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The Clipper Round the World Race: Sailing the South Atlantic

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Traversing the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean constitutes the second leg of the great Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, as competitors depart from South America. They now must find a way to blitz the rolling swells of the South Atlantic on their way to the Southern Ocean. Spinnakers are the most appropriate sails for this crossing, as participants face the Trade Winds and surf down the front of the swells. If done correctly, the boats can run at speeds well above 20 knots. However, yacht crew members must be fully aware that the race is more of a marathon than a sprint; taking great care of their kit is a must as any false turn can rip apart the sail and leave them lagging as they stitch for hours. Massive South Atlantic storms are common, too. Participants have to be alert of incoming weather reports as they follow the route that turns the boats east toward Africa. This navigation of the Southern Cross is nonetheless most welcome: a breathtaking, nature-communing segme...
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The Clipper Round the World Race: The test of the USA Coast-to-Coast Leg

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The penultimate leg of the Clipper Round the World Race takes the skippers and sailing crews to a coast to coast journey of the North American continent. From Seattle, the participants make their way to the Panama Canal. Traversing this manmade waterway, an engineering wonder, provides one of the best highlights for many of the contestants of the 40,000-nautical-mile race. After this, they would navigate the East Coast toward New York. Image source: funcheap.com While the 7th leg lacks the thrill of crossing over a vast ocean, which some of the other legs are known for, it does bring about the contestants’ yacht racing skills. This part of the Clipper Race is likened to a match of chess as tactical decisions and patience are necessary. Firstly, there is the choice of whether to go inshore or offshore. By choosing the former, the currents and tidal streams can speed up the clipper. However, sailing near the shore entails dealing with unpredictable winds and gusts. Conv...
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How ordinary citizens can help in the war against terrorism

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According to counter-terrorism consultant James Feldkamp, one of the misconceptions people have about the war against terror is that it is a battle that only trained soldiers and law enforcement can fight. While there’s some truth to this, Feldkamp explains that ordinary citizens can do their part without having to join the military or law enforcement agencies. Image source: en.wikipedia.org Image source: youtube.com Take, for example, the FBI. The bureau itself has admitted in the past that it needs help from civilians who are willing to do their part in putting terrorists behind bars. And while their abilities are limited, ordinary citizens can still be very useful against terrorists. In this day and age, simple awareness and vigilance can go a long way. With the technology at everyone’s fingertips, taking and sending photographs, alerting the authorities, and doing research can be done at the drop of a hat from almost anywhere. That being said, James Feldkamp...
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