Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - New skipper for Team Garmin

by Marina Thomas on 29 Oct 2013 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race veteran and Chief Instructor Ben Bowley (30) is to take the helm of Team Garmin in the next stage of the current edition from South Africa to Western Australia, where a permanent replacement will be appointed following the departure of the team’s current skipper in Cape Town.

'I’m looking forward to meeting the crew and taking the Clipper 70 into the Southern Ocean,' commented Ben Bowley, who achieved an overall podium position for his team in the 2011-12 edition of the Clipper Race.

'Having been closely involved in crew training and the commissioning of the new fleet, I am really looking forward to seeing how the new yachts perform in the Roaring Forties. I’m expecting great things. The Southern Ocean has always filled me with a great sense of excitement; it is the most beautiful seascape in the world.'

British skipper Ben, boasts a wealth of big boat ocean racing and coaching experience in addition to his Clipper Race credentials. He will arrive in Cape Town tomorrow to meet Team Garmin and prepare for Race 4 to Albany on the southern tip of Western Australia.

Clipper Race founder and Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: 'Ben is a very competent skipper and Chief Instructor, so is already familiar to many of the crew from the extensive pre-race training. He will hand over to a permanent replacement in Albany. The need to replace a skipper in the race from time to time is not unusual. Leading an amateur team in the world’s longest ocean race is very demanding.'

Ben Bowley replaces Australian Damian Parnham who has decided to leave the race in Cape Town.

Race 4 in the 16 race global series will depart for Albany, Western Australia on Monday 4 November.

The 2013-14 edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race takes eleven months to visit six continents and will finish back where it started in front of Tower Bridge London in July next Clipper Round the World