JAMAICA claims 8th place in very light winds

Skipper Simon Bradley and watch leader Claire Maloney pictured in windier and colder conditions on the previous race to Santa Cruz.

Having overtaken Western Australia and held off Durban, JAMAICA had to setlle for 8th place in Race 9. At the 11th hour the "go west in search of stronger winds" strategy of Liverpool catapulted them past JAMAICA to take 7th.

With race having been shortened due to light winds the fleet will now motor to Panama in order to achieve their scheduled transit time through the canal. From on board JAMAICA, Simon sent this message :

“The last few miles took forever to complete as the wind died away on us. We saw Liverpool 08 then Uniquely Singapore finish before us, very frustrating as we hoped to beat both of them to the line. Well done to them both. We’re motoring now to Panama and this will bring its own challenges: the noise, the heat and not running out of fuel. But it will allow us to get most, if not all, of our maintenance jobs done en-route.”

The first boats are due to arrive in Panama on Monday 13th May.

Congratulations to the crew of JAMAICA clipper - time now to relax and recharge your batteries before the journey through the Panama Canal and onto race 10 to Port Antonio in Jamaica. Wouldn't it be great if we could claim a podium position in our home port ?

Well Red Stripe may be the drink of choice on the island of Jamaica - but as they say on the Emerald Isle : BELIEVE!