Betreff: CLIPPER 2002 RACE START
Absender: Loretta Spridgeon
Empfänger: lspridgeon@clipper-ventures.com
Datum: 27. Oct 2002 09:50
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CLIPPER 2002 ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
KICKS OFF 2PM TODAY, SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER
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Eight international cities go head to head today at the start of the world’s
longest circumnavigation, the 35,000 mile Clipper 2002 Round the World Yacht
Race.

The race will get underway from Liverpool’s Albert Dock today after Clipper’
s weather advisory team met this morning to assess the race start
conditions. This team, headed by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, takes its weather
information from a series of professional international sources.

With the depression now to the south east, Clipper have assessed that the
front will be clear of Liverpool by mid to late morning and have forecast
some 30 knots north westerly breeze (force 6) for the 2pm start formation,
to be led by the race’s guard ship HMS Sheffield in a sail past and gun
salute - all within a stone’s throw of the Royal Liver Building. For the
spectators, the skies are expected to clear after the front has passed over.

The start of the Clipper 2002 Race also coincides with an historical naval
event as HMS Sheffield, a Royal Navy Type 22 Frigate, begins her final
voyage home from the Mersey to Devonport, immediately after the starting
gun.
Ends
27, October 2002

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Loretta Spridgeon
Clipper 2002 Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 151 707 9369
Mobile: +44 7773 818586
Email: lspridgeon@clipper-ventures.com
Website: www.clipper-ventures.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:-

The Clipper race is one of two circumnavigations run by Clipper Ventures
plc, the AIM listed marine events company chaired by Sir Robin
Knox-Johnston. The 2005 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will set sail in
October 2005 and will be contested by twelve _blank 68ft, 18-berth Ed Dubois
designed boats each representing a different nation.

The second race in the Clipper Ventures stable is the Around Alone; a solo
grand prix challenge for the world’s leading sailors. Competitors for Around
Alone 2002-03 set sail from Torbay, UK, on Monday, 14 October and are
presently racing to Cape Town, SA. More information at www.aroundalone.com