Clipper 09-10: New Hull & Humber skipper announced

7:56 PM Wed 24 Mar 2010 GMT

'Justin Taylor will take over as skipper on Hull & Humber - Clipper 09-10' Clipper Ventures PLC &copy

Justin Taylor will take over as the skipper of Clipper 09-10 Race entry Hull & Humber following skipper Piers Dudin's broken leg and subsequent medevac whilst racing from Qingdao, China to San Francisco.

Piers has every intention of rejoining his boat before the end of the race but in the meantime the task of leading the team from San Francisco onwards falls on shoulders of the 38-year-old skipper from Brighton.

Justin is no stranger to the Clipper Race. He skippered Hong Kong in the 2002 edition, winning four of the sixteen individual races and has also spent a number of years working as a training skipper for Clipper.

'I'm happy to be back at Clipper, it brings back some fond memories for me,' says Justin. 'I've got a lot to live up to as I'm taking over from a very experienced and well respected skipper. I know I have my work cut out but hopefully I can bring a lot of new knowledge and experience to the boat.

'Having won four races back in the Clipper 2002 Race I know the highs and elations that come with a victory and I certainly hope I can help my new team experience this too. Whilst I'm the caretaker of Hull & Humber we will be striving for a podium finish which I understand the team has come very close to but has yet to achieve.

'I'm looking forward to San Francisco and meeting the crew. I understand Brendan Hall of Spirit of Australia has already done a great job of reassuring the crew following Piers' accident and getting everybody back on an even keel. I hope that I can continue with that and help keep the wonderful team spirit going that I know Piers has worked so hard to create.'

A highly experienced yachtsman, Justin is a qualified RYA Yacht Master 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. This race was organised by Sir Chay Blyth's Challenge Business and competed for by five identical 72 foot ocean racing yachts.

Since his medical evacuation Piers has been treated at the Sendai Medical Center in Japan and is recovering well following two successful operations to pin his fractured leg. All being well the skipper is hoping to fly back to the UK on Saturday and will start a course of physiotherapy upon his return.

Hull & Humber continues to make good progress across the Pacific under the command of Spirit of Australia's skipper Brendan Hall. Based on their recent progress the team is expected to arrive between 4 and 7 April with Justin flying out from the UK to join them shortly afterwards.

The Clipper 09-10 Race started from the Humber on the north east coast of England on 13 September 2009 and will return to there on 17 July 2010. It is the only event in the world where people from all walks of life can take on the challenge of a lifetime and race around the globe on stripped down 68-foot ocean racing yachts.

by Clipper Ventures

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Clipper 09-10: New Hull & Humber skipper announced

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