The first of the clipper fleet ocean racers is expected to arrive in Tauranga on Thursday afternoon.

The first boat was expected in the morning, but the time has been dropped back because the wind dropped while the race leaders closed on East Cape.

The clipper tracker shows the fleet approaching East Cape on its way to Tauranga.

Gold Coast Australia is still leading and was this morning tacking up the coast off Tolaga Bay.

The five boats in the leading bunch were at noon Wednesday still south of the Mahia peninsula.

The round-the-world racers have been sailing 17 days since departing Geraldton, West Australia.

The fleet is expected to spend 10 days or so in Tauranga, based at the bridge marina and restart the race on December 4, bound for Southport on the Gold Coast.

Light and fluky conditions experienced on the beat up the cape are eroding the leader Gold Coast Australia's lead.

With the leaders about 250 miles from the finish, tactical options have shifted from ocean to inshore.
'We are very constrained in our ability to chase winds or sail around weather systems,” says Gold Coast Australia skipper Richard Hewson.

Eight boats are still racing the leg.

Singapore dropped out in the Australian Bight with steering problems, which were repaired at Port Philip Bay, and Quigdao had to call in to Hobart with an injured crewman.

Quingdao is passing Banks Peninsula today. Singapore is going to arrive in Tauranga via North Cape.

The yachts are crewed by people from all walks of life.

Their ages range from 18 to 72, and between them they represent more than 40 nationalities.

There are eight New Zealanders taking part in clipper 11-12 and five of them are aboard the yachts, including the oldest crew member in this edition of the event, 72-year-old Fred Tooley from Manukau, Auckland. He is one of the crew on Gold Coast Australia.

Fred's participation marks the realisation of an ambition held for 35 years.

He applied to take part in leg four of clipper 11-12 from Geraldton in Western Australia to Gold Coast in Queensland via his homeland of New Zealand, after seeing an advert in Yachting World magazine.
'I am living the dream and truly believe that you're never too old to learn new tricks and take on new challenges. When this is over, it doesn't mean I have stopped looking for challenges, it just means I need to decide on the next one,” says Fred.

Also aboard Gold Coast Australia is Christchurch-born Anna Guthrie.

The 35-year-old project manager who works in London, UK, has not seen her family since the devastating earthquake that struck her home town in February.

Anna will also meet a new member of her family for the first time in Tauranga – her niece.

'I haven't been home since the earthquake and haven't seen my family and they're all coming up to Tauranga.”

Family and friends of crew members from all over the world will fly in to Tauranga to meet their loved ones and to enjoy an extended holiday in the Bay of Plenty area.

Among the activities lined up, crew will visit White Island, enjoy the Bay of Plenty's beaches, climb Mount Maunganui, fish and learn the art of paddle boarding.

During the stopover, the yachts will be open for the public to meet the crews and see for themselves what life is like onboard a stripped down racing yacht.

The yachts will be open 1-4pm on Saturday and Sunday, November 26-27 and 4-7pm 7pm on Tuesday, November 29 and Thursday, December 1.

They are again open 1- 4pm on Saturday, December 3.

There are also presentations for those interested in finding out more about what it takes to race around the world with the clipper race and the new fleet of 70-foot yachts that will contest the next edition of the event.

They are at Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Wellington; Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland and Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club.

This is the first time the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has visited New Zealand since its inception in 1996 and organisers are meeting with businesses and government representatives to strengthen links with the region and demonstrate how partners use the event as a global platform to promote trade, tourism, culture and social inclusion.

Each yacht is sponsored by an international city, region, country or company, with many visiting Tauranga to engage with New Zealand businesses, trade contacts and media.