City’s clipper battles for the lead in world race

Jan 29 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL 08, the Liverpool-backed entry in the Round the World Yacht Race, is lying second in the sixth leg of the contest.

Battling against ten 68-foot ocean racing yachts, Liverpool 08 flew over the starting line in Singapore in second place headed for Qingdao, China.

In the sweltering heat and just five knots of easterly breeze, the boats entered one of the world’s busiest shipping channels forcing them tight together until they hit their first mark, Middle Rock, some 30 miles east of Singapore.

Although Liverpool 08’s three- second place finishes put it third overall, the 35-strong crew is still pushing for the top spot.

Skipper Ben Galloway, said: “We’re going to be working as hard as we always work. We’ve had a talk and decided what we’re going to do. We’re going to give it that extra 10, 15, 20 per cent, whatever we need.

“We’re going for the yellow pennant and giving it everything we’ve got.

“We’ve talked about where we went wrong, how we could do better and hopefully improve on that and get a better result.”

Liverpool 08 now faces a 2,600-mile race north to Quindao, the host of the sailing events in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The first of the boats are expected to finish and berth at the Olympic Sailing Marina on February 15.

Chairman and founder of the Clipper Race, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, reflecting on the Singapore launch, said: “Departure is always bitter sweet. For the crews there is the excitement of setting out on the next stage of their odyssey but at the same time apprehension and a little bit of sadness for family and friends waving them off.”

The 34 crew and one skipper were chosen from across England after applying for the race last year.

The race advertised for people of all walks of life, ages and social backgrounds and the current crew includes a Hackney taxi driver, science teacher, banker and a student from Wallasey.

With just two points separating the top four boats; Durban 2010 and Beyond (South Africa) is leading with 33 points but the trio of British boats, Hull and Humber, Liverpool 08 and Glasgow: Scotland are all fighting to close on the two-point margin to knock them off the top spot.

To follow Liverpool 08’s progress visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com

laurasharpe