Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Preview
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: 
Datum: 09. Jan 2003 11:45

GOODBYE GALAPAGOS - CLIPPER FLEET TO SET SAIL TOMORROW

The fifth stage of the Clipper 2002 Round The World Yacht Race, part of the
second crew leg, will get underway on Friday, 10 January 2003. The fleet of
eight identical 60-ft yachts will set sail tomorrow on the “Ko Olina Cup
Race,” a 4,105 nautical mile journey from Galapagos to the Ko Olina Resort
and Marina in Hawaii.

A closely fought second crew leg, has so far taken the fleet from Cuba,
through the Panama Canal to spend Christmas in Panama City and then onto the
equatorial Galapagos Islands. The first three yachts within the eight
strong Clipper fleet arrived in the islands on Friday, 3 January with Jersey
Clipper securing their second consecutive victory of Clipper 2002 and
increasing their lead in the overall standings.

Tomorrow will see the fleet, after a welcome and well-earned 6-day break,
motor out through the islands to restart the Clipper 2002 Race on the
longest single stretch of the entire eleven-month circumnavigation. At over
4,000 miles this stretch of the race will see the fleet cross the eastern
Pacific, confronting the vagaries of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
(ITCZ), also known as the Doldrums.

The fleet are scheduled to arrive at the Hawaiian Island of Oahu on 2,
February 2003 and their visit will be based in the _blankly built Ko Olina
Marina, on the South West corner of the Island. Surrounded by beautiful
sandy beaches and shady picnic areas, the Clipper crews will also be treated
to incredible views of the Wainanae mountain range.

The third crew leg of the journey will start on 12, February crossing from
Hawaii to Japan, then up the Yangtze River to Shanghai - a passage not
ventured by any other round the world yacht race. Hong Kong then marks the
conclusion of the third crew leg and the important halfway stage of the
eleven-month race.

To find out which of the international Clippers lifts the Ko Olina Cup in
Hawaii, follow the daily race updates at www.clipper-ventures.com
ENDS
9, January 2003

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Loretta Spridgeon
Clipper 2002 Media & PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 237088
Fax: +44 (0) 2380 237081
Mobile: +44 (0) 7773 818586
Email: lspridgeon@clipper-ventures.com
Website: www.clipper-ventures.com

EDITOR'S NOTES:

Clipper 2002 Overall Order after Race 4
Place Yacht / Skipper            Cumulative Points
1    Jersey (Simon Rowell)         28
2    London (Ed Green)          23
3    _blank York (Sam Fuller)         20
4    Bristol (Richard Butler)         19
5    Hong Kong (Justin Taylor)      16*
6    Glasgow (Rupert Parkhouse)      16
7    Liverpool (Adam Kyffin)         15.5
8    Cape Town (Roger Steven-Jennings)   5
* When 2 yachts tie on points, the team with the higher placings take
precedence.

The Clipper fleet visit to the Galapagos Islands is supported by Sail'n
Galapagos Ricardo Arenas Yacht Services Agency & Tour Operator (website:
www.sailingalapagos.com).

Clipper 2002 TV: SPORTSHOWS TELEVISION Tel: +44(0)20 7731 4242 Fax: +44(0)20
7731 4204 Email: stuart@sportshowstv.com

Clipper Ventures’ next amateur sailing challenge will be the Clipper 2005
Round The World Yacht Race. Starting in the autumn of 2005, the race will
break with the established format of the four Clipper races run so far.
Twelve, faster 68ft yachts are being built, a _blank route has been planned and
a _blank boat sponsorship formula pitting nation against nation will bring a
re_blanked competitive edge to the event. To register your interest, please
telephone + 44 23 8023 7088 or visit www.clipper-ventures.com

ALL ENDS