And that's where things will start to get interesting, as Qingdao Skipper Chris Kobusch explains: "Weather-wise, at the moment it looks quite nice we are going to have downwind sailing for the first two maybe three days. Then it will get really tactical because the wind dies down its going to light wind sailing and it's all about position the boat in the right spot."

Following the team's debut win into Seattle just over a week ago, Chris adds: "The team is pretty keen after their victory in the last race, but I think this race will be completely different to the previous one, much lighter conditions."

The drysuits and thermal layers of earlier legs will gradually be replaced by sunscreen and shorts as the temperature rises near Mexico. The end of Race 10 will feature one of the highlights of the Clipper 2017-18 Race – the Panama Canal. Transiting this engineering masterpiece will be a once in a lifetime moment for the majority of the Clipper Race crew.

The fleet arrives into Panama between 23 and 27 May. After a short respite, the second race of Leg 7 will see the yachts travel North from the coast off Panama City, to New York City.

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