Clipper Round the World Race makes a big economic impact in Cape Town

by Clipper Ventures on 30 Oct 2015 It’s been a busy couple of weeks at the V&A Waterfront for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as its global partners have come to Cape Town with an international business agenda.

In addition hundreds of crew, friends, family, fans, officials and sponsors have brought a multi-million rand windfall as the race makes a big economic impact on the city and surrounding Western Cape, not to mention showcasing the region and South Africa to a global audience.

“The Clipper Race is in its tenth edition and continues to grow in global profile and impact,” said Clipper Race co-founder and chief executive William Ward. “Our partners have been very proactive in taking full advantage of all the benefits the race offers in building global business opportunities and so much more.

“In recent years we’ve welcomed brands alongside destination Team Sponsors to promote services, products and places to a growing worldwide audience. Partners activating in Cape Town have been as diverse as global brands like Garmin, financial technology leader LMAX Exchange, South African mining company IchorCoal, international charity Unicef, the US city of Seattle and Vietnamese port Da Nang.

Ward added: “We’ve also attracted enormous international media exposure including reporters and television crews from China, France, Germany and the UK visiting alongside the South African press. Our news feeds have reached around the world.”

The UK Government’s GREAT campaign held a range of presentations, exhibits and a business reception last night (29 October) alongside the GREAT Britain Clipper Race yacht, hosted by the British High Commissioner to South Africa Judith Macgregor. She said:

“It’s very important to have partners like the Clipper Race, which taps into the worldwide reach of the UK. The whole thing is global yet it is quintessentially British. As it happens South Africa has launched a big initiative with its maritime economy, so this has chimed really well.

“In an age where the UK is rightly regarded for its service industries, these yachts and the equipment on them are a useful reminder of the proud UK maritime traditions and the expertise we retain in technology, research and education.”

The UK’s marine sector adds £19bn to the country’s GDP extending to innovative technologies, education and training. In contrast the UK Bloodhound jet-powered car which hopes to break the supersonic land-speed record in South Africa next year was also showcased.

A cross-section of business guests got a taste of life aboard the Clipper 70 yacht GREAT Britain when they were taken sailing by the team. This was just one of numerous guest sailing experiences with partners aboard the twelve identical Clipper Race yachts, together with a wide range of business presentations, networking receptions, VIP visits and corporate events.

Official Wine Partner, South African Stormhoek Wine, created and supported a series of hospitality events and ‘happy-hours’ including the Crew Prize-Giving party for 400 guests; promoted special in store packs and provided a limited edition magnums of sparkling wine to celebrate all the teams safe arrival in the Stormhoek Race to the Cape of Storms.

Earlier in the week the Ambassador of Vietnam to South Africa His Excellency Mr Le Huy Hoang introduced the crew of Da Nang – Viet Nam to Vietnamese culture and underlined how the city’s entry in the race was helping to raise their profile around the world to boost tourism and business investment in Vietnam.

In addition, social engagement has been high with the Official Clipper Race Charity Unicef drawing attention to its local initiatives to high profile business and government guests. Plus a separate initiative with young South Africans sailing different legs of the Clipper Race aboard IchorCoal as part of Team Partner Sapinda Rainbow Foundation’s long term community development project.

It is designed to promote leadership and life skills to young people from disadvantaged areas and the project’s success is the catalyst effect created by the youngsters within their own communities upon their return. In addition they have been fundraising for Ndlovu Care Group’s unique HIV/AIDS research project in Limpopo.

“We are delighted to see the Sapinda Rainbow Foundation sailors involved again. This is part of a key UK engagement with South African youth through sport,” added the British High Commissioner to South Africa Judith Macgregor.

“We’ve had some really good engagement with clients and stakeholders in a whirl of activity. We’ve brought in a number of British and South African companies and we’re encouraging partnership which has been successful.

“We’ve also taken the concept of ‘Adventure is GREAT’ into entrepreneurism and hosted a seminar with South African businesses who are going to London for Innovate 2015. We can make the comparison between embarking on a competitive ocean race with what it takes for young entrepreneurs to be successful with practical business advice on opportunities in the UK.”

This is the tenth edition of the unique biennial Clipper Race, the biggest and longest ocean race around the planet in excess of 40,000 nautical miles with a series of 14 races between six continents, taking almost a year to compete. The Clipper Race is crewed by amateur sailors under the command of professional skippers.

The third leg to Albany in Western Australia starts tomorrow (Saturday 31 October). The fleet departs the V&A Waterfront at Quay 6 from midday local time (1000 UTC) and will parade in front of Table Mountain before the race start at 3.30pm.