Governor Schwarzenegger commends crews as Jamaica Lightning Bolt departs San Francisco

The crew of Jamaica Lightning Bolt, one of ten teams competing in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, couldn’t have hoped for better conditions for the start of Race 8 of the 35,000-mile challenge from San Francisco. A brisk 20 to 25 knot wind powered the fleet of internationally sponsored ocean racing yachts across the start line opposite the Golden Gate Yacht Club and out under the Golden Gate Bridge. Ahead lies a 3,329-mile leg to Panama which is set to deliver quite different conditions to the dramatic North Pacific race from Qingdao, China.

Wishing the crews well on the next leg of the race, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “This event brings together enthusiastic sailors for some great competition and I applaud all the participants for putting their talents and skills to work. As a former professional athlete I know what it takes to excel in demanding sporting contests. Everyone here has trained hard to be ready for this once in a lifetime opportunity and you can be proud of what you have accomplished so far.

“To all the participants I wish you the best of luck and happy sailing.”

Local entry, California, was keen to make a good impression in front of their home crowd and succeeded by being the first team across the start line. They were closely followed by overall race leaders, Spirit of Australia, with the latest leg winners, Cape Breton Island, third to cross. Hull & Humber, Team Finland, Qingdao, Uniquely Singapore, Jamaica Lightning Bolt and Edinburgh Inspiring Capital completed the order across the line as the boats tacked their way towards the Golden Gate Bridge. By the time the boats had reached San Francisco’s iconic landmark, Hull & Humber had moved into the lead with Team Finland and Uniquely Singapore moving up into second and third place respectively.

Speaking ahead of the race start, Jamaica Lightning Bolt’s skipper, Pete Stirling, said, “We definitely want another podium on this race but the one we really want to win of course is the race into our home port of Jamaica.

“For the race to Panama we can expect good following conditions to start with some good spinnaker runs. We know we’re going to run out of breeze a bit further on and it’s going to be very light so it might get a bit tactical. However, we’ve shown in the past that we’re good in light conditions so we’ve got high hopes for this one.“

Having layered up to keep themselves protected from the elements, the crews who come from all walks of life will soon replace foul weather gear with shorts, T-shirts and sunscreen as they race down the west coast of the North American continent to Panama.

Race Director, Joff Bailey, says, “The Californian current flows in a southerly direction but the helping hand this gives the fleet may be counteracted by the heating effects from the North American land mass which might change the winds unfavourably. The race down to Panama should be a fast one but it’s not over until the finishing line is crossed and the light winds of the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone or Doldrums) could decide the finishing position in the final stages of this race.”

The first boats are expected to arrive in Panama around 11 May after which they will transit the Panama Canal before commencing Race 9, a 591-mile sprint to Jamaica.

The Clipper 09-10 Race started from the Humber on the north east coast of England on 13 September 2009 and will return to there on 17 July 2010. It is the only event in the world where people from all walks of life can take on the challenge of a lifetime and race around the globe on stripped down 68-foot ocean racing yachts.

ENDS

Standings at the start of Race 8 Points
1 Spirit of Australia 70
2 Jamaica Lightning Bolt * 59
3 Team Finland 58.3
4 Cape Breton 53
5 Hull & Humber 43
6 Uniquely Singapore 40
7 Qingdao 36
8 Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 23
9 Cork 23
10 California 20