Yacht Race Entry To Set Sail In Trafalgar Square

The ninth edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will feature a UK team aboard a Great Britain livery yacht, in a global campaign partnership between the race organisers, UK Government and British brands, that will see its 70 foot racing yacht launched in land-locked Trafalgar Square by sports minister Hugh Robertson next week.

The global race will depart from Tower Bridge in London on 1st September 2013.

According to Clipper Ventures, Great Britain Team Partners from the private sector will engage with a comprehensive set of branding and activation opportunities alongside the unique human adventure with crew of all ages and from all walks of life.

Positioned in front of the National Gallery, the yacht will remain under the watchful gaze of Lord Nelson from 31st July to 4th August.

Clipper Race chairman and founder, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who became the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-9, launched the biennial race for amateur sailors 17 years ago; the unique global event has also grown into a successful platform to promote trade and tourism along the way. 

The event attracts large global media audiences with a cumulative reach reportedly in excess of two billion people in more than 200 countries. 

Sir Robin said: ‘The is a unique project and I am very proud that the Clipper Race can provide a powerful platform to promote Great Britain trade and tourism to a global audience. We look forward to working with Great British brand partners and the UK Government, through the Prime Minister’s office, to deliver a highly effective international marketing campaign.’

The project is bringing together a cross-section of partners from the private sector to sponsor the Great Britain yacht over the next 16 months and participate in an international campaign that will link up with UK trade and tourism global marketing initiatives. The first partners will be unveiled at the launch.

The project has been endorsed by the sports and tourism minister, Hugh Robertson MP, who will join Sir Robin to name the yacht in Trafalgar Square. 

He stated: ‘For 17 years the Clipper Race has played a leading role in promoting British sailing and is now a core asset for British business internationally. We have experienced a truly memorable 2012, and it is organisations like this that will continue to push our sporting prowess.’

‘This is a unique opportunity, bringing together our sporting legacy with some of the strongest and most vibrant British brands. I look forward to the Great Britain yacht launch in Trafalgar Square.’

Great Britain will sail back into the capital with the rest of the 12-strong Clipper Race fleet over the August Bank Holiday weekend to spend a week in St Katharine Docks, central London’s only marina, prior to departing from Tower Bridge on the Thames on 1st September on its 40,000 mile race around the world; the fleet will return to London almost 11 months later in July 2014.