More than 300 new adventurous crew members from around the globe descended upon Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard on England’s south coast, eager to discover which of the ten internationally sponsored 68-foot Clipper yachts they would be racing on-board and who their skipper would be in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Race.
These adventurous travelers, participating in the only event of its kind for non-professional sailors, came from all walks of life representing 30 nationalities and 225 professions ranging from housewives to lawyers, carpenters to chief executives. Among them were those bestowed with the honor of representing China’s Sailing City of Qingdao in the demanding 35,000 nautical mile race around the world.
Already confirmed for Clipper 09-10 (Contested by ten identical stripped down 68-foot racing yachts, each sponsored by a city, region or country) are Hull & Humber, California , Qingdao, Uniquely Singapore, Cork, and Cape Breton Island. The remaining four yachts will be named in the coming weeks prior to the race start from the Humber, on the east coast of England, on 13 September 2009.
The Clipper 09-10 Race, founded by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who was the first man to sail solo (non-stop) around the world, will be the seventh time teams of amateur sailors will circumnavigate the globe.