Clipper Round World Race 07-08 www.clipper-ventures.com - Übersicht 25.03.2007 Clipper Round World Race 07-08 Qingdao Clipper will, once again, be competing for the Clipper Trophy in the same year the city of Qingdao hosts the 2008 Beijing Olympics. On Thursday 22 March representatives from Clipper Ventures Plc, the company behind the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race for non-professional sailors, visited the city of Qingdao to sign the contract which will see Qingdao Clipper compete in the Clipper Race for a second time. Sponsorship and Media Director, David Stubley, and Operations Director, Colin de Mowbray, of Clipper Ventures met with Ms. Zang Aimin, Vice Mayor and Deputy Chairwoman of the Sailing Committee of BOCOG and with its Secretary-General Mr. Sun Lijie, and signed the contract in a formal ceremony that will see the Clipper fleet return to the city of Qingdao in February 2008 as part of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race. On signing the contract Ms. Zang said, 'The official contract signing today represents that we are going to have a Qingdao entry in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race in 2008. We hope that we can cooperate closely and realise the interests for both sides.' Clipper Chairman and renowned round the world yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was delighted at the news that Qingdao would be competing in the race for a second time: 'Qingdao’s involvement in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race is an excellent example of the new importance given to sailing in China. I welcome them warmly and look forward to seeing Qingdao Clipper competing with the other international cities as the yachts race around the world.' Sir Robin is currently approaching Norfolk, Virginia, USA after racing over 28,000 miles as part of the Velux 5 Oceans race, which started in Bilbao, Spain last summer. The fleet of Clipper yachts, each sponsored by an international city, are due to arrive in Qingdao in February 2008, just five months before the city hosts the sailing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The fleet’s visit to Qingdao in 2006 as part of the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race was a great event that introduced competitive sailing to a nation that was already looking ahead to the 2008 Olympics. Political Counsellor Peter Wilson, who represented the British Ambassador at the signing ceremony, commented on the importance of the Clipper Ventures and Qingdao partnership. 'Qingdao’s participation in the Clipper Race is a great way to showcase the city for those who do not yet know it, and symbolises more broadly about what is happening in China today. It also shows the depth of the Sino-UK relationship, which Premier Wen Jaibao told Prime Minister Tony Blair was ‘the best ever’, last year.' Now that Qingdao Clipper is in the line-up again the hunt is on to get some Chinese crew to help sail their boat to victory. Colin de Mowbray had the following to say on their recruitment. 'As sailing becomes a major interest in China it is important to have some Chinese crewmembers onboard Qingdao Clipper. Having national representatives on board the other entries was a great success for other countries in the last race where national crewmembers gained great experience in ocean racing. Additionally they acted in the important role of ambassadors around the world. I hope there are some Chinese nationals out there willing to take on the honour and the challenge.' by Clipper Ventures Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE