The Clipper Round the World Race
Clipper 2002 Race Summary
30 September 2003
RACE REFLECTIONS
Like it or not, the Clipper 2002 Round the World Series is now over. Many
reading this will have been closely involved with the race for the last
year. Whether we have been sailing in it, supporting it or running it,
Clipper 2002 is an event that has dominated many lives over the last year
and more. It is the longest race on Earth in distance and also in time and,
for many of us, it has been an all encompassing experience.
The brave and talented heroes who have bashed and crashed their racing
yachts through the world's oceans have been supported by so many others;
family supporters, media, ports and yacht clubs, racing enthusiasts, the
various organising staff, sponsors, well wishers and most importantly the
supporting cities! With this in mind, the eight teams have enjoyed a
cracking Round the World Yacht Race with a combined fleet total of over
300,000 miles raced. They sailed safely and in style - both of these factors
have only been achieved because of the efforts of everyone concerned.
It is easy to think solely of the racing aspect of the Clipper 2002 Series,
but the event has also promoted an interest in sailing to many who would
never have followed or taken part in it before. It has drawn together
communities, cities and countries and, with the help of the inspired
Liverpool City Council schools programme, brought school children throughout
the world closer together.
Successful civic delegations have open trade and commercial opportunities
around the globe, whilst the sailors have brought a truly competitive
sporting event into the heart of each city stopover. The race has also drawn
people into the I.T. world, some who would never have dared cross this
threshold, and the Clipper 60 yachts have tested and developed racing
equipment, as a flagship for the industry.
Race organisers, Clipper Ventures plc, certainly had their share of curved
balls over the 11 months of this race, but all were played successfully. The
greatest testimony and justifiable reward was evident on Saturday, 27
September, when the most spectacular yacht race finish took place in
Liverpool, UK. This proved to be a real tribute from this proud, hospitable
and forward looking city.
The Clipper 2002 Race Director, Colin de Mowbray, today concluded: "We can
all be justly proud of this event, but my overriding pride is to see the
changes in the crew as they make their sad farewells around the Albert Dock.
They are vastly different from when they set off 11 months ago with their
doubts, fears and apprehension. These individuals are special. They are the
ones who did not just talk about what they might do in life. They are the
ones who have done something and done something very special. I have total
admiration for them, and now you mention it there is a difference, I could
swear that as they walk confidently around the Albert Dock, they are all
three inches taller."
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