1:03 AM Tue 1 Sep 2009 GMT
The ten yachts that will be competing in this year's Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race received a big send off from their base in Royal Clarence Marina, Gosport today, ahead of their journey north to the Humber for the race start on 13 September.
The Worshipful Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Diane Searle, joined hundreds of local supporters and friends and family of the non-professional Clipper crews to watch the internationally sponsored fleet paraded out of Portsmouth Harbour, accompanied by a flotilla of local boats.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only race of its kind in which people from all walks of life can take on the challenges of ocean racing to achieve the pinnacle of the sport, a circumnavigation. With 33 nationalities and more than 230 professions represented by the crews taking part in Clipper 09-10, the race was founded by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world.
Addressing the crews and supporters at Royal Clarence Marina, Sir Robin said, 'It is great to see Gosport show itself off today and be part of our race. We've been based here for the last four years and we love being here. This is where all our crew train from and we're the only round the world yacht race open to everyone - where ordinary people can get on board and do something truly extraordinary with their lives.'
There was a carnival atmosphere in the air as the teams made ready for their departure and visitors to the marina enjoyed the delicacies on offer from international food stalls and music from the Blue Jazz Trio and the Gosport based Big Noise community Samba band.
Clipper Race Director, Jonathan Bailey, invited the crews to take to the stage with the Mayor of Gosport, who wished them luck on their ten-month adventure. 'We are very proud that Gosport is the home of the Clipper Race and that Sir Robin and his team are keeping alive the long and proud tradition of seafaring of the town,' said the Mayor.
'I know that there is a strong international flavour to this race and that many of the overseas crew have been based in Gosport during your training. It's been a pleasure to welcome you here and I hope you have found your stay an enjoyable one.
'Rest assured that I shall follow your progress with great interest and look forward to seeing your diaries, photographs and videos on the race website over the next ten months,' she added.
Carrying the national flags for each of the teams, Sea Cadets from Gosport's TS Hornet led the professional skippers and their crews down to the boats. The sounds of their chosen boat songs filled the air as the 68-foot racing yachts slipped their lines and headed out into Portsmouth Harbour.
Speaking from the pontoon before their departure, round the world crew member Alan Moss, a 38-year-old Air Traffic Controller from Fareham, said, 'As we've been based in Gosport for all our training it is quite emotional leaving here now, it makes the start next week seem very close indeed. When we slip our lines and wave goodbye to Royal Clarence Marina it will be a strange feeling to know that we will not be back here until July next year.'
With mainsails hoisted and forestay banners flying, the ten strong fleet comprising of Hull & Humber, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Cork, Team Finland, Spirit of Australia, Uniquely Singapore, Qingdao, California, Jamaica Lightning Bolt and Cape Breton Island, paraded out of the historic harbour, led by the Queen's Harbour Master launch and supported by a flotilla of local sailing vessels.
The fleet will now head north, incorporating the inaugural Pilgrim Race, on their way to the Humber for the start of Clipper 09-10 on 13 September. Events in Grimsby and Hull have been organised to provide hospitality to the crews and create opportunities for the public to view the ocean racing yachts undergoing final preparations before their departure.
www.clipperroundtheworld.com
by Clipper Race Media
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