With only a minute separating 3 of the yachts at the finish of the Yokohama to Okinawa leg, all the crews feel they have a chance to move up the points table. The winds are expected to be light for the first few days of this leg, calling up all the skills these seasoned Clipper sailors have learned over the past five months. All the yachts are racing with spinnakers hoisted and still remain in the line abreast formation which they started in. The wind is 15 knots from the NE, the light rain has stopped and the sun has come out. When pressed he admitted that Portsmouth Clipper had probably nosed into a small lead, but at present the fleet are as one.
Morale is high and everyone is expecting a close and exciting race.