Clipper Round The World Race 2005 - Crew Sought For WA Round The World Race Team

Clipper Ventures Plc and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are collaborating to bring a new, exciting sporting opportunity to the people of Western Australia. At 17:00 on Friday, 21 November, the Fremantle Sailing Club will host a two-hour seminar and introduction to the Clipper 2005 Round the World Yacht Race for all those interested, especially aspiring crew members.

The seminar is designed to introduce Western Australia’s budding adventurers to the challenge of becoming round the world yachtsmen and women on the Clipper 2005 Race.

Fremantle is the only Australian host port in the prestigious event and one of the 10 internationally crewed yachts will be named ‘Western Australia.’ The 68-foot yacht will carry images of the State around the globe and the hunt is now on for a complement of men and women to crew the nation’s racing entry, as well as a professional Australian skipper to lead the team.

An interactive panel of race experts led by experienced international yachtsman, Colin de Mowbray MBE, will provide information on crew criteria and the selection process for the Clipper 2005 event. Speakers will also include Richard Cooper, Managing Director of Clipper Ventures plc.

Following the application and interview process, successfully selected crews must raise either the fee for the whole circumnavigation, GB£28,500, or the cost of individual race legs, starting from GB£6,000.

Colin de Mowbray raced around the world as a skipper on the first ever Clipper event, which set sail in 1996, and has since been instrumental in the running of the subsequent three events. Commenting on the forthcoming crew seminar, he said, “Many of the competitors will cut their offshore teeth for the first time on the Clipper 2005 Race as we provide an intensive training programme, enabling even non-sailors to gain competence and confidence in every skill needed to race around the world.

“Seminar attendees will get a thorough event orientation, focussing on the highs and lows of life aboard a 68-foot ocean racer with 17 other persons - in addition to the many different facets of crewing a yacht safely around the world, with both the determination and speed to win,” he added.

Not only will the panel offer advice and encouragement for potential crew members wishing to take their first steps towards the ultimate yachting challenge, but they will also offer advancement strategies to the more experienced sailors amongst the audience, who may be interested in applying as the professional skipper of the Western Australian yacht.

The principle underlying the Clipper Race is that ocean yacht racing need not be the exclusive preserve of the privileged, but open to a far wider audience. Crew members must however be at least 18 years old prior to starting the race and there is no upper age limit. Historically, participants have averaged 38 years of age and some 40% of competitors have been female.

The crew seminar, scheduled from 17:00 to 19:00, is open to the public and is free of charge, although all attendees must bring a strong desire to represent their nation around the world and a true thirst for adventure.

Limited places are available, so advance registration is compulsory. Registration forms are available from the Western Australian Tourism Commission on 08 9270 3311 or online at www.clipper-ventures.com ENDS 12, November 2003