Background Information

Introduction of Clipper


Updated: 2010-01-20 14:28
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The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was conceived in 1995 by well-known yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and together with William Ward, founded Clipper Ventures, a company that would run the race.

The first race set off a year later on 16 October 1996. The event gives paying amateur crew members the chance to sail around the world. The organizers own a fleet of identical yachts, and provide qualified skippers to lead each team. Crew can either sign up for the whole race, or one or more legs. In contrast to the slightly older Global Challenge, the Clipper race uses lighter, faster boats and the route follows the prevailing currents and winds.

The race ran every two years between 1996 and 2002, and then skipped a year, with a race beginning in 2005 and finishing in July 2006. The Clipper 07--08 race started on 16 September 2007 finishing July 2008 in Liverpool. The Clipper 09--10 race started from Kingston upon Hull on the Humber Estuary on 13 September 2009 and is due to finish in July 2010.

Source: clipperroundtheworld.com