Frank Dixie, Managing Director says:

“Over the last few years we have been raising our profile in the marine sector which has recently culminated in a three-year title sponsorship of the PSP Southampton Boat Show. Our partnership with the Clipper Race will continue to increase our international exposure especially in Asia where we have just launched a joint venture with our long-term partners Helka. As the Clipper fleet races around the world we look forward to activating our sponsorship in a number of new territories and forging new distribution channels.”

PSP will provide and manage the freight of two containers, which ‘leap frog’ each other, to ensure that the race is provisioned at each stopover during the course of the ten month event. The containers will be fitted out as mobile workshops and filled with essential spares to maintain the yachts at each stopover.

Clipper Race Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston:

“To have the support of such a well known and highly experienced company like PSP is wonderful news and I’m delighted to welcome them onboard as our Official Logistics Partner. What goes on behind the scenes in organising an event such as ours is often overlooked but plays a vital role to ensure the race is a success.”

Team sponsors believe that the Clipper Race provides a unique platform delivering global market exposure at local market values.

The campaign to enter a Cork yacht that will take the spirit of the region to a worldwide audience of more than 300 million people has been jointly backed by Fáilte Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

In addition to those people with a thirst for adventure who will race around the world representing the region there are opportunities for local businesses to be part of the event. Teams in previous Clipper Races have helped galvanise the community spirit in their sponsoring city, generating a huge sense of ownership and pride in their achievement.

Already Cork’s crew has the support of sporting luminaries. Former Republic of Ireland players David O’Leary and Niall Quinn who, between them, have 160 caps for their country, are backing the team.

David O’Leary says,

“My congratulations to Cork for entering the first Irish boat into the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. As a keen sportsman I am delighted to hear that the Cork boat, crewed by local sailing enthusiasts, will be taking part in this incredible challenge and promoting my homeland across the world.”

Niall Quinn adds his support, saying,

“I am tremendously proud that Ireland will be represented in this world famous race and I will be following every stage with great interest.”

Sir Robin Knox Johnson says,

“It is fantastic news that Cork will be represented in Clipper 09-10 and, if the welcome the crews received at the Royal Cork Yacht Club at the end of Clipper 07-08 is anything to go by, I am sure the stopover here is going to be one of the highlights of the Clipper Race – they are wonderful hosts.”

Fiona Buckley, General Manager Fáilte Ireland South West says,

“Fáilte Ireland South West is delighted to be involved with the introduction of a Cork boat for the first time in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. A Cork boat will bring invaluable publicity and promotional opportunities for Cork during the Clipper 09-10 Race.

“Sailing is central to the development of tourism in the South West and particularly in Cork and is central to the Fáilte Ireland South West Regional development Strategy 2008-2010. Cork has an enviable sailing maritime reputation worldwide, stemming from its unique natural harbour, yacht clubs and maritime history.”

Lord Mayor of Cork Councillor Brian Bermingham says,

“I’m delighted that Cork will be represented in such a prestigious global event and hope the event will bring worldwide attention to the city which has such a rich maritime history.

“It is a perfect opportunity to showcase the city to a worldwide audience and we expect it will contribute significantly to the local and regional economy. I hope the people of Cork will get behind the team and support them all the way.”

Qingdao was first brought to the attention of the world’s media as a sailing city when it hosted a stopover and sponsored an entry in the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race. Since then the city has cemented its profile as a sailing capital with a second Clipper Race entry and stopover in 2008 and as the official sailing centre for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Over the past week Qingdao has been playing host to its third round the world yacht race with the arrival of the Volvo Open 70s competing in this year’s Volvo Ocean Race. Each team has arrived to a spectacular welcome ceremony which culminated with the arrival of the Chinese/Irish entry over the weekend.

The Green Dragon crew were welcomed as heroes especially local crew member Guo Chuan who is the only Chinese crew member competing in this year’s Volvo Race. The occasion was not the first time Guo Chuan has received such a welcome, his first ocean racing experience was sailing to his homeport from Singapore onboard Qingdao in the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race.

Guo Chuan says:

“I appreciate that I am lucky in that I am one of very few Chinese to have this opportunity. As a nation we have been absent from the sailing world but this is now changing. We need more ways our people can get experience and pass it on to others and especially the young. We now have some good dinghy sailors who did well in the Olympics and Qingdao’s continuing involvement with the Clipper Race will also be a help.”

This time next year the Clipper 09-10 fleet will be preparing to leave Marina at Keppel Bay in Singapore for the punishing upwind race to China’s Qingdao. This will be the third time the non-professionals have tackled the route that is now being billed by the pros as one of the most difficult in the history of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The Chinese entry Qingdao has yet to win into her homeport and Chinese crew members who dare to take part in Clipper 09-10 could help make it third time lucky.

Representatives from the Clipper Race Team will be in Qingdao from 11 to 15 February and interviews have already been scheduled with potential Chinese crew including a 39-year-old IT specialist from Qingdao. No previous sailing experience is required to get onboard for Clipper 09-10 as full comprehensive training is provided.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

It’s a fantastic example of how supporting the sport of sailing helps cruisers and recreational participants. Working with people like Ben Ainslie, Dee Caffari, Americas Cup teams, Henri Lloyd can develop ideas quickly.

The company is using the London International Boat Show to make a number of announcements like the launch of the 2009 marine range, including the DAME Award Winning TP2 Shadow 2G Jacket.

The TP2 Shadow 2G Jacket features the exclusive OPTIVISION Hood System – perfect for windward or leeward peripheral vision during pre-start manoeuvring or close quarter action during mark rounding to give you that all important tactical advantage.

Henri Lloyd is also the Official Clothing Supplier for the Clipper 09-10 race.

“We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Clipper Ventures for a third consecutive race. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race provides an excellent platform for Henri Lloyd to showcase the performance of our technical sailing clothing at the forefront of the ocean racing arena. The crews of Clipper 09-10, will benefit from the latest developments in clothing technology and support from the Henri Lloyd team. We look forward to working with Sir Robin and Clipper Ventures once again.” Paul Strzelecki, Joint Chief Executive of Henri-Lloyd.

“Henri Lloyd has been our Official Technical Clothing Partner for the last two editions of the Clipper Race. With their continuing development of clothing technology and specialised layering systems they are an obvious choice for Clipper 09-10. Our crews will face some of the toughest sailing conditions imaginable and will need clothing that can stand up to the extreme nature of ocean racing. Henri Lloyd is able to provide Clipper crew with the latest in foul weather gear protection and we welcome them onboard as a Fleet Sponsor.” Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Clipper Race founder and Chairman of Clipper Ventures Plc.

Terry Hodgkinson, Chairman of Yorkshire Forward, who are sponsoring the Hull & Humber entry 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.”

The race will stop at 14 ports during the circumnavigation. As well as allowing port sponsors to showcase their tourism offerings, the stopovers provide an opportunity for the ten international team sponsors, the fleet sponsors and official suppliers to develop trade links and do business with overseas organisations.

Also on the Clipper Race stand today were representatives from five of the official suppliers to the Clipper 09-10 Race: Hyde Sails, Marlow Ropes and Official Technical Clothing Supplier, Henri Lloyd; MarineTrack, who will supply the tracking software to allow the fleet to automatically report their positions at sea; and The Marine Travel Company, who will help crews and their friends and family with their travel requirements during the race. There in spirit was the Official Whisky Partner, Benromach, whose sponsorship of the fleet was announced at the 2008 London International Boat Show.

Race Director Joff Bailey said, “We are developing long term partnerships with the people and companies we work with. For all of the Official Suppliers who are here with us today – and those who aren’t – this marks the next stage in an ever-lengthening partnership and we look forward to those continuing in the future.”

Joff continues, “We have already announced a number of entries for Clipper 09-10. Uniquely Singapore, sponsored by Keppel Corporation with Singapore Tourism Board as Team Partner, will compete in both Clipper 09-10 and Clipper 11-12, as will Qingdao, sponsored by the host city for the sailing events at last year’s Beijing Olympics. For both teams that will be a four-race partnership. California will be making her debut appearance in the race this year. The entry, backed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is the result of a hugely successful stopover in Santa Cruz during Clipper 07-08, the first time the race had ever visited the state. And, of course, our partnership with Hull and Humber continues to go from strength to strength.

“In the coming months we will be announcing more Team Sponsors and Official Suppliers, unveiling the ten exceptional skippers who will lead the teams, and confirm the final route for what is widely accepted as one of the world’s toughest challenges.”

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston commented:

“Our crews get one set of sails for 35,000 miles of ocean racing and it’s really important they’re of a high quality to see them through the extreme conditions they will be facing. We’re confident Hyde Sails will be able to provide that for our race crews and welcome them onboard as our Official Sails Supplier. We’re looking forward to working with them to develop the best possible wardrobe of sails for our fleet of ten ocean racing yachts.”

Hyde’s Sales Director Richard Franks said:

“We are delighted to be associated with a race which epitomises Hyde’s values of quality, reliability and performance. It’s an exciting partnership, which fits well with Hyde Sails’ global growth.”

Hyde Sails will power all ten of the Clipper yachts as they race round the world. Over the course of ten months and 35,000 miles of racing, the yachts and their sails will face some of the most testing sailing conditions possible, including the challenges of the Southern Ocean. As well as the benefits of the highest quality workmanship, skippers will receive personal training from Hyde’s skilled staff, and specialist support at key stopovers.

Marina at Keppel Bay will host the Singapore stopover in the next two editions of the race, Clipper 09-10 and Clipper 11-12. The marina is the centrepiece of Keppel Bay’s premier waterfront development and home to the newly opened Keppel Bay Sailing Academy (KBSA), the first sailing centre in Singapore to receive RYA accreditation.

At the announcement in Singapore, Clipper Ventures Chief Executive, William Ward said, “Marina at Keppel Bay provided a spectacular setting for our stopover in January this year and we are looking forward to returning with the Clipper 09-10 fleet. Singapore always provides a unique experience for our crews.

Ms Look Fung Wang, General Manager of Keppel Group Corporate Communications, said, “We have found the Clipper experience to be an excellent platform to showcase Singapore and Keppel round the world”.

The Keppel Group sponsored eight employees in the last race, and will do so again in the next two races as part of its talent development initiatives.

The Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race will start from the Humber in the north east of England on 13 September and return in July 2010 after 35,000 miles of sailing.

California will compete against nine other internationally sponsored ocean racing yachts in a gruelling 35,000-mile circumnavigation of the globe.

In a letter of support, Governor Schwarzenegger says,

“California is honoured to be a stop on this voyage, and especially to have one of the participating yachts named after our state. I have no doubt that California will be the best boat out there and that all the vessels will receive a warm welcome from the Golden State when they reach our shores.”

Chairman and founder of the Clipper Race, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, says,

“We’re delighted the yacht California has the backing of Governor Schwarzenegger and I am sure this campaign will ignite enthusiasm not just in the state but throughout America. Importantly this project is not just for sailors; it is about people who want to stand above their peers, release their potential, and achieve their personal goals – just the qualities Californians are renowned and respected for.”