Race report three: strong headwinds and large seas

Strong headwinds and large seas has led to further split tactics in the fleet racing in the first leg of The Tall Ships Races 2015 from Belfast, UK to Aalesund, Norway. 

Paul Bishop, Race Director, Sail Training International reports.

äóìOcean

Spirit of Moray (UK) has come out ahead on the water this morning haven taken

the southerly route around the Shetlands, with the ex-Whitbread round the world

yacht Tomidi (Belgium) in sight just one mile astern. Spaniel (Latvia) has

taken the northerly route losing her hard-gained lead and is now 10 miles

behind the Ocean Spirit of Moray.

“The Class A fleet has also split tactics with Statsraad Lehmkuhl

(Norway) and Eendracht (The Netherlands) heading north of the Shetlands and

Fryderyk Chopin (Poland) Sorlandet (Norway) and Christian Radich (Norway)

gaining an advantage by going south. With the winds forecast to back to the south east tomorrow, this could help them extend their advantage – but the winds are due to

be beneficial for longer in the north with Statsraad Lehmkuhl, so this is by no means

certain.