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Clipper Race Passes San Francisco

By John Arndt | May 4, 2018 | Pacific Ocean |

Over the past 24 hours the 11-boat fleet of Clipper Round the World racers has been slowly making its way south outside the Golden Gate in the 4,100-mile leg from Seattle to Panama. The winds offshore have been light, making for slow progress in cool air under gray skies.

We toured Garmin at the dock in Seattle a few days ago and flew back to the Bay Area in an hour and a half. Five days later Garmin is slowly sailing past in light (but now building) breezes off Monterey. Sanya Serenity Coast is pictured above.

© 2018 Ming Hao

Currently, Qingdao is out in front followed by Dare to Lead, with Visit Seattle, led by 24-year-old female skipper Nikki Henderson, in third. Slow sailing can be frustrating, but, for many of the crew, it’s probably a nice change of pace after they faced 50-ft seas and hurricane-force winds during the previous leg, Qingdao to Seattle.

They’re well offshore but headed toward the coast, searching for more favorable breeze and current. 

© 2018 Clipper Race

Upon reaching Panama, the fleet will transit the Canal, then resume racing to their next stopover in New York City. You can follow their progress down our coast here.

Meanwhile, the other around-the-world race, the Volvo Ocean Race, is 11 days into their leg from Brazil to Newport, RI. The seven-boat fleet is currently east of the West Indies, reaching in strong trade winds. Check on their progress here.

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