Light winds block Clipper fleet build up

The wind has been shifty and inconsistent, with a lot of trimming as well as sail alterations happening on the sixth day of the Seattle Pacific Challenge. With speed changing between six and fifteen knots and shifting forty degrees, several teams have also found them stuck in wind holes. It is because of the all new pressure system, and unable to get more northern side on the Great Circle route of North Pacific because of the unfavorable winds.

Since morning, the wind has turned slightly and steadier stronger at around twelve knots. Garmin goes on to lead the fleet, round fifteen nautical miles before of LMAX Exchange in the 2nd spot, with Mission Performance now in 3rd after more leaderboard alterations.

Mission Performance skipper Greg Miller told plainsailing.com that having fought their way north for the last twenty-four hours they sailed right into the wind hole and tailed around for a few hours, eking out small mileage from windseeker, with Mission Performance Warriors working very hard in sloppy seas as well as little wind. As the wind occupied in they were obsessed in their exuberance to get the boat going fast, it had something to do with us being in close proximity to Derry~Londonderry~Doire as well as Da Nang – Viet.

Visit Seattle Skipper Huw Fernie in 11th spot and racing to their home port, told yesterday’s calm patch caught the team out. He told that even though they attempted to go south and skirt the edge of the light winds area, they ended up too far north and stuck for the night.