Betreff: Clipper 2002 Race Preview
Absender: "Clipper _blanks" 
Empfänger: "Irvin Krumnacker" 
Datum: 28. Jun 2003 10:24

Clipper 2002 Race Preview
27 June 2003

CITY COMPETITION HEATS UP AS CLIPPER FLEET BIDS FAREWELL TO CAPE TOWN

The Clipper 2002 fleet of round the world yachts are gearing up for their
departure from Cape Town on Race 13 of Clipper 2002 Series to the Brazilian
port of Salvador, following a week long stopover hosted by the Royal Cape
Yacht Club.

The last stage of the fifth and penultimate leg of the eleven-month
circumnavigation starts from Cape Town at 14:30 local time (12:30 GMT) on
Sunday, 29 June 2003.

Crews will be treated to a spectacular South African send-off from the Pier
head in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with top class entertainment,
including Kwaito groups, Pansula dancers, Marimba bands, Praise singers and
Minstrels, commencing from 10:00.

Two young volunteers from LoveLife, South Africa's national HIV prevention
programme for youth, will be joining the crew of the Cape Town Clipper on
the next stage. Zuko Mgobozi and Theo Madayi from Langa will be shown the
ropes by their South African skipper Roger Steven-Jennings and Marvin
Sampson, a student from Grassy Park who is sponsored by the City of Cape
Town in their effort to promote sailing within the community.

An important Civic Delegation from the city of Liverpool will also join the
race start festivities, as part of their South African mission to the export
market, tourism, sport & cultural industries. The Civic Delegation, led by
the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Liverpool, Councillors Ron and Tina
Gould, are meeting with key figures in Cape Town to develop and extend
business, cultural and civic relationships between South Africa and Great
Britain.

The exact route for the 3,375 nautical mile race to Salvador will be
determined by the positioning of the South Atlantic high-pressure system.  A
straight course to Salvador would take the racing yachts too close to the
centre of this, leaving them with too little wind.  Instead the eight
identical 60-foot yachts will firstly charge to the north, then head
northwest, before racing westward to Salvador.

Tactically the skippers will be looking to find the optimum balance between
taking the shortest and most direct route to Salvador with the risk of
running out of wind, or opting for a route with greater distance and
potentially more breeze.  Jersey Clipper, skippered by Simon Rowell, leads
the fleet on overall points so far but Richard Butler and his Bristolian
crew are chasing hard with just two points separating the two teams.


During the popular Brazilian stopover the yachts will be berthed at Centro
Nautico da Bahia in Salvador, close to the elevator that leads up to
Pelourinho, a historic section of the town that has been designated a World
Heritage Site.

Crews will enjoy Salvador's exotic atmosphere, which is further enhanced by
the region's unique cuisine, music, arts and dance all of which draw their
roots from the city's African heritage, before they depart on the sixth and
final leg of Clipper 2002 from Salvador to Liverpool, UK - via _blank York and
the Channel Island of Jersey.  The homecoming celebrations in the city of
Liverpool, recently announced the European Capital of Culture for 2008, will
take place on Saturday, 27 September 2003.

CLIPPER 2002 - RACE 13 START
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOR SUNDAY, 29 JUNE

Time    Event
10:00        Clipper 2002 race fleet depart the Royal Cape Yacht Club
10:20        Yachts berth at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
11:00        Race Start function at the Hildebrand Restaurant
11:00 - 12:00    Clipper crews mingle ashore amidst music and street
entertainers
12:30        Race start official speeches followed by the presentation of a
Historic Chart to City of Cape Town from race organisers, Clipper Ventures
plc
12:45        Fleet blessing by the Dean of Cape Town
12:50        Clipper crews embark the racing yachts
13:00        Fleet slips and does a circuit of the Waterfront
13:15        Accredited press to make their way to board Navy Ship
14:30        Race Start to north of Victoria and Alfred complex
15:30        Naval ships berth, guests and press disembark.

Clipper _blanks Distribution, Loretta Spridgeon
Tel SA: +27 (0) 214 213243
Tel UK: + 44 (0) 23 8023 7088
Mobile: +44 (0) 7773 818586
Email: lspridgeon@clipper-ventures.com
Website: www.clipper-ventures.com

Jeanne van Rooyen
Jeanne van Rooyen Promotions
Tel: +27 (0) 217 881954
Mobile: +27 (0) 824 529698
Email: jvrjm@mweb.co.za