Oceanracing 2007 - Clipper Round World Race 07/08

Clipper Round World Race 07-08
www.clipper-ventures.com - Übersicht

16 September 2007
Clipper 07-08 is underway!

Durban 2010 and Beyond was first across the line at the start of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race in Liverpool this afternoon. As the cannon fired to signal the start of this 35,000-mile race across the world’s oceans tens of thousands of people lined the banks of the Mersey to cheer the ten yachts on their way. Durban 2010 and Beyond was closely followed across the line by the home favourite, Liverpool 08 with Hull & Humber in third place.

On board are teams of non-professional sailors drawn from all walks of life, whose ages range from 18 to 71. Those who are competing on the whole circumnavigation will join an elite group of people who have raced a yacht around the world. Fewer people have done it than have climbed Everest. Everyone taking part will experience the highs and lows of ocean racing, make friendships that last a lifetime and find reserves of strength and character they didn’t know they possessed.

Earlier today skippers and crew bid final farewells to their families and friends who had come to see them off from Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock. The fleet will return here in ten months time as part of the city’s European Capital of Culture 2008 celebrations. Before the start of the race at 1500 BST the fleet, led by the Tall Ship Mercedes, sailed in formation past Liverpool’s iconic landmarks, the Three Graces.

In testing conditions, with southwesterly winds gusting up to 42 knots on the start line, defending champions westernaustralia2011.com were in the middle of the pack. They are sure to face some stiff competition on their way round the world. Already positions had changed as the yachts rounded the first mark, with Hull & Humber moving up to overtake Liverpool 08. Race followers can chart the progress of the yachts on the state of the art race viewer here on the new Clipper 07-08 website.

Race Director Joff Bailey said, “The start of the race went very well. The sailing conditions were very difficult but all the skippers and crews handled them very well and professionally. A particular well done to Durban 2010 and Beyond for being first across the line.”

This first race is 610 nautical miles and will finish in La Rochelle, where the fleet is due to arrive on Wednesday 19 September. Their visit coincides with the Grand Pavois boat show, one of the largest floating shows in the world. They will set off from La Rochelle on Sunday 23 September for their first ocean passage, racing across the Atlantic to Salvador da Bahia in Brazil.

Each of the ten boats taking part will act as a floating billboard around the world for its city sponsor. The international line up competing in Clipper 07-08 includes Liverpool 08, Durban 2010 and Beyond, Nova Scotia, westernaustralia2011.com, Hull & Humber, Uniquely Singapore, Qingdao, Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper, Jamaica and New York.

With 27 nationalities represented amongst the 400 race crew, and 13 different nations sailing on Uniquely Singapore alone, Clipper 07-08 will be a truly global event. Up to 17 crew members from varying backgrounds sail on each yacht at any one time and they all put their everyday lives on hold for up to ten months to take part in the Clipper Race.

The crews have spent the last months preparing for the race ahead and prior to signing up around 40 percent had no previous sailing experience. Each one of them has completed comprehensive Clipper Training overseen by Clipper Chairman and legendary solo sailor, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Speaking ahead of the start of Clipper 07-08, Sir Robin said, “There is something special about the people that sign up to take part in the Clipper Race. What unites the crew who will set sail this Sunday is their desire to experience something outside the limitations of their everyday lives. A great adventure lies ahead for every single one of them. They will return to Liverpool’s Albert Dock in ten months time as accomplished sailors with memories they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

Berths for the next race, Clipper 09-10 are now available. For more information on applying to become a crew member, contact Clipper Ventures on +44 (0)2392 526000 or email David Cusworth, Clipper Crew Recruitment Manager.

1. Tom Richmond, Leeds 16 September 2007
Simon Bristow, a Yorkshire Post journalist, must be at the helm of the Hull & Humber boat, buoyed by his meeting with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, if they’re up to second already.

2. KEITH CROWDEN, LIVERPOOL 16 September 2007
I have noted the new story of the start of the race with the ‘Liverpool’ yacht second behind ‘Durham’. I was actually on the other side of the Mersey from Liverpool at the time by the Seacombe landing stage (for the ‘Ferry across the Mersey!) just after the start and ‘Hull & Humber’ was definately second at this stage and a reasonable distance ahead of ‘Liverpool’ - just for the record! Best wishes to everyone.

The Clipper web team says:
Glad you were there to watch it. We have to take the official decision on this from the Race Director who was on the start line at the time. He is the man with the final say on everything to do with the race. It was definitely a close-run thing, though and Liverpool 08 and Hull & Humber have been jockeying for position all the way up the Mersey and out into the Irish Sea - check out where they are on our race viewer.