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NOTICE TO MARINERS - CLIPPER 09/10
NOTICE TO MARINERS No. H.58/2009 R I V E RH U M B E R
CLIPPER 09/10 ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
DUE TO THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS CAUSED BY THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE BILL THE ARRIVAL OF THE CLIPPER FLEET AT HCA GRIMSBY WILL BE EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY ANTICIPATED
MARINERS ARE ADVISED that the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will start from the Humber on Sunday 13th September 2009.
The ten Clipper Yachts will initially arrive off the Humber from Ramsgate as part of the Pilgrim Cup training race on Thursday 3rd September. The yachts will cross an imaginary finishing line running 090º true X 0.3 nautical miles from the DZ3 lightbuoy. Having crossed the finishing line the yachts (which may arrive well separated) will proceed inwards to Grimsby via the inshore route south of the traffic separation scheme and Bull anchorage, arriving at No. 6 Lower Burcom Light Float between 1300 and 1600 to stem the tide clear of river traffic prior to entry to Grimsby Fish Dock commencing at approx 1630.
The Clipper Yachts will move to Hull on the morning and evening tides of Sunday 6th September.
On Sunday 13th September the ten yachts will leave Albert Dock and Hull Marina from 1200 hrs and assemble in the vicinity of the No.26A lightbuoy to commence a parade of sail at 1300 hours proceeding downriver from 26A lightbuoy to No. 24 lightbuoy, accompanied by harbour tugs and designated support craft. The yachts will then re-assemble for the race which will start at 1400, (HW Hull 1327), signalled by a starting cannon ashore. The starting line will be in the vicinity of No.26 lightbuoy, and will be marked by temporary flagpoles (in transit) ashore and the Humber keel “Phyllis” acting as the outer distance marker. For the purposes of viewing the Parade of Sail and the race start ALL SPECTATOR CRAFT ARE REQUIRED to remain within the designated Spectator Craft Area as shown on the accompanying chartlet. This area will be patrolled by marshalling craft to ensure that spectator craft are complying. For ease of reference a clearing line running 248º/068º true from King George Dock signal tower will keep spectator craft within the designated area. Additionally, spectator craft are warned to be careful in ensuring they have sufficient underkeel clearance in certain parts of the Spectator Craft Area bearing in mind that drying heights of up to 3 metres exist over Hull Middle. Spectator craft are also reminded that they must not impede the passage of any commercial vessel using Skitter Channel and should avoid anchoring in any fairway. Once the race is underway the racing flotilla will complete a short circuit in Hull Roads before proceeding downriver using the main channel to pass Paull and Immingham. As the flotilla approaches Grimsby at about 1545 the yachts will leave the main channel to pass south of No.4B lightbuoy and south of a temporary racing mark positioned north of Cleethorpes Pier, near the 2 metre contour. From there the flotilla will proceed towards Spurn passing between the Hawke light float and Spurn Point. The flotilla will then cross the precautionary zone off Spurn passing to the east of the Hobo lightbuoy and Tetney Monobuoy, south of 2B lightbuoy, and north of DZ3 lightbuoy, en route to La Rochelle. The flotilla is expected to clear the Humber harbour area by 1630.
The racing flotilla will have a protective cordon consisting of an ABP pilot launch and an ABP survey launch acting as guard vessels, and HMS Explorer. SPECTATOR CRAFT ARE REQUIRED to keep clear of the flotilla as it proceeds downriver - only official media craft (flying the appropriate “Clipper” pennant) will be allowed into close proximity.
The Clipper Yachts will work VHF Channel 72 with the guard vessels. The guard vessels will also keep watch on VHF Channels 12 and 14 as appropriate. Masters/pilots of commercial vessels are advised that VTS Humber and local dockmasters will endeavour to manage traffic patterns around Hull and Immingham to minimise encounters with the racing flotilla but the race rules recognise the local byelaw which requires small craft (including the Clipper Yachts) to avoid impeding the passage of vessels which can only use the navigable channel. Commercial vessels bound to/from berths upriver of Hull will be able to use Skitter Channel and thus avoid the race start area in Hull Roads. Special arrangements can be made for any vessel required to board or land a pilot at Riverside Quay during the race activities.
