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Displaying items by tag: Justin Taylor

In recognition that the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has grown in stature with each biennial race and that next year's 11-12 event is set to be the biggest yet, race organiser Clipper Ventures plc has appointed accomplished yachtsman and former engineer and construction manager, Justin Taylor, as the new Assistant Race Director.

Justin is no stranger to the Clipper Race, skippering Hong Kong in the 2002 edition and taking over on Hull & Humber in Clipper 09-10 after the team's skipper Piers Dudin broke his leg in the North Pacific. Justin has also spent a number of years working as a training skipper for Clipper. As Assistant Race Director Justin's responsibilities will be varied, his principal duties being the recruitment and mentoring of the race skippers, management of the race office and ensuring the safety and well being of the Clipper fleet and crews whilst at sea and in race stopovers.

Race Director, Jonathan Bailey, says, "Justin is a very accomplished yachtsman, instructor and ocean racer and has a long and successful history with Clipper Ventures making him an obvious choice for this new position. Justin will add even more experience and knowledge to the race management team in the build up and running of Clipper 11-12 and future races."

Justin is a qualified RYA Yachtmaster Ocean, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and has more than 120,000 nautical miles under his belt. Circumnavigating the globe in Clipper 2002, Justin has also crossed the Atlantic several times and the North Pacific twice. More recently he was the winning skipper of the yacht Me To You in the inaugural 2006 Round Ireland Race.

Justin says, "I am very happy to be appointed Assistant Race Director and I am looking forward to taking up my new position. Having been a race skipper in 2002 and more recently in 2010 I feel I have much experience to bring to what will undoubtedly be a challenging but rewarding role. I am keen to be a part of the continuing success of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and of course adding to this success."

Published in Clipper Race

Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Yacht Race Information

The biennial Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race is a 320-miles race down to the east coast of Ireland, across the south coast and into Dingle harbour in County Kerry.

The race is organised by the National Yacht Club.

It never fails to offer a full range of weather, wind and tide to the intrepid entrants, ranging from a 32ft cruiser to a 79ft all-out racer.

Three divisions are available to enter: cruiser (boats equipped with furlers), racing (the bulk of the fleet) and also two-handed.

D2D Course change overruled

In 2019, the organisers considered changing the course to allow boats to select routes close to shore by removing the requirement to go outside Islands and Lighthouses en route, but following input from regular participants, the National Yacht Club decided to stick with the tried and tested course route in order to be fair to large and smaller boats and to keep race records intact.

RORC Points Calendar

The 2019 race was the first edition to form part of the Royal Ocean Racing Club “RORC” calendar for the season. This is in addition to the race continuing as part of the ISORA programme. 

D2D Course record time

Mick Cotter’s 78ft Whisper established the 1 day and 48 minutes course record for the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race in 2009 and that time stood until 2019 when Cotter returned to beat his own record but only just, the Dun Laoghaire helmsman crossing the line in Kerry to shave just 20 seconds off his 2009 time.