146. Bermuda whistlestop.

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Photo taken mid-way across the North Pacific in April

The Countdown clock to Race start now shows just a little over 24 hours of nervous anticipation until we are off once more. The weather forecast looks a little ”sporty” and we are all onboard for the Bermuda to New York race briefing at 1430 this afternoon. Thereafter its one more night of relative peace, quiet and comfort.

My kit is now either all packed (and goes onboard this afternoon) or laid out in my digs ready for Sunday morning.

We are all onboard the UNICEF yacht by 10am tomorrow. Team photos will be from 1015 and we slip lines from 1100. After that we have a Parade of Sail around Hamilton harbour before a practice start out in The Great Sound. We will then do some compulsory man overboard training, practicing rescuing a man overboard who has gone overboard still attached to the boat by his tether, and a recovery of an untethered man overboard who is no longer attached to the boat. From about 1445 we will sail out of the relatively sheltered waters of Bermuda into the North Atlantic for a Le Mans start at 1800. Thereafter its a relatively short race (depending on the wind speed and direction!) to New York. The Fleet is due into Liberty Landing on the Jersey City side of New York on the 23rd or 24th of June and will remain alongside until Sunday 29th June when we start the North Atlantic crossing to Londonderry.

This has been the first time Bermuda has hosted the Clipper Fleet and it has clearly been a great success. Here are a few images:.

This is why climbing onboard using one of the springs in on the crew assessment!
My ”digs”
Alan Brookes – one time Captain of HMS LONDON when I was CO of HMS NEWCASTLE – who I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. Tracked him down this time last week and he and I went to sea in his boat most of Sunday.

Lindy Scarborough, a UNICEF supporter – her husband Graham did Leg 7 – being congratulated by Sir Robin for her fundraising efforts making Clipper jewellery – go way back and see Blog 70: Advert time …. go on, its for a great cause, published on 2nd August 2019.

Just good friends!

For Diabetes UK and the National Autistic Society see:

https://justgiving.com/teams/keithsclipperadventure

for UNICEF UK please see:

https://justgiving.com/KeithWinstanley-TeamUNICEF

Only about 4500 nautical miles to go!

Published by keithwinstanley

Now a bell ringing, bee keeping businessman (not always in that order) Keith has limited yachting experience but considerable sea-going experience having served afloat for the majority of his 34 years service in the Royal Navy. This included serving in every class of warship from minesweeper to aircraft carrier, commanding 4 different ships (a minesweeper, two destroyers and an amphibious command ship) and commanding all UK maritime forces in the Middle East for a 2 year period. Concurrently he was the Deputy Coalition Commander of a multi-national force of over 115 warships drawn from 22 different countries. For him the challenge and excitement of being part of the Clipper Round The World Race team has proved irresistible, in particular taking on the four big west-east ocean crossings and the chance to sail across oceans and seas he has yet to experience.

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