Clipper Race Update - QINGDAO FINDS A BURST OF SPEED TO OVERTAKE JAMAICA
Report with thanks to Clipper Ventures Plc.

WITH the majority of the teams within sight of at least one other boat and some fierce tacking duels going on the last few miles to the finish are set to be very exciting.

After struggling to find anything but light wind over the last ten days skipper Marcus Cholorton-Brown and his crew onboard Qingdao appear to have found the after burner button to close in on and overtake Jamaica. Marcus said this morning:- “What a change 24 hours makes. We've gone from searching for wind day after day, to fast reaching and exceeding 100 nautical miles on our twelve hour runs. Just for an added bonus the son of Krakatoa decided to let off steam about four times whilst we powered on past, pretty spectacular eruptions.”

The crew on Uniquely Singapore, sailing to their home port at the Marina at Keppel Bay, have also managed to take miles off their nearest competitors overnight. Their skipper Mark Preedy stated this morning:- “Seeing Nova Scotia yesterday really perked the crew up. They were all surprised that such a large gap could be made up over just a few days. A lesson learnt never to give up and keep pushing. They have a new vigour about them and are enjoying the sailing more than ever."

The Race Viewer now resembles a multi-coloured maypole with the tracks from the yachts criss-crossing each other as they attempt to gain a better finish position in the last few hundred miles of this race. With all the position changing it’s been difficult for the teams to get a clear idea on what is happening as Ricky Chalmers, skipper of Durban 2010 and Beyond explains:- “Sails come and go on the horizon, but given the nature of this tacking dueL we have no real idea how we are doing against the others, or who indeed is in the lead.”

Still neck and neck are Hull & Humber and westernaustralia2011.com with the WA team trying in vain to break away as skipper Martin Silk explained this morning:- “We attempted a tactical move last night to get away from Hull & Humber, but twelve hours on and they have once again appeared to leeward!”

One team that has been successful in pulling away from their nearest rival is New York who at midday were still holding on to pole position and 17 nautical miles (DTF) ahead of Liverpool 08.

New York’s skipper Duggie Gillespie commented early in the morning of Sunday 13 January 2008:- “I have never known the crew so keen on the 6 hourly schedules. There is a high level of concentration on deck trying to stay ahead of the fleet, knowing it is so easy to lose miles.”


POSITIONS AT 1200GMT 13 JANUARY 2008

New York:- Distance To Finish (DTF) 144

Liverpool 08:- DTF 161, Distance To Leader (DTL) +17

westernaustralia2011.com:- DTF 208, DTL +64

Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper:- DTF 209, DTL +65

Durban 2010 and Beyond:- DTF 219, DTL +75

Uniquely Singapore:- DTF 231, DTL +87

Qingdao:- DTF 465, DTL +321

Jamaica:- DTF 468, DTL +324

(Hull & Humber and Nova Scotia failed to poll at the 1200 GMT schedules)

Triphazard to release EP

LOCAL band Triphazard has been on Hollyoaks, and supported many major bands, but now they are set to be headliners themselves, but only with your help!

This talented band formed in school by Stef Stokes has grown into a success, winning the "Juice FM's Next Big Thing 2007" out of thousands of entries.

Stef, who is now studying hard in a Merseyside Collage told us:- "This is an exciting time for us. We have already played for Hollyoaks and have had our advert poster shown many time on the cult TV show. Now we are about to release our EP, on 11 February under the title 'Fake Up'. It got this name from the last track on the EP, that is about the fake way us ladies dress. This is not a girly EP though and lads and ladies with both enjoy it."

This fantastic EP will be out on 11 February 2008 on CD and for download. You will soon also be able to get it for your ring tone!

So please support this band in their efforts to make their name in Pop History. Very soon we will bring you a full interview with the band and also will be playing the EP on our online radio station, Liverpool Reporter. Yes, so very soon you will be able to vote for the band, on the Liverpool Reporter Play List Top 10 Chart…

You can play their demo video above....

You can show your support for this very talented local band by getting their EP!   Lets get another local band into the charts for European Capital of Culture Year!

See out advert on Mersey Reporter for all the latest by clicking here or visit our Myspace page by clicking here.

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