PRESS RELEASE: 13.00 HRS, FRIDAY 9^th JANUARY 2009

 YORKSHIRE & HUMBER REGION IN THE WORLD SPOTLIGHT

AT LONDON INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW:

 ...COUNTDOWN TO START OF GLOBAL YACHT RACE BEGINS

The countdown to the start of the only global yacht race for non-professional sailors began today (1pm Friday 9^th January) on the first day of the prestigious London International Boat Show 2009. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was initiated by legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who became the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world forty years ago; he is now chairman of the race organisers Clipper Ventures plc.

A special countdown clock started to tick away the 247 days to the beginning of the seventh edition of the race from the Humber on 13^th September 2009. Clipper 09-10 will be the first time a global yacht race has started from a UK east-coast port.

The countdown clock was started by Terry Hodgkinson, the chair of Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency that has secured the event for the region as part of its sponsorship of an entry in the race for a second time.  The ceremony was conducted by Clipper 09-10 Race Director Jonathan Bailey who will be in command of the race start in the Humber.

In Clipper 07-08 the yacht Hull & Humber achieved second place just a few points behind the overall winner New York in the 35,000 miles race which takes around ten months to circumnavigate the globe.

Ten internationally sponsored yachts will be berthed in the Humber region prior to the race start and they will be welcomed back to the Humber just under ten moths later in July 2010. Participants in Clipper 07-08 included entries from South Africa, Australia, Singapore, China, Jamaica, United States, Canada, England and Scotland.

The 68-foot ocean-going racing yachts each carry a crew of 18, including a professional skipper. Around 400 crew successfully apply to take part in the race, the most challenging of its type for non-professional sailors.

“I am looking forward to bringing the race to the Humber for the first time,” said Mr Bailey. “We had the pleasure of visiting the area during a training race before Clipper 07-08; the facilities and hospitality are first class.”

Terry Hodgkinson said: “We had a very positive experience in the Clipper 07-08 Race, not only performing well on the water, but also boosting business with trade missions to relevant ports of call and bringing local economic benefit through hosting the fleet. I am confident we can build on this success even further during Clipper 09-10.

“I am looking forward to personally welcoming the race, its participants and visitors to the Humber for the race start and finish. We have superb venues and plan to put on a spectacular events programme when Clipper 09-10 sails into our region.”

In a message of support Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “I’m confident that our international sponsors and their crews will enjoy a warm ‘Hull & Humber’ welcome. I’m really pleased that Yorkshire Forward has recognised and experienced the potential for the Clipper Race to benefit the region in so many ways.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is exhibiting on stand N36L at the London International Boat Show 2009 where visitors can get more details about crew places on the Clipper 09-10 Race. Plus there’s a free week-long big boat sailing course to be won every day with Clipper Training. Visitors to the show have to guess how many teabags the crew of the ten-strong fleet drink their way through during the 35,000 miles circumnavigation: 25,200; 80,500; or 121,600.

Anyone interested in more information about crew places can contact the Clipper Race organisers by telephone: 02392 526000, by email to: oceanracer@ClipperRoundTheWorld.com  or visit the web site: www.ClipperRoundTheWorld.com

Yorkshire Forward
•       Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency behind the economic regeneration of Yorkshire and Humber. It aims to make a positive difference by investing in jobs, improving towns and cities, and in supporting businesses throughout the region. 
•       Over the past year, Yorkshire Forward has created and safeguarded more than 27,000 new jobs; helped create and attract more than 1,100 new businesses, provided nearly 66,000 learning opportunities and attracted more than £333 million private sector finance - achieving or exceeding all of the targets it was set.
•       Yorkshire Forward’s investment across the region is maximised by attracting European Regional Development Funding from the Objective One and Two programmes.