JAMAICA finish in 5th place

Having led race 6 - Singapore to Qingdao - for 12 days the crew of the Rasta Rocket have finished in a highly commendable 5th place given the problems which beset them last weekend.

Regular followers of this site will have read the accounts of crew member Dinshaw Avari who confirmed that they had experienced 2 serious mast problems and 2 sail problems in a short 72 hour period as they were battered by heavy winds and seas. To have come back from that to still manage 5th place was a credit to them.

JAMAICA crossed the finishing line 68.7 nautical miles behind 1st placed New York.

Frustratingly she was only ½ mile behind 4th placed Hull and Humber, which after 2,600 miles and 19 days racing just shows how tight this race has been from start to finish.

It has also been a gruelling experience in relentless headwinds right from the start and as a result the fleet has made slower than expected progress to the finish in Qingdao. At a meeting yesterday the Race Committee, using provisions provided within the Clipper sailing instructions and the International Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), made a decision to shorten the course.

Clipper Race Committee Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “The main consideration in this decision is to allow sufficient time for the skippers and crews to carry out routine in-port maintenance in preparation for the next race to Hawaii. The Race Committee believes that this is the best course of action to ensure the overall safety and well-being of the fleet.”

With the fleet now under motor, JAMAICA is expected to arrive in Qingdao at 0900hrs local time Saturday 16 February for some well earned rest and recuperation ....... interspersed with some seriously hard work repairing those broken sails and ropes.

This must have been an incredible and life changing experience from the crew on board. We have just one word for you guys :

RESPECT !