Bristol Clipper had slipped to 7th place at 1600 yesterday afternoon and was looking vulnerable in her northerly position. Richard Butler and his crew played their ‘get out of jail card’ though and made up 15 miles in the following 12-hour period.

It was however Rupert Parkhouse and Glasgow Clipper that crossed the finish line at 1524 UTC to take fourth place in Race 4 – a wonderful present for skipper Rupert celebrating his birthday today. Bristol Clipper came in next and a much relieved Adam Kyffin in Liverpool took sixth place crossing the line at 1547 UTC, just seven minutes behind the Bristolians.

Hong Kong and Cape Town are now battling their way to the Galapagos. The finish is to the south of the island of Santa Cruz and many times we have seen boats come to a dead stop in sight of the line. Island finishing lines have taken scalps before and only when they cross the line will skippers Justin Taylor and Roger Steven-Jennings be able to relax.

Simon Rowell and Jersey Clipper crew crossed the finish line at 0019 UTC on Friday, 3 January 2003 to clinch victory, with London and New York taking second and third respectively. These three boats are now moored up in Academy Bay and their crews are duly celebrating their podium places.

LATEST POSITIONS – 1600, 04 January 2003

1 Jersey – Finished 0019 utc 03/01/03

2 London – Finished 0222 utc 03/01/03

3 New York – Finished 0247 utc 03/01/03

4 Glasgow – Finished 1524 utc 04/01/03

5 Bristol – Finished 1540 utc 04/01/03

6 Liverpool – Finished 1547 utc 040/01/03

7 Hong Kong – 10.9 nautical miles to finish

8 Cape Town – 28.9 nautical miles to finish