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Liverpool 08
says “Aloha” to Hawaii as Race 8 to Santa Cruz gets underway
in Clipper 07-08
Photos and Report with thanks
Clipper Ventures Plc.
RACE 8 in the
Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race series is underway after a
start in 15 knots of breeze off Honolulu on the island of Oahu in
Hawaii.
Nova Scotia was the first of eight internationally-backed yachts to
cross the start line at the western end of the world-famous Waikiki
Beach, before racing along the shore towards Diamond Head and out
into the Pacific Ocean at the beginning of the 2,080-mile race to
Santa Cruz, California. Durban 2010 and Beyond and
westernaustralia2011.com did not make the start line as work
continues on their new masts.
The Canadian entry and Uniquely Singapore were followed by Jamaica,
the only yacht to start on a starboard tack, and Qingdao
who squeezed out rivals Hull & Humber forcing them round again. New
York, Liverpool 08, Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper and Hull &
Humber completed the order over the line, approximately two minutes
after the start horn was sounded at 1130 local (2130 GMT).
The start was postponed 30 minutes from the advertised time due to a
final rig inspection and a new gas sensor being fitted on Hull &
Humber.
The crews have had a longer than expected stopover in Honolulu after
race organiser, Clipper Ventures, took the decision to replace some
rigging fittings across the rest of the fleet following the
dismasting of two yachts, westernaustralia2011.com and Durban 2010
and Beyond, during the Pacific Ocean race from Qingdao, China. The
work was completed yesterday and all eight teams headed out of the
Ala Wai Harbor for short test sails to check their rigs and to get
back into an ocean racing frame of mind.
Having been surfing, diving, shopping, climbing Diamond Head, flying
Maui and to the Big Island to witness the volcanic activity there,
the crews have taken advantage of all Oahu and the Neighbour Islands
have to offer. They said their farewells and mahalo, (Hawaiian for
‘thank you’) to their hosts, Hawaii Yacht Club, Waikiki Yacht Club
and Magic Island Fuel Dock, for the aloha they received during their
stay in the Ala Wai. There were tears from the staff at the Fuel
Dock as the yachts slipped their moorings and headed out of the
harbour to the start line.
Liverpool 08 skipper, Ben Galloway,
says:- “I’m looking forward to getting back out there. We’ve
had a good time in Hawaii, been out for a sail yesterday to test the
rig and have a little shake down and everyone’s keen now to get on
with the race to Santa Cruz. We’re pretty keen to get another
pennant, when I look over at Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper
over there they’ve got a few more than us so we’re hoping to change
that on this race.”
Race Director Joff Bailey says:- “It’s great to see these
yachts racing again. The entire Clipper team both here and back home
in the UK has worked flat out to get them back to sea within the
delay we announced when they arrived here. Our thanks goes to the
manufacturers who delivered the new parts to us within such a tight
timeframe and to the specialist riggers and mast builder who have
flown out to work with our own highly skilled maintenance team to
ensure we succeeded.”
Waikiki Yacht Club and Hawaii Yacht Club’s Commodores, Michael Roth
and Frank E. Lang, respectively, assisted the Race
Director for this morning’s start.
Joff says:- “My sincere appreciation goes to Waikiki Yacht
Club and Hawaii Yacht Club who provided boats for the race officials
and media team during the start, in particular Principal Race
Officer Ted Miller and 5-year-old Maxwell Roth, the Commodore’s son,
who sounded the start horn.”
Clipper Race founder and legendary solo sailor, Sir Robin
Knox-Johnston says:- “We expect the race to Santa Cruz to take about
14 days so the ETA is 19 April 2008. We are asking all Leg 6 crew to
be available in Santa Cruz for a crew changeover on or before 1000
local time on 21 April 2008. The actual re-start date will depend
upon the arrival date and the race duration but is likely to be 23
April 2008. The Santa Cruz stopover will be no longer than 5 days.
Of course, the times are weather dependent. The boats need to get
north out of the easterly trade winds which means crossing the
variables to get into the westerly trades, then it is a spinnaker
run to California. The extent of the variables is, well, variable!
Our plan remains to try to get back on schedule for departure from
Jamaica.
Durban 2010 and Beyond followed the eight yachts out of the Ala Wai
to wave farewell to the teams who set off on Race 8.
Watching from the
quayside was westernaustralia2011.com’s skipper Martin Silk along
with several of his crew. Round the worlder, John Kimber said:-
“This is weird, watching them go and being left behind.”
Progress on the masts has been excellent and the shipment containing
the spreaders arrived yesterday. The team will work through the
weekend to ensure the task of getting westernaustralia2011.com and
Durban 2010 and Beyond on their way to Santa Cruz is completed as
quickly as possible.
This is the sixth edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race,
the brainchild of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who wanted to give
ordinary people access to the exhilaration of ocean racing. Ten
months after they set off, at the end of their 35,000-mile
circumnavigation, the teams will arrive back in Liverpool, England,
on 5 July 2008 during the city’s European Capital of Culture 2008
celebrations.
The welcome in Hawaii has been enthusiastic and there will
undoubtedly be many more people following the race on
clipperroundtheworld.com
where the yachts’ positions are updated every six hours and where
visitors to the site can feel they are part of the challenge of a
lifetime by reading the blogs and watching the videos sent back by
the crews during the race.
Berths are now available for the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht
Race. For more information on applying to become a crew
member
email or call the Crew
Recruitment Manager on +44 (0) 2392 526000. The Clipper Race is open
to anyone over the age of 18 and there is no upper age limit. |
A
message from Sefton Crime Prevention Office
WITH the rise
in value of most types of metal could members please be aware of any
suspicious activity where people are seen
stripping lead off porches or roofs on residential, church or
business premises.
The workman you see working on a property near you may be genuine,
but if you feel there are any suspicious activities please
contact the police on 0151 709 6010.
If you are having workmen to repair your property it may be an idea
to let your neighbours know, so they are aware the men
working at your address are genuine.
CAR CRIME...
Around 10.35am on Friday 28 March 2008,
a resident in Holmedale Avenue, Southport, reported two youths
walked down the road and smashing the wing mirrors off a number of
parked vehicles. It transpires that 10 vehicles in total were
targeted by these youths. Extra attention will be afforded to
that area but the police are appealing to any witnesses or
information as to who is responsible. Please phone:- 0151 709
6010.
Tax warning
over Open golf property rentals
SOUTHPORT
residents planning on renting out their homes during the Open Golf
2008 Championships in Birkdale need to beware of tax rules, warns
accountants Mitchell Charlesworth.
Tax experts at the Liverpool office say that the Inland Revenue is
well aware of the huge amounts of money people can make.
More than 200,000 fans are expected to attend the world’s most
famous golf tournament at Royal Birkdale, pumping more than £70
million into the region’s economy.
Many homeowners in the Southport area are planning to get their
share of the massive financial windfall by renting out their houses
during the July event.
However, Tim Adcock, Mitchell Charlesworth’s tax partner, is urging
people to seek advice from financial professionals or run the risk
of a visit from the taxman and a hefty fine.
He said:- “Major events like the Open Golf Championships at
Royal Birkdale present lucrative opportunities for residents who let
out their homes and benefit from that extra short-term source of
revenue.
However, this could also attract the attention of HMRC, which may
launch an inquiry to see if the income has been declared in the
owner’s tax return. The Revenue has made it clear that it will
pursue those who do not declare income from short-term lets. Any
undeclared income could result in a substantial fine.
Good advice will ensure that the income is reported correctly and
all available reliefs and expenses are claimed in order to mitigate
the resulting tax liability."
Rental prices for a typical nine day let in Southport during the
Open range from £1,500 for a one bedroom apartment to more than
£28,000 for a five bedroom house in the town. One detached property
four miles from the course with landing space for a helicopter is
reportedly being marketed for £70,000.
Tim added:- “Unfortunately, although most of the world will be
concentrating on the golf in the summer, the taxman will be focusing
on all the extra income being generated at that time.
The Revenue keeps a watchful eye on the internet and in newspapers
and magazines for adverts for short-term lets and follows them up to
make sure tax has been paid, so be warned.”
Letters to the editor:- "ONE MONTH TO GO?"
"WELL, maybe
not exactly one month. There is a bit longer than a month to go
until the Walk itself, but there is definitely a bit less than a
month to go if you want to take advantage of our special discounted
entry fees!
We've been busy, beavering away in the background, planning the
details of the Walk.
It's surprising
just how much has to be done, these days.
Risk
assessments, briefing the Emergency Services, volunteering all the
Stewards and so on.
Did I say
volunteering?
Volunteering is
what charity fundraising is all about, after all, and we are happy
to do what we can to help YOU raise money for YOUR favourite charity
or good cause.
The Annual Charity Walk is a brilliant opportunity for any and every
small Charity and support group to raise funds through its own
sponsored efforts, without needing to spend time and trouble
organising the event.
Everything you
collect from your sponsors goes directly, one hundred percent, to
your own chosen recipients.
The only money
Southport Rotary collects comes from the entry fees, and if there is
anything left over this goes to our own Rotary charities.
Information about the Walk is now on our
website.
Just follow the links to 'Charity Walk' and everything will follow
along. The necessary forms are there to download, and there is a
Walk Poster which would look good on any notice board!
This year, there will be prizes for the best individual costume, and
the best group uniform, £100 in each category, to be spent as you
wish, and to help with the preparations, the Inner Wheel Club will
be offering some very artistic face painting, their booth will be in
the grounds of the Heatons Bridge Inn, at the Start.
If you have any questions, enquiries, suggestions, or would just
like a chat, you can via sending us an email to our email address
charitywalk@southportrotary.info.
If you would rather speak to a
real person, you can call us on the helpline at 07906 594144.
If we can't
take your call directly, please leave your name and contact number
and a brief message, and we will phone you back." Southport
Rotary Club. |
