The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is going on strong at the Henri Lloyd Hobart to Whitsundays Race.
The runners are just more than a thousand nautical miles from the end line near Airlie Beach with Da Nang – Viet Nam keeping a narrow lead with just 30nM splitting the top 8 teams.
Great Britain was 1st through Scoring Gate at 18:16 UTC (Jan 3, 2016) followed just twenty-six minutes later by LMAX Exchange, taking 3 and 2 points respectively. The final point was taken by Derry Londonderry Doire.
Peter Thornton talked about the great battle. He said that last night, the little race for the gate was a bit strong. He mockingly added “thanks LMAX Exchange for my increased number of white hairs, heightened blood pressure and general lack of sleep.” The reckoned wind shift in the last stages did in fact come through in the nick of time and enabled them to stay ahead which he was very delighted with, as the guys were working pretty hard in some challenging trimming and helming conditions – mainly at night.