My mate Ian's round the world race with Clipper Ventures…...

[Giles]

Ian has reached Madeira in 8th position (out of 10), therefore completing the shakedown leg.  He had a storming last 24 hours, apparently my kind words of support, "Get your fingers out of your feckin arse and race", served as some sort of inspiration…...

The next leg is one of the biggies, Madeira to Rio (one of the ones I want to do in 2013).

[Giles]

The first of the "real" legs is underway. Madeira to Rio.  Ian is in 4th atm, but with 3,500 miles to go it barely matters at this point

[Giles]

On the second leg now.  Ian is currently in 5th on this leg….

http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/follow/race-viewer/

[jimmy]

placing is pretty miss leading at this point as they're all still pretty neck to neck. Exciting

[Giles]

And in the middle of the doldrums…..

[Giles]

So the Rio to Cape Town leg has started.

Ian is curretly in third place on this leg.

http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/follow/race-viewer/

G

[Giles]

Sporting the forum Tee in Rio…..

[rocket]

cool, well done Ian

[Giles]

And currently in second - COME ON IAN,,,,,,,,,

[jimmy]

@Giles:

And currently in second - COME ON IAN,,,,,,,,,

keep that up they can really use the gate points.

http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/follow/race-viewer/

[Giles]

Good point Jimmy.  At least one of the teams bust spinnaker poles last night.  There is a 4 point deduction for that…..

[jimmy]

why would you get point penalties for that? isn't the incident alone enough of a penalty?

[Giles]

The point penalty is a great idea.

If you know you can get a "free" replacement sail/pole/halyard at the next port of call, you will tend to push the boat (and the crew) too hard.  The race is designed so that the all round best skipper/team win, someone who can race fast but safe…..I think that it is a great rule and encourages good behaviour, remember these crews have never really sailed before, and indeed in Ian's case, he had hardly sailed outside on British waters until 5 weeks ago....

[jimmy]

makes perfect sense

[Giles]

Random pics of Ian's race so far

[Seul]

Just when I was glad that Finn wasn't posting dizzying crane-shorts anymore… 

[Giles]

Not great res. but how's about this one….....?

[rocket]

nice…

[Seul]

DEAR  G O D  MAN!.. 

[Giles]

And what he was up to last night…..

_Ian has also taken advantage of the conditions to attempt to sort out the team's wind instruments which involved a trip up the 89-foot mast.

He said he was not able to repair them in the sea state, so they are waiting for calmer conditions to try again._