Betreff: Clipper 2005 Race _blanks
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: "Irvin Krumnacker" 
Datum: 27. May 2003 19:09

Clipper 2005 Race _blanks
27 May 2003

CLIPPER ANNOUNCE $1 MILLION SPONSORSHIP BOOST AND BUILD OF _blank FLEET OF YACHTS

Clipper Ventures plc, the AIM listed ocean racing company chaired by Sir
Robin Knox-Johnston, today announced the award of a landmark contract for
the build of a _blank ten-strong fleet for the Clipper 2005 Round the World
Yacht Race. The contract is awarded to Shanghai Double Happiness Yachts Ltd,
a subsidiary of Shanghai Double Happiness Sports - the only Chinese company
to be an official supplier to the Olympic Games.

The _blank ten-strong fleet of 68-foot yachts, from the drawing board of
celebrated designer Ed Dubois, will be built in China and will start coming
into service in 2004.

Also announced today is a sponsorship deal valued at $1,000,000, granting
Shanghai Double Happiness Yachts the rights to promote their yacht sales
through the Clipper 2005 race, which will set sail from the UK in the autumn
of 2005 - the single largest sponsorship deal negotiated by the race
organisers to date.

Shanghai Double Happiness, one of the world's largest manufacturers and
distributors of sporting-goods, will show case the Dubois 68 at each of the
international ports on Clipper 2005, the longest of all the round the world
yacht races. Furthermore each Dubois 68 will be named after and sponsored by
a major international city, as the exciting city versus city, nation versus
nation format of the Clipper 2005 race takes shape.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Mr. Huang Yong Wu, General Manager of Shanghai
Double Happiness (Group) Inc., today signed the contract at the Royal Thames
Yacht Club, Britain's premier and oldest sailing club.

The agreement is as a major business success for both parties. Double
Happiness benefit from the promotion of their rapidly expanding
boat-building capability around the world and Clipper Ventures acquire a top
quality fleet of yachts. With 10 yachts and an increase to 18 crew berths
per yacht, Clipper are able to increase their revenue from crew fees by over
50%.

At 68ft long, the _blank state-of-the-art boats are 8ft longer than the highly
successful Clipper 60s in use since 1996, yet they weigh two tons less.

Technically known as masthead cutters, the _blank yachts have a taller rig and
larger sail area. Longer hull, lighter construction and a greater sail area
are all vital factors which individually will produce a faster boat - put
them together and the effect is appreciable. The _blank Dubois 68s will provide
their amateur crews with the fastest round the world ocean racers in the
non-professional field.

The Dubois 68s incorporate all the lessons and ideas learned in more than
1.2 million miles of racing during the four Clipper circumnavigations run to
date. Whilst fast down wind, their taller masts and higher aspect ratio sail
plan make them very effective up wind and give an enhanced light weather
performance. To cope with the larger sails, aids such as coffee-grinder
winches used on the America's Cup yachts are being fitted.

Built to the latest Maritime and Coastguard Agency construction and safety
requirements, the latest electronics and communication technology will be
included as standard, providing everything from instant links with home to
computerised navigation and tactical information from satellites.

Each of the _blank yachts will race with an 18-strong crew and the increased
capabilities of the _blank boats have also allowed the introduction of a _blankly
challenging and ambitious route for the 2005 race.

In all, these _blank yachts are set to present the Clipper crews with an
unprecedented challenge, which has up until now only been available to
hardened professionals.

Clipper _blanks Distribution
Clipper Ventures Plc
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 237088
Fax: +44 (0) 2380 237081
Email: distribution@clipper-ventures.com
Website: www.clipper-ventures.com