Cork Clipper Sets out for Rio

22nd September 2009

Today Tuesday 22 September, the Clipper Round the World Race started from La Rochelle for the second leg of the race to Rio de Janeiro where they should arrive around 18 October depending on conditions they encounter as they cross the Atlantic.The Cork Clipper crew had a short 4 day stop in La Rochelle where they had time to provision for the long leg ahead. At a prize giving ceremony last night the Cork Clipper crew were presented with their third place award for the first leg from Hull.

Skipper Richie Fearon stated ‘We were delighted to achieve a podium finish on the first leg as it gave the amateur crew a taste of success and it also gives the team confidence for the long sail ahead.’

Earlier yesterday, His Excellency, Paul Kavanagh Irish Ambassador to France visited the crew onboard the Ireland (Cork) yacht. The Ambassador presented the crew with a Bodhran – an Irish hand held drum that is traditionally made with goat skin.

‘I am presenting this to the crew today so that they may bring a small part of Irish tradition with them around the world. I am proud of their achievements in the first leg of the race and wish them a safe return to Cork in July 2010 where we hope many visitors from overseas will travel to see the Clipper spectacle’ stated His Excellency Paul Kavanagh,

Waves as high as ten storey buildings, sea sickness, hot sun, freezing cold and icebergs, are awaiting the amateur crew onboard the 68ft yacht . Around half of them have no previous sailing experience – but what all of them have in common is that they have put their everyday lives as air traffic controllers, interior designers, taxi drivers, lawyers, and students on hold to take on this incredible challenge.

After Rio de Janeiro the race will sail to Capetown, Freemantle, Singapore, Qingdao, San Francisco, Jamaica, New York and Nova Scotia before arriving in Kinsale, Cork in July 2010. The race will finish back in Hull on 17 July 2010.

Cork is currently planning eight days of festivities for the Clipper Race including a food, music and cultural experience. The festivities will be based in Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland on the south coast of Ireland in the county of Cork.

Published in Clipper Race

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About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.