaring eagle, which will be awarded to the podium placed yachts at the Race 11 prize giving ceremony on June 14 in Sydney.

There is a centuries old tradition of welcoming visitors to Nova Scotia which continues to be extended by the people of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia today. Their famous warm welcome and hand of friendship will be awaiting all the crews of Clipper 09-10 when the race arrives in Sydney between 11 and 13 June.

Jamaica Lightning Bolt bids farewell to Port Antonio

The crew of Jamaica Lightning Bolt has said farewell to Port Antonio and begun the latest stage of their bid to win the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race.

Cape Breton Island’s eagle soared across the start line ahead of the rest of the Clipper 09-10 fleet at the beginning of Race 10 to New York. In eight to ten knots of breeze from the east and a very calm sea state, Uniquely Singapore was next to cross the start line, followed by Team Finland and Spirit of Australia. Jamaica Lightning Bolt was mid pack, followed by Cork, Ireland and Hull & Humber, with Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, California and Qingdao completing the order.

California had crossed the line ahead of the starting signal, so were forced to go around again to exonerate themselves, while Qingdao misjudged the amount of time they needed to get to the line from their training session and were last to cross, 20 minutes after the signal was sounded at 1410 (1910 GMT).

At the mark, Team Finland had gained ground, tacking up the course to round ahead of Cape Breton Island, Spirit of Australia followed the Canadian yacht and Uniquely Singapore steamed in ahead of Jamaica Lightning Bolt, leaving the home team in their dirty air, to good-natured shouts of protest from home team supporters close by.

The 1420-mile race to New York, the latest stage of the 35,000-mile circumnavigation, will take them past the island of Cuba and up the east coast of North America, following the Gulf Stream current.

Preparing to leave Port Antonio where the fleet has been enjoying Jamaican hospitality since their arrival last Tuesday, the skipper of the home boat, Pete Stirling, said, “With Team Finland it’s very close. Obviously we’ve got Spirit of Australia up there 19 points ahead of us as well. It’s a tall order to get ahead of them from now, but in five races anything can happen. Cape Breton Island is still a very potent threat as well, and with five races, especially with scoring gate points, there are a lot of points still on the table and it could be turned upside down yet so we all still need to focus and concentrate.”

Before the team slipped their lines Pete presented a bottle of Benromach 10-Year- Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky to Jason Hall, Deputy Director of Jamaica Tourist Board, to thank him for the hospitality Jamaica has shown all the crews.

“We’ve been very well looked after in Jamaica. We had a brilliant reception coming in when we first arrived – there were people on the quayside shouting, the bands, the music and it’s been great. While we’ve been here we’ve been very well looked after by Jamaica Tourist Board; we’ve had a great day out near Ocho Rios, and then last night they threw us a crew party at a villa up in the hills.”

For round the world crew member and New York resident, Matt Shafer, Race 10 is a second chance to race into his home port. He said, “I’m absolutely stoked – It’ll be very emotional for me, I’m sure – it’s where I learned to sail in the marina that we’re going into so I’m sure as soon as we come past Ambrose Light and into the harbour and seeing the city lights and the statue of Liberty it will be very emotional for me.”

He continued, “We were very disappointed to come in fifth to Jamaica so we’re going to make up for it. We’re definitely aiming for another pennant but it would be really nice to get a gold one coming home.”

Double world record holder, Usain Bolt, after whom the Jamaican entry is named, sent a message to the teams during the stopover. He said, “Sorry I couldn’t be here to welcome you personally to the most incredibly beautiful paradise in the world but I have some work to do in China. Like you, I am also on a round the world mission, just a little faster though – the way I like to do things! Big respect to all of you competing in this incredible race. In fact, ‘nuff respect, as we say in Jamaica. You are all champions. So I guess it makes sense that you would be here in Jamaica, the land of champions.”

Jamaica Lightning Bolt’s skipper, Pete Stirling, responded, “The pressure’s on, then – nothing less than a podium will do! Five races left to go and we want to do as well as we can in every one of them.”

Joff Bailey, Race Director said, “We’ve had a great stopover in Jamaica and everyone is looking forward to this race. The skippers are all fired up for this last leg, pushing for the last points that will secure the podium positions. The winds will be light for the first part of the race but once the fleet gets north of the Bahamas it will be a great sail up to New York.”

The ten internationally-backed ocean racing yachts slipped their moorings in Errol Flynn Marina at 10am local time (1500 GMT) and sailed out of the harbour past Port Antonio’s iconic orange and white lighthouse where local residents, enjoying the Labour Day holiday, were waiting to wave off the boats.

After a training session the teams gathered near the start line at Folly Point Lighthouse, the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard cutter, HMJS Cornwall, at the other end of the start line.

Joff said, “I’d like to thank Captain Batchelor and the crew of HMJS Cornwall for their assistance and hospitality today, as well as the crew on Southern Cross who did a great job of holding position as the windward mark while the yachts passed within feet of them.”

During the short stopover in Jamaica the Member of Parliament for East Portland, Dr Donald Rhodd, attended the prize-giving ceremony and said, “We are very humbled that this prestigious event has come to our shores. Your sportsmanship must be applauded as well as your levels of professionalism with which you execute your craft. I wish you success as you travel to your next port of call. Our people in general and tourism in particular have been the beneficiaries of your short stay with us. I hope the warmth and hospitality here have helped to strengthen the bonds of friendship amongst our peoples and I’m sure you will return. We will welcome you again with open arms.”

He also had a message for the rest of the crews: “I’d like to remind you the honourable Lightning Bolt, Usain Bolt, doesn’t come second in a race! So for all of you out there, watch out, he’s coming for you!”

The fleet is due to arrive in New York between 2 and 3 June.

With 93 points, Spirit of Australia currently leads the overall standings in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, 18.7 points ahead of Team Finland, with Jamaica Lightning Bolt just three-tenths of a point behind them in third place. Cape Breton Island is currently fourth overall. Five races remain in the 14-race series, which will finish on 17 July when the ten yachts race up the Humber to the city of Hull.

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Overall leader board after Race 9
1. Spirit of Australia 93 points
2. Team Finland 74.3 points
3. Jamaica Lightning Bolt 74 points
4. Cape Breton Island 67 points
5. Hull & Humber 56 points
6. Qingdao 47 points
7. Uniquely Singapore 47 points
8. Cork 39.8 points
9. Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 32 points
10. California 24 points

Jamaica Lightning Bolt arrives in Port Antonio

Jamaica Lightning Bolt has sailed into her home port after a fast and furious race up through the Caribbean from Panama to Jamaica. The fleet slowed to a crawl as they rounded the island’s most easterly point and were caught as the wind died away, the last 25-mile stretch of the race taking almost six hours for the leading boats to complete.

Spirit of Australia and Hull & Humber were locked in battle for line honours, with Cape Breton Island and Team Finland nipping at their heels. Line honours were eventually claimed by Spirit of Australia as they crossed the finish line at Port Antonio’s distinctive orange and white lighthouse at 1546 local time (2046 GMT), just three minutes and 50 seconds ahead of Hull & Humber, who score their first podium finish of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race campaign. Cape Breton Island was third to cross the finish line at 1558:19 local time (2058:19 GMT), 12 minutes and 19 seconds behind the leaders.

Jamaica Lightning Bolt was the fifth team to cross the finish line at 1707:29 (2207:29 GMT).

“We’re a bit disappointed we didn’t win the race to our home port,” said skipper, Pete Stirling, “But we finished fifth and we said at the outset that our goal was to finish in the top five in every race and we’ve achieved that.”

This is the third time the fleet has visited the Errol Flynn Marina and there was a colourful and noisy reception for all of the boats with drummers and dancers waiting on the pontoon to welcome the teams to Port Antonio.

As he was greeted on the pontoon and handed a bottle of Red Stripe beer by Jamaica Tourist Board’s Deputy Director, Jason Hall, Pete said “The welcome here has been great – I didn’t expect there’d be all this going on!”

Spirit of Australia’s skipper, Brendan Hall, said, “That was the closest race we’ve ever had. A bit of a recurring theme – just like La Rochelle where Hull & Humber pipped us by a similar amount going in there.

“This was interesting because we were only doing five knots so it was this very slow motion kind of game; the die had already been cast where these boats, with just a small amount of inertia, were just creeping slowly across. It was just chess of the most intense variety. We didn’t relax until we crossed the line because at any moment the spinnaker could have collapsed and it would have been so easy to go from four knots to zero and then someone else just with a little zephyr goes past you. So we didn’t let our guard down right until the end.”

Hull & Humber skipper, Justin Taylor, said, “I’m very happy. We worked very, very hard for this one. It was a straight line, there were no tactics involved, it was straight at the line and it was about who could sail the boat the best. We almost had them, we were in the lead for a while coming up the eastern side of the island. They took an inside course, I went a little bit further offshore and three and a half minutes was the difference between us. We were gybing the kite like madmen playing the angles, they just went dead downwind. We went for speed and covered a little bit more ground but if we’d have just followed them it would have been a procession. We almost got them – there’s another five races so we’ll get them next time, definitely.”

As the yachts are now racing under the IRC rating system to take account of the differences between the Clipper 68s and Cork, a Challenge 67, the teams now face a nervous wait until the Irish boat crosses the finish line and times can be adjusted according to the handicap rating.

With almost 200 crew on board the ten yachts, others who have arrived to take up their places for the last leg back to the UK, which starts in Jamaica, plus friends and families visiting crew, Port Antonio is set for a busy few days.

The race is contested by people from a huge variety of backgrounds and from more than 30 nationalities, who put their everyday lives on hold to compete in the 35,000-mile challenge of a lifetime on board one of the ten stripped down 68-foot ocean racing yachts. Among the crews are taxi drivers, nurses, housewives, lawyers, chief executives and engineers.

Since leaving the Humber on the northeast coast of the UK in September last year they have raced across the Atlantic twice, the Southern, Indian and Pacific Oceans, faced mountainous waves, vicious storms, days of flat calm in the Doldrums and extremes of heat and cold, so a few days to relax in Port Antonio will be very welcome.

Each Clipper yacht is entered by a city, region or country and sponsors use the event to showcase themselves to the world. On the last running of the Clipper Race, more than 212 million people worldwide followed the adventure through television, print media, radio and online.

Jamaica’s involvement in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is another element of the country’s strategy to put Jamaica on the map by using sporting events, their sporting heroes and sporting facilities to show the world that they may be a small island but they are a nation of sporting excellence.

The fleet will leave Port Antonio for the start of Race 10 to New York on Monday 24 May.

INFAMUS JOINS THE 14TH ANNUAL ST. KITTS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Local Kittitian Artist is First Ever to be Sponsored by Tourism.

Basseterre, St. Kitts (May 13, 2010) – The St. Kitts Tourism Authority has announced that local artist Infamus has joined the line-up of performers for the 14th Annual St Kitts Music Festival, which will take place on island from June 24-26, 2010. Infamus was the first artist signed to participate in the event and has now become the first local artist in history to be sponsored by the island’s tourism ministry.

“Infamus is a very special talent who all Music Festival patrons will enjoy,” said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport for St. Kitts. “In fact, we are so impressed by him that our Ministry of Tourism has for the first time become significantly involved in supporting a young artist and have sponsored part of the costs involved in producing his first album. This is an indication of how much we believe in his potential for future success and, subsequently, the benefits such success could bring to St. Kitts as a tourism destination.”

Born Kervin Benjamin of Cayon, St. Kitts, Infamus started singing at the tender age of 10 but only began to seriously pursue a career in music upon his return in 2009 after spending a few months in the US. Teaming up with Tru Capo productions, he released several singles and music videos, including Coke & Hennessey, 21 Gun Salute (We Miss You) and Feel Like Crying as well as his latest work, Gonna Make It. In less than two weeks, Infamus’ videos received over 4,000 views on popular website YouTube, a first for a local artist in such a short amount of time. Though new on the music scene, he has already performed alongside top local and international acts such as Jah Cure, Claudette Peters and Wyclef Jean, with fans often cheering loudly and singing along word for word. With the assistance of St. Kitts’ Ministry of Tourism, Infamus traveled to Canada on April 29 where he has been recording his first studio album, Life & Times.

"It’s an honor and a pleasure to be signed to such a prestigious event as the St. Kitts Music Festival,” said Infamus. “You could be sure that it’s definitely going to be good. Definitely you could look for a great show from me, Infamus. I will not just be there to represent myself; I want to be there to represent every single local artist in this nation. That’s my job now."


For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888-395-4887, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn, visit www.stkittstourism.kn, or become a fan on Facebook and/or Twitter. For more information about the 14th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, log on to www.stkittsmusicfestival.com.

Jamaica Lightning Bolt strikes again in Clipper 09-10

Jamaica Lightning Bolt has added another second place finish to their rapidly growing list of honours in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. The team, named after the fastest man on earth, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, crossed the finish line at 1322 GMT, just under two hours after winner and overall race leader Spirit of Australia.

The result means the Jamaican team will move up into second place overall, just 0.7 points ahead of Team Finland.

The fight for second place in Race 8 went down to the wire as three teams finished within minutes of each other. Just 12 minutes separated Jamaica Lighting Bolt and Qingdao who took third place and Team Finland, eight minutes behind the Chinese team in fourth place.

Skipper of the Jamaican entry, Pete Stirling, said, “Without a doubt this must have been the closest finish in any race of Clipper 09-10. With the extremely light and fickle winds there was a great deal of concentration and a certain amount of luck required to keep yourself in contention.

“Since early yesterday morning we have had Team Finland in sight first behind us, then ahead of us and then finally behind us again this morning as we approached the finish line. With them threatening to take our third place position off us we hoisted the lightweight spinnaker and dropped the Yankee 1 at midnight last night. Up to this point the weather had been a bit touch and go with several dark clouds around us threatening to bring rain and a lot more wind.

“The spinnaker made all the difference and over the course of the next eight hours we managed to move ahead of Team Finland and pull out a two mile lead over them by the time we crossed the finish line. In the end there was probably less than 15 miles the top four boats as they crossed the line. Real nail biting drama!”

Spirit of Australia crossed the finish line at 1140 GMT today, victorious skipper Brendan Hall commenting, "This race has been an emotional rollercoaster. We've had great highs and depressing lows. It's hard to be in the lead for so long knowing we can only slide backwards and the other boats are all gunning for us. To have triumphed in the end and taken the maximum 13 points is a testament to the hard work determination and persistence of this fine crew. Qingdao, Jamaica Lightning Bolt and Team Finland are crews of the highest calibre so to have beaten them is a great achievement."

Given the unpredictable nature of the winds on this course and the need for the yachts to transit the Panama Canal within a given window, the Sailing Instructions for this race include provision for several finish lines. With very light or no winds forecast for the coming days, the Race Committee decided on Thursday to take that option and set the finish line off Cabo Blanco.

During this stage the teams have enjoyed vastly different sailing conditions to those they endured on the transpacific race from Qingdao to San Francisco. After a buffeting as they left San Francisco, spinnakers have been flying, temperatures have been rising and the crews have been enjoying some fast downwind sailing conditions, interspersed with periods of flat calm and fierce tropical squalls. Rankings on the leader board have changed at almost every schedule for the rest of the teams as they were affected by localised weather conditions.

The results are provisional until all the skippers have handed in their Race Declarations on arrival in Panama. Jamaica Lightning Bolt is expected to arrive in Flamenco Marina, Panama, on Monday 10 May, from where she and the other yachts will transit the Panama Canal, one of the great wonders of modern engineering, before the start of Race 9, a short, upwind sprint to the team’s home port of Port Antonio on the beautiful north coast of Jamaica.