In yet another tale of woe for the Jersey Clipper, reports have come in announcing that skipper Richard Franklin will be leaving Jersey Clipper in New York “due to outside commitments”. Richard joined the Jersey team in Victoria, taking over from interim skipper Simon Rowell, but will now hand over the reigns of the Jersey Clipper to Mervyn Wheatley for the final few races of the Clipper Cup. Wheatley, a retired Royal Marine Major, is set to become Jersey’s fourth skipper in the 05-06 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, and was also relief skipper for the Cardiff Clipper in race 8 where he brought the Welsh vessel home in fifth position. Jersey currently lie in 9th position after 8 races. Race 9 is due to get underway once all the yachts have travelled through the Panama Canal, and will see the fleet racing to Jamaica. | 
