The Clipper Race Leg 6 - Race 9, Day 4: The end is in sight

The Clipper Race Leg 6 - Race 9, Day 4 © Clipper Race

Race 9: The WTC Logistics Tri-Race has been a short but fast challenge for the Clipper Race teams and the racing fleet has remained incredibly close throughout.

As the fleet approaches the end of the triangular 750nm course, tension is high amongst front runners while they close in on the finish line.

The teams have produced some fantastic performances so far during this offshore sprint, with very little to separate the challengers, the conclusion of this race could go down to the wire! Race Viewers can expect a few more twists and turns before the podium places are decided.

Skipper Jeromino Santos-Gonzalez explains the close quartered racing and competitive spirit on board Punta del Este: "We are having a really close fight with Visit Sanya, China to the port side and Unicef to the starboard side, all three doing more or less the same speed and gaining or losing meters at the time. This one is going to be a really close call to the end of the Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint, but we have 135 nautical miles to go so lots can happen before."

The Clipper Race Leg 6 - Race 9, Day 4 - photo © Clipper Race

The weather conditions are far more favourable for the teams as they approach Subic Bay; WTC Logistics Skipper, Rich Gould, explains: "We and the whole fleet, currently find ourselves, in a very unusual situation. We are West of Luzon island and we have wind, plenty of it too. This is different sailing from the previous passages in the South China Sea, but I'm pretty sure it won't last all the way in, sadly. As we close in on the coast line I think the breeze will soften, and with the fleet still pretty tightly packed there could be a big reshuffle just before the race track is all used up"

Visit Sanya, China's Skipper Seumus Kellock comments: "For now we will gladly accept these lovely conditions, cruising along beside Punta del Este and Unicef with Qingdao back in the fight just behind us, keeping us all on our toes"

Make sure that you keep track of how this exciting race unfolds by refreshing the Race Viewer and keep up to date with all the Clipper Race action by following us on social media or sign up to email newsletters.