If you'll be sitting in front of the television screen on Boxing Day, wishing you were on board one of the 118 yachts heading south in the great race… you could easily do so in 2015. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has announced that it will include the Australian offshore classic in its 2015-16 global series after a successful debut last year.
The intention to enter the fleet of twelve Clipper 70s in the 71st edition has just been confirmed by Clipper Race organisers. The RSHYR will form part of the biennial Clipper Race series for a second time. The round-the-world fleet created much interest in 2013 as amateur sailors from over 40 different nationalities competed as part of their 40,000 mile circumnavigation.
Clipper Race Chairman and Founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who was the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world in 1968-69 said: “We are very excited to include the Sydney Hobart as part of our Australian leg in the 2015-16 Clipper Race series and look forward to submitting our entries when the Notice of Race for the 71st edition is released next year.”
The chance to compete against some of the world’s top sailors in the RSHYR was the highlight for many Clipper Race sailors as part of their global ocean odyssey. There is still time for aspiring Australian crew to sign up for this iconic ‘all-Australian’ leg which starts in Albany and finishes on the east coast via Sydney and Hobart.”
Sir Robin added: “This coast-to-coast leg is very popular with Australians with a three-race series which includes the Sydney to Hobart classic. No experience necessary, as we provide all the training!”
The majority of pre-race training can be carried out at the new Clipper Race Australia base in Sydney, which also has a boat entered in this year’s 70th RSHYR.
For more information on joining the Clipper legs, including the 71st Rolex Sydney-Hobart, go to https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/
