Saturday
5th May 2001, 1300 BST
Yachts
leave Singapore |
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The
eight yachts of The Times Clipper 2000 fleet are about to leave Raffles
Marina, following a hectic stopover.
The Singapore visit has seen a fair amount of rectification work on
the boats, primarily on Plymouth Clipper where several of the electronic
components had to be replaced as a result of lightening damage.
The yachts will be leaving Raffles Marina later today to start their
journey southwards on the 520-mile passage to Sunda Strait before
the next stage of The Times Clipper 2000 commences.
The route takes the fleet over extensive areas of shoal water with
a high concentration of fishing nets, traps and structures so extra
vigilance will be required amongst the Clipper crews.
Race 11 of the eleven-month circumnavigation will start just south
of the Sunda Straits at 06:00 GMT on Tuesday 8th May.
Following the 3,000-mile crossing of the Indian Ocean, the fleet are
expected to arrive in the independent island republic of Mauritius,
east of Madagascar, on 26th May 2001. |
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