Clipper Round the World Yacht Race boats due to arrive in Tauranga

by Heather Ewing on 24 Nov 2011
The ten-strong fleet of 68-foot yachts competing in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race, at 40,000 miles, the world’s longest ocean race, are due to arrive in Tauranga, New Zealand, this week at the end of the 3,800-mile race from Geraldton, Western Australia.

The first of the sleek, stripped-down yachts is expected to arrive at Tauranga Bridge Marina in the afternoon of Thursday 24 November, with the next five very tightly bunched between Thursday 24 and Friday 25 November.
The crews, ‘people like you’, are drawn from all walks of life, their ages range from 18 to 72, and between them they represent more than 40 nationalities. There are eight New Zealanders taking part in Clipper 11-12 and five of them are currently aboard the yachts, including the oldest crew member in this edition of the event, 72-year-old Fred Tooley from Manukau, Auckland.

Fred, a retail assistant, is one of the crew members on the leading yacht, Gold Coast Australia. As the coast of New Zealand appeared on the horizon he admitted it brought a tear to his eye and said, 'The sense of achievement in fulfilling such a lifelong goal is amazing and at the moment I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.'

His participation in this race marks the realisation of an ambition held for 35 years, and seeing an advert in Yachting World magazine prompted Fred to apply to take part in Leg 4 of Clipper 11-12 from Geraldton in Western Australia to Gold Coast in Queensland via his homeland of New Zealand.

'All I can say is that if you are thinking about fulfilling a dream or taking on the challenge of a lifetime, don’t think about it, just do it. You won’t regret it,' Fred said.

My two main heroes in life are Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Sir Peter Blake and I have watched many videos from the comfort of my couch about their adventures, but after watching them for years I decided that I thought I should give it a go. My theory is that I do what I enjoy and enjoy what I do,' he said.

'I am living the dream and truly believe that you're never too old to learn new tricks and take on new challenges. When this is over, it doesn't mean I have stopped looking for challenges, it just means I need to decide on the next one,' he added.

Fred is one of 500 people participating in Clipper 11-12 with around 100 racing the full circumnavigation and the remainder joining for one or more of the eight legs of the competition.

Also on board Gold Coast Australia is Christchurch-born Anna Guthrie. The 35-year-old project manager who works in London, UK, has not seen her family since the devastating earthquake that struck her home town in February. Anna will also meet a new member of her family for the first time – her niece.

She said, 'I’m very excited! I’ve been talking to home, to my grandmother, and she is over moon that I’m coming into home. I haven’t been home since the earthquake and haven’t seen my family and they’re going all coming up to Tauranga.'

Family and friends of crew members from all over the world will fly in to Tauranga to meet their loved ones and to enjoy an extended holiday in the Bay of Plenty area. Among the activities lined up, crew will visit White Island, enjoy the Bay of Plenty’s fabulous beaches, climb Mount Maunganui, indulge in a spot of fishing and learn the art of paddle boarding.
Glenn Ormsby from Tourism Bay of Plenty says this is a perfect opportunity to showcase Tauranga and the wider region. 'The Clipper Race visit will help spread the word that Bay of Plenty beaches are open, the water is clean and it’s a great place to visit this summer.'

During the stopover the yachts will be open for the public to meet the crew and see for themselves what life is like on board a stripped down racing yacht. The yachts will be open between 1pm and 4pm on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November, between 4pm and 7pm on Tuesday 29 November and Thursday 1 December, as well as 1pm to 4pm on Saturday 3 December.

There are also a number of presentations for those interested in finding out more about what it takes to race around the world with the Clipper Race and the new fleet of 70-foot yachts that will contest the next edition of the event. They are at Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Wellington; Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland and Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club.

This will be the first time the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has visited New Zealand since its inception in 1996 and organisers will be meeting with local businesses and government representatives to strengthen links with the region and demonstrate how partners use the event as a global platform to promote trade, tourism, culture and social inclusion.
Each yacht is sponsored by an international city, region, country or company, with many visiting Tauranga to engage with New Zealand businesses, trade contacts and media.

Chairman of the Clipper Race Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop round the world, said: 'Our sponsors raise their profile on the world stage with tangible benefits in developing trade, promoting tourism, sharing cultural experiences and involving their respective communities. It creates a powerful legacy.'

Ahead of the start of the next stage of the race from Tauranga to Gold Coast, Australia, the ten yachts will take part in a spectacular parade of sail. The best vantage points for the public are from the shoreline in Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui and from Mount Beach, where spectators will see the yachts race close in to shore before heading out into the open ocean.

To follow the action as the ten yachts battle it out on the race to Tauranga visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com