Clipper Round the World Race – New team sponsor announced

by Clipper Ventures on 29 Apr 2015 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race – Official learning and development partner Mission Performance Limited is returning as a team sponsor in the tenth edition of the race which starts in London on August 30, 2015.

This is the second time Mission Performance has entered the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race following the successful partnership in 2013-14 when the UK-based Learning and Development consultancy came aboard as the new fleet of Clipper 70s was launched.

Founded by two former Royal Marine Officers Rob Lewis and Christiaan McLeod, Mission Performance Limited use first hand experiences of leading and building teams in seriously challenging environments to deliver engaging, high impact training and development programmes for businesses and organisations. Rob Lewis, Founding Director of Mission Performance says: “We are honoured to be returning as a Team Sponsor this year. The Clipper Race is special to us for so many reasons, not least because of all the dynamic, courageous people who we get to know as they take on this life-changing challenge.

“I believe that Mission Performance and the Clipper Race make excellent partners because similarly to what we do ourselves, it helps people to develop into stronger, more confident individuals. We recently held a Leadership and Development weekend for the Clipper Race skippers in Wales, based on research we carried out on the 2013-14 race. As their crew are from diverse backgrounds, with different levels of sailing experience and many different personalities, it is hugely important they have the knowledge to be a proficient leader for each of them.”

Taking charge of the Mission Performance yacht is Hampshire skipper Greg Miller, 39, a former Staff Sergeant in the British Army. No stranger to challenges himself, Greg is relishing the opportunity to lead the Mission Performance crew around the world. Greg says: “Throughout my career, I’ve worked with many different types of people in challenging environments all over the world, and having recently completed the Mission Performance course with the other skippers, I fully appreciate their contribution to the race and how important their support will be to the entire crew.

“Having met my Mission Performance crew, they are a strong, competitive bunch – much like their skipper – and we have already agreed that we will use the Mission Performance findings from the last race to guide us through this one. I would like us to become a close-knit family team, a fast, high performing team.”

William Ward, CEO of the Clipper Race remarked: “It is great news that Mission Performance will once again be a Team Sponsor in this tenth edition of the Clipper Race. They have proven to be an effective Race Partner who work to enhance the unique experiences and valuable skills our crew develop throughout their journey.”

The Clipper Race is a unique event being the only one of its kind to give amateur sailors the chance to sail around the world. It was founded by legendary yachtsman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who, in 1969, became the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world. Now celebrating its nineteenth year, the race attracts an international crew of people from all walks of life, regardless of previous sailing experience, who want to step outside of their comfort zone and do something truly extraordinary by taking on one of Mother Nature’s greatest challenges.

Greg and his Mission Performance crew will start their 40,000-mile race, along with the rest of the Clipper Race fleet, on Sunday, August 30 from London. Followers of the Clipper 15-16 Round the World Yacht Race can look forward to some exciting and exhilarating racing during the eleven-month race. The teams will race across the world’s oceans, stopping at up to 15 ports along the way, before the team with the highest total points at the finish wins the Clipper Race Trophy.