HONG
KONG WELCOMES CLIPPER FLEET
Hong
Kong is playing host to the eight yachts and their
crews of the Clipper 2002 Round the World Yacht
Race. The first yacht sailed into Victoria Harbour
last Friday (28 March) after successfully completing
the Sinotrans Race from Shanghai to Hong Kong,
part of the third crew leg.
A
press conference held today, 31 March 2003, at
the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club officially welcomed
the Clippers for their three-week stopover in
Hong Kong.
The
Clipper 2002 Race Director, Colin de Mowbray,
expressed his delight about the arrival of the
yachts in Hong Kong. He said: “Hong Kong
has always been a special place for the Clipper
Race. It marks not only the halfway stage but
also one of the most exciting and dramatic places
for any seafarer to visit. The memories these
120 crew members will have as they sail up Victoria
Harbour will be with them for life.”
“This
visit will be especially exciting, as we have
‘Hong Kong Clipper’ as one of our
eight yachts. Skipper Justin Taylor and his crew
have been proudly representing and promoting Hong
Kong around the world and the yacht has received
a very warm welcome to her mother port,”
he added. The Invest Hong Kong-sponsored yacht
clinched victory in the first race from Liverpool
to Cascais in Portugal last November and also
won the Hawaii to Yokohama race in early March.
The
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion
at Invest Hong Kong, John Wan, also extended his
warm welcome. He said: “We commend everyone
involved for an extraordinary performance. Of
course, we are especially proud of the ‘Hong
Kong Clipper,’ which has represented Asia’s
World City so successfully.”
He
added: “Invest Hong Kong’s sponsorship
of the ‘Hong Kong Clipper’ gives us
an opportunity to associate our city’s unique
competitive advantages with a highly demanding
and challenging sporting event. Team spirit and
the dedication are attributes that the crew shares
with the people of Hong Kong.”
Justin
Taylor also commented: “My crew and I feel
extremely proud to be representing Hong Kong whilst
racing around the world. We have been very well
received in all the ports we have visited and
I have been amazed by the interest and enthusiasm
the name of this yacht has created. This visit
is going to be one of the great highlights of
this marathon race for everyone, not just the
lucky ones in Hong Kong Clipper!”
After
the stopover in Hong Kong, the Clipper fleet will
join the San Fernando Race 2003 organised by the
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
The
Commodore of the Yacht Club, Dr Alan Lau, said:
“For the second year, the Clipper fleet
will be racing with us to San Fernando in the
Philippines. We hope to share in their stories
ashore and join in friendly competition on the
water.
“We
hope everyone from the Clipper fleet is enjoying
our accommodation and services here at the Royal
Hong Kong Yacht Club. My sincere thanks to the
Clipper Ventures and Invest Hong Kong for bringing
the Clipper fleet here.”
The
Clipper 2002 Round the World Yacht Race is the
world's longest circumnavigation race, covering
35,500 nautical miles. The eight identical yachts,
namely New York, London, Cape Town, Glasgow, Jersey,
Bristol, Liverpool and Hong Kong, set sail from
Liverpool last October.
The
six-leg, 16-port race will return to Liverpool
(UK) on 27 September 2003. ENDS 31 March 2003
CLIPPER
2002 OVERALL RACE ORDER:
(Provisional after 8 races)
Pos
Yacht Cumulative Points
1 Jersey 53
2 Bristol 46
3 Liverpool 39.5
4 London 39
5 Hong Kong 36
6 Glasgow 35
7 New York 26
8 Cape Town 12
FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Loretta Spridgeon
Clipper 2002 Media & PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8023 7088
Fax: +44 (0) 23 8023 7081
Mobile: +44 (0) 7773 818586
Email: lspridgeon@clipper-ventures.com
Website: www.clipper-ventures.com
