The teams taking part in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race are preparing for Christmas Day at sea after a challenging start to the race from the Gold Coast to Singapore, the seventh stage of the world’s longest ocean race.

The three-metre swell and strong winds whipped up by Tropical Cyclone Fina, which has been tracking down the Queensland coast, weren’t the gifts the teams had been hoping for and made for a lively opening to Race 7 in which Singapore got off to a flyer.

They were followed across the line several boat lengths behind by New York and Welcome to Yorkshire who continued to match each other down the coast towards the turning mark at Burleigh Heads.

The 32nd edition of the St.Maarten Heineken Regatta is only four months away and organisers are in full preparation for what is expected to be another extraordinary event. 

The Sint Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation, organisers of the event, is pleased to add Sea Hawk Paints as one of their presenting sponsors.  This family owned and operated business fits into the regatta family with ease as both the regatta and Sea Hawk strive to be on the cutting edge of technology and work hard to bring the best possible product to their customers.
 
“We are proud to be chosen as one of the Official Sponsor of the Heineken Regatta in 2012,” reported Erik Norrie, CEO of Sea Haw Paints.

Visit Finland has denied Gold Coast Australia the home port win that would have equalled the record for consecutive stage  victories in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, crossing the Race 6 finish line on the Gold Coast just six minutes ahead of the Australian team.

For more information, visit: www.clipperroundtheworld.com

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The Clipper Race fleet at the start of Race 6 of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race from Tauranga, New Zealand, to Gold Coast, Australia

There was a traditional Maori kapa haka farewell in Tauranga Bridge Marina and a blast of the horn as a passenger liner at Tauranga’s cruise terminal saluted the teams setting out into the lively waters of New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty for the start of the sixth stage of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race.

They were accompanied during the parade of sail and at the start of the race by a huge flotilla of local boating enthusiasts who were thrilled to be part of the send-off.

No less than four 60-feet Imoca monohulls are already here in Gustavia, Saint Barts, lapping up the sunshine and the warm breeze prior to the start of Transat B to B on Monday 5 December. Tied up safely alongside in front of Gustavia's Harbour Master's Office are Mike Golding's Gamesa, Armel Le Cléac'h's Banque Populaire, Vincent Riou's PRB and Marc Guillemot's Safran.

The latest arrival tied up to the dock at around noon local time on Wednesday, after a laborious delivery trip from the finish of the Transat Jacques Vabre in Costa Rica. All the boats are a hive of activity, with shore crew busying themselves with key repairs and general check-ups.