Clipper Race partners with Musto to help crew face one of the planet's toughest challenges
by Karla Graves 25 Sep 2018 14:30 BST
21-24 September 2018
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crew at work © Image Comms
The Clipper Race has today announced Musto, renowned for its high-performance sailing kit, as its new Technical Clothing Partner for the next two event editions, enabling crew to tackle the most extreme ocean conditions. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only event on the planet that trains everyday people to experience the tough test of circumnavigation.
This is the first time in its 50-year history that Musto has partnered with a race where, aside from professional skippers, crew are amateur. Keith Musto, an Olympic sailing medallist, founded the brand with the desire to "engineer for oceans". Through cutting-edge designs, best-in-class fabric technologies and stringent testing, this philosophy resulted in performance-enhancing pieces, for professionals and amateurs alike. With over 40 per cent of Clipper Race crew having never sailed before, Musto and its reputation for proven performance will prepare them to take on one of the toughest challenges on the planet.
Says Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Clipper Race Founder and the first man to sail solo around the world: "Our oceans do not distinguish between a professional or amateur sailor. Our novice crew need the very best kit to protect them against the extreme conditions they will face and Musto, with its years of experience in ocean racing, will give them everything they need for the extraordinary adventure that lies ahead."
By collaborating with the Clipper Race, the industry-leading British clothing brand will further enhance its global reach, beyond the 40 countries in which its apparel is already sold.
The new partnership marks a transformation for the sailing event as it will be swapping its familiar red kit for a new striking gold look. Clipper Race crew will be kitted out with the essential technical clothing they need to protect them against the elements. During the last edition of the race, participants battled 'phenomenal sea states' with 14-metre-high waves, hurricane force winds, boat speeds up to 35 knots (equivalent to 40 mph), extreme heat and freezing conditions.
Race Crew Kit includes the HPX Gore-Tex Pro Series Smock and Salopettes, which are extremely waterproof, breathable and highly durable - these lines have been tested to their absolute limits in the Southern Ocean and engineered for the wettest environments.
Paul Stoneham, Musto Executive Chairman comments, "What's really unique about the Clipper Race is that it has the potential to take someone out of their comfort zone and provide them with an experience that changes the way they see their lives forever. The inspiration and drive that comes from seeing what you can achieve when you push yourself extends far beyond the race. These sailors will be facing the most challenging of conditions, which is why they need the best protection to keep them focused on the task at hand."
As the Clipper Race Skippers and crew race 40,000 nautical miles around the planet, they will also be testing out the technical performance of Musto clothing, supporting the brand's research and development program of continual innovation.
The Clipper 2019-20 Race will start next summer. Although the complete race route has not yet been announced, three stopovers in China have already been confirmed. The Clipper Race will visit Qingdao and Sanya, along with Zhuhai, a new Host Port and Team Partner for the next edition.
The new partnership covers the 2019-20 and 2021-22 editions of the Clipper Race. With over 400 crew already signed up for next year's challenge, extensive training is already underway. This includes full familiarisation training with high performance Musto clothing, accessories and footwear.