Capetown signs for Clipper 2002 Round the world race.

by Sue Warden-Owens on 16 Nov 2001 Clipper Ventures Plc, the UK based AIM listed marine events company, have
today announced that Cape Town, South Africa, the only city in the world to
host four out of the five established round the world yacht races, will have
an entry in the highly competitive Clipper 2002 Round The World Yacht Race
to be crewed by a complement of South African men and women and skippered by
a South African.

For the first time in the event’s six-year history, international cities are
invited to compete in the gruelling global contest, which will set sail from
the UK in October 2002. The race will build upon the challenging and close
racing that crews experienced as they followed a similar route round the
world on the three successful previous Clipper races. Clipper 2002 will
follow a predominately downwind route following the tradewinds and passing
through some of the classic yacht racing territories, stopping at cities in
Europe and Asia, as well as North and South America.

To provide Cape Town Clipper with a fighting chance, the hunt is now on for
ten major corporate sponsors who wish to use this unique opportunity to
billboard their business. A £25,000 sponsorship package buys prominent
signage on the dynamic 60ft racing yacht and offers a host of media,
marketing and promotional opportunities, in South Africa, the UK and abroad.

Not since sailing legends, John Martin and Bertie Reed raced single-handed
around the world, has the imagination of South Africans been captured and
inspired to follow their own entry as they take on the high seas and battle
the elements as well as their opponents. Cape Town Clipper plans to
recapture the spirit of sailing for the City and for South Africa as she
takes on seven international cities, on a course around the globe, some
36,000 miles, over an eleven-month period.

In addition, a sensational stopover for the eight-strong fleet of identical
yachts is scheduled for June 2003. Sources from Cape Town City and Tourism
have estimated that such race visits can attract over 250,000 visitors to
the waterfront, and a positive economic impact running into tens of millions
of Rand. Organisers, Clipper Ventures Plc, who plan the race route as well
as provide the yachts and professional skippers, have been attracted once
again to Cape Town by its growing reputation in both sail-making and boat
building industries.

Clipper Venture’s Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail
single-handed non-stop around the world, said, 'It is most fitting that Cape
Town will compete in Clipper 2002. With the predisposition in South Africa
towards competitive sport, a Cape Town team representing South Africa will
surely be a big success. Our association with Cape Town as a stopover for
the Clipper race is a truly successful relationship and we’re also looking
forward to bringing our Around Alone race to Cape Town in December 2002.'

Acting Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Cllr. Belinda Walker, said, 'The
entrance into the race of a boat named after Cape Town will help to raise
the profile of the City of Cape Town internationally. It will also have a
very positive impact on our local tourism industry. The City looks forward
to hosting the Clipper 2002 race, when it sails into Cape Town in June
2003.'

Crew applications are now well underway for the Clipper 2002 Round The World
Yacht Race, with over 55% of competitor berths already taken. Applications
are welcomed from Cape Town’s budding sailors, men or women from every walk
of life and age, to compete on individual legs or to face the challenge of
the whole circumnavigation. Successful applicants, with or without sailing
experience, will undergo extensive training programmes to prepare for the
challenges of racing a 60-foot ocean going yacht. For further information
or to sign-up for Clipper 2002 please telephone + 44 (0) 23 8023 7088 or
visit www.clipper-ventures.com