Kinsale 2 – 7 July 2010
Cork 7 – 9 July 2010
www.corkclipperfestival.com
The Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race started from the Humber on the east coast of the UK on13 September 2009. The Clipper Race is the only global competition where people from all walks of life can step out of their comfort zones and sign up to race 35,000-miles around the world. They represent more than 40 nationalities. The race is contested by ten identical stripped down 68-foot racing yachts, each sponsored by a city, region or country. Clipper was founded by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and the Clipper 09-10 Race is the seventh time teams of amateur sailors circumnavigate the planet on the route which takes them from the Humber to Europe, Rio de Janeiro, South Africa, Western Australia, Singapore, Qingdao, California, Panama, the Caribbean, New York, Cape Breton Island, Kinsale and Cork and back to the Humber where they are due to arrive on 17 July 2010.
Cork Clipper Project
The Cork Clipper project is funded by Fáilte Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council with the principal objective of promoting Cork as a tourism and business destination around the world. Working with Tourism Ireland, Cork and Kinsale are promoted to consumers, trade and the media in key countries that the race visits. The culmination of the project will be the arrival of the 10 yachts in the Clipper Race to Kinsale and Cork in July 2010
for 8 days of festivities.
Hull – Tourism Ireland hosted a media event onboard the Cork yacht where Irish produce including cheese and smoked salmon was sampled. In addition a consumer promotion was held in the Race village.
La Rochelle, France – His Excellency Paul Kavanagh, the Irish Ambassador to France, met with the skipper and crew of the Cork yacht. They were presented with an Irish traditional Bodhrán to reflect the rhythm and spirit of the Cork Clipper.
Cape Town, South Africa – The Cork team were guests of honour at an event hosted by Irish Ambassador Colin Wrafter and Tourism Ireland which was attended by key South African tour operators and travel media contacts.
Sadly in the early hours of January 14th 2010, the Cork yacht struck a submerged reef in the Java Sea and had to be subsequently abandoned. All those on board were safely recovered and continued their adventure on the other yachts in the race. The new Cork yacht rejoined the race track in Panama skippered by Hannah Jenner.
