#clipper – An amazing opportunity to train alongside the crews taking part in the ultimate global endurance test – the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2015/16 – is up for grabs through a special bursary scheme opening this week.

Organisers of the event have announced details of the 'Your Next Chapter' Bursary which is open to young people aged 18 and over, who are currently unemployed, participating in an employability programme or in receipt of benefits, and living in the Derry City Council or Strabane District Council areas.

Four selected participants will get to spend four weeks undertaking the training required to sail the 70–foot ocean racing yachts, which all race crew members have to complete at the Clipper Race headquarters in Gosport, South England.

Mayor of Derry, Councillor Brenda Stevenson, who was on the docks to greet the Clipper Race fleet during their rapturous welcome into Derry-Londonderry in 2014 said:

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for some local young people to avail of specialised professional sail training. Not only will it provide them with a new set of skills but it will allow them to experience what life at sea is really like.

"The Legenderry Maritime Festival which saw the Clipper Race boats captivate the city, had a huge impact on the people of the city and district and we are delighted to continue with our legacy commitment and build on the interest in sailing by offering this bursary opportunity."

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston founded the Clipper Race to encourage and help ordinary people do extraordinary things. When the 2015-16 race fleet sets sail on August 30, it will mark the beginning of the tenth anniversary of the race, so it's a special year for those selected for 'Your Next Chapter' to be part of. Speaking about the scheme Sir Robin said:

"The objectives of the 'Your Next Chapter' scheme match many of my own goals when I founded the Clipper Race nineteen years ago. Sailing provides the opportunity to develop so many core skills that are invaluable throughout life, such as discipline and honesty, because your success and survival is down to a real team effort.

"The Clipper Race training challenges people mentally and physically, but also brings a remarkable sense of achievement when you reach your goal. Many of the people who have completed this training previously find that they have a new zest for life and approach work with a new found confidence."

The Clipper 2015-16 Race returns to Derry-Londonderry in June next year, which marks the city's third team entry in the world's longest ocean race.

'Your Next Chapter' follows the success of the 'Back to Work' bursary project that Derry City Council ran in partnership with the Clipper 2011-12 Race. Of the five finalists who were each selected to sail a leg each of the Clipper Race, four ended up in full time employment or a placement as a direct result of the scheme. All of the participants agreed that the scheme had a positive effect on their future employment.

Thanks to the 2011-12 bursary, Matthew Plummer, 46, completed the training and sailed from San Francisco to New York. He said: "The 'Back to Work' scheme for me was a once in a lifetime experience. It was a tremendous opportunity to sail and work alongside so many people from different parts of the world. It provides the ability to learn new skills and develop in ways you wouldn't believe possible. The crew works so hard together and everyone endeavours to do their best to achieve a common goal, because after all it is a race round the world.

"The bursary scheme is a fantastic opportunity to challenge yourself to work hard to achieve new goals by pushing and motivating yourself. The experience can lead to exciting opportunities both in your personal and professional life. In my opinion to take part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is something many people can only dream about."

Those interested in taking part are urged to apply by downloading the application form available online at www.derrycity.gov.uk/clipperrace. A strict criteria is in place for all applicants, and no participants in the previous 'Back to Work' scheme are eligible to apply.

The closing date for application is March 9 2015. Successful applicants will be required to be interviewed at the end of March and be available to travel to England for level 1 and 2 training in early May and for level 3 and 4 training at the end of June/beginning of July.

The UK's City of Culture 2013, Derry, has today announced it is to become part of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race with an official city boat in the race. In addition the city will be an official host port, welcoming the ten-strong fleet in July 2012 with a showcase festival at the end of the final transatlantic stage of the 40,000-mile race en route to the race finish.

It will be the first time that Northern Ireland has been represented in the race which attracts a global audience of more than 460 million people.

The potential for the 11-12 entry was developed by Derry City Council with the support of Londonderry Port and Ocean Event Management. It will form an integral part of the campaign to market the city's culture, business and education offerings in a number of the cities on the Clipper 11-12 route. The development of the tourism and international potential for the race and festival has been supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

The yacht will be one of ten identical 68-foot ocean racing yachts, each of which is sponsored by a city, region or country to carry their name around the world. Joining the Derry entry will be Uniquely Singapore and the Chinese entry, Qingdao, for whom hosting the Clipper Race was a key step in securing the rights to host the sailing events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Both sponsors have discovered that the Clipper Race provides a unique platform for delivering global market exposure at local market values.

Derry has a long and illustrious maritime history and a key factor in the city's participation in the race will be to generate cultural and socially inclusive legacy projects for the future.

Mayor Councillor Colum Eastwood, speaking at the launch, said, "We've partnered with Clipper as we believe it provides a world class opportunity to showcase the city internationally while supporting business, education and cultural links ahead of the UK City of Culture 2013. It's an important building block in developing the city's reputation as a location for international events and brings fully into the use the full urban quayside of the River Foyle. This is the catalyst project that will bring together public, private, education, sports and community interests to build a legacy for the maritime, tourism, business and cultural interests of the city."

On board the yacht will be a team of people from all walks of life, many of whom who have never sailed before, who are taking on the challenge of a lifetime. Among them will be crew from a number of other countries but it is hoped that the men and women of Derry  will also be inspired to get on board and represent their city on a global stage.

In addition to those people with a thirst for adventure who will race around the world representing the city there are opportunities for local businesses to be part of the event. Teams in previous Clipper Races have helped galvanise the community spirit in their sponsoring city, generating a huge sense of ownership and pride in their achievement.

The Clipper Race was set up by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world, in order to give ordinary people the chance to do something truly extraordinary.

Sir Robin says, "We are delighted to welcome on board the UK's first City of Culture, Derry, as a yacht sponsor and host port for the Clipper 11-12 Race. The race offers a unique platform to showcase the city around the world, both for business and tourism. We hope that, as other cities and countries have discovered, participation in the race will enable you to build a unique legacy for the city that will last for years to come.

"We hope people from Derry~Londonderry and across Northern Ireland will sign up to take part in the race and that everyone in the city and, indeed, across the country will get behind the team and support them all the way around the world."

Berths are available for people from Derry~Londonderry to compete in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race and there will be public presentations in the city on 20 and 21 September at City Hotel, Derry.