Saturday 5th May 2001, 1300 BST
Yachts leave Singapore | |  | | 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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