Clipper Race – New Senior appointment reflects growing global demand

by Zoe Williamson on 10 Sep 2010 Clipper Ventures plc’s creation of a new senior role reflects the growing global demand for the unique event which has developed an international reputation for delivering its sponsors’ trade, tourism and cultural objectives.

The Director of Business Development will report directly into Chief Executive William Ward and oversee the company’s global business and external relations.

The appointment has gone to Jonathan Levy (53) who brings a wealth of international business, media and brand management experience. Levy is no stranger to the Clipper Race, having worked in a consultancy capacity for UK and Canadian yacht sponsors over the last five years.

William Ward commented, 'We have developed a good working relationship with Jonathan in recent years and he has introduced a wide range of successful initiatives for sponsors on the race. Part of this new role will be to maximise the return sponsors enjoy by helping them to successfully exploit all the opportunities the race creates.

'As demand from yacht sponsors and host cities continues to grow and the race becomes even more popular with the public, we need to ensure we have the appropriate expertise and resources to drive the company forward. I am confident that Jonathan will add substantial value for all our partners.'

Levy has spent the last 30 years in the media, marketing, events and sponsorship arenas. Following the sale of his communications agency in the 1990s to a Chicago based international media company; he became their vice-president of sales and marketing working with substantial global brands. Following the events of 9/11 in 2001 he took a lifestyle decision to return to the UK in a consultancy role for a wide range of clients.

In recent years Levy has delivered successful trade, tourism and cultural initiatives for UK and Canadian sponsors in the Clipper Race, raising international media profiles and driving tangible new business including a number of significant international trade agreements.

'The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the brand leader in its class. I have seen at first hand how powerful it can be for sponsors and hosts at so many levels,' said Levy. 'I look forward to being able to focus on this in my new role and help the company develop its global presence even further. Plans for the future at Clipper Ventures are very exciting.'

Vision of a yachting legend
The Clipper Race was established 15 years ago by legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail around the world solo non-stop in 1968-9; he wanted to create the opportunity for people from all walks of life to be able to experience the thrill and challenge of ocean racing, spurred on by the fact that more people have climbed Mount Everest than have raced around the world. It is also changing perceptions of sailing from the elitist cliché to an event that is ‘Raced by people like you’ – in fact one of the race hosts has aptly coined it ‘The people’s race’.

The Clipper concept uses a fleet of identical stripped down ocean racing yachts so performance is down to the skill of the crews rather than design variations. The current fleet is owned and operated by Clipper Ventures and is composed of ten Ed Dubois designed 68-foot yachts which can carry up to 18 crew at any one time. About half the crew complete a full circumnavigation, with the rest joining for one or more legs.

Around 500 crew will participate in Clipper 11-12, the eighth edition of the race, which will start from the UK in August 2011, returning 11 months later in July 2012 after travelling 40,000 miles, visiting 15 cities on six continents. Crew places are expected to sell out again well in advance.

Global business model
Clipper’s business model for sponsorship encompasses Sir Robin’s other passion, to build international relations and stimulate global trade by having each yacht sponsored by a city, region or country. This has proved extremely successful and has gone from strength to strength. Growing public interest has also driven healthy economic impact for race hosts, especially at the start and finish.

Sir Robin stated, 'This has become far more than a very special yacht race; it is a platform for a unique global event that has the power to not only be a life changing experience for the crew, but also to create a significant return for our sponsors and their private sector partners. While I am very proud of what we have achieved, I am even more excited by the way the Clipper Race continues to grow and evolve.'

Public interest in the race is greater than ever; in Clipper 09-10 media and internet exposure is projected to reach a potential global audience in excess of half a billion people. More than 150,000 visitors attended events around the race start in 2009, delivering an economic impact in excess of $15 million (USD).

Business alongside the race has also been brisk with trade missions generating millions of pounds of contracts and inward investment potential backed up by the creation of international agreements; tourism promotions and cultural programmes have also been extremely successful in reaching target audiences and influential opinion formers. The nature of the event opens doors at senior levels of government through the long term relationships Clipper has built with many of the respective yacht and host sponsors.

Sponsorship opportunities continue to be competitively priced: The rights fee to brand a yacht entry in Clipper 11-12 is £1-million, providing up to eighteen months of global exposure in addition to exclusive access to a vast range of in port activation benefits during the 11 months of the race. Hosting the event offers significant economic impact and profile raising potential. The race is being used increasingly by destinations to stimulate public engagement, civic pride and youth development.

In addition Clipper Ventures plc holds the rights to the Velux 5 Oceans race – a professional solo round the world yacht race which runs every four years. The next edition starts from La Rochelle in France on 17 October this year. The company also runs corporate sailing events, sail training and youth development operations.

For more information, please go to: www.clipperroundtheworld.com