Clipper 68 yachts in Adelaide for open boat opportunity this weekend

Two Clipper Race boats will arrive at the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron in Adelaide, South Australia this Friday, with an open boat opportunity for the public to get a taste of life at sea on Sunday ahead of the Clipper 2013-14 Race stopovers in Australia.

The two Clipper 68 yachts are veterans of four global circumnavigations of previous Clipper Round the World Yacht Races, and will stop in Adelaide for two days en route from England to their new home in Sydney where they will form a training base.

Local people will be able to look on board the yachts during an open boat session as part of the nationwide Discover Sailing Day at the marina on Sunday 27 October to see where crew sail and live for 11 months during the 40,000 mile ocean odyssey.

Legendary British yachtsman and Clipper Race founder and Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “This is the first time any Clipper Race yachts will have stopped in Adelaide, and we are excited to strengthen our relationship with Australia, which is an ever increasing market for us.

“Australia always gives the race and its amateur crews an extremely warm welcome so we look forward to showing our yachts to the people of South Australia.”  

The brand new matched fleet of twelve 70ft ocean racing yachts will visit Albany, Sydney, Hobart and Brisbane as well as taking part in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race between the end of November and mid-January as part of their global journey.

The two Clipper 68 yachts are bound for Sydney where they will be based from early November and will be used by Clipper Ventures Australia for crew training and development, corporate sailing and events including participation in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.

27 OCTOBER, 1100 - 1500, Discover Sailing Day, Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, 161 Oliver Rogers Rd, Outer Harbor South Australia 5018

Public invited to come down and have a look onboard a Clipper 68 to get a taste of life at sea during the 40,000 mile Clipper Race and see where the crews eat, sleep and navigate 

Meet 2009-10 skippers Jan Ridd, who came third on Cape Breton Island, and Piers Dudin, who came fourth on UK entry Hull and Humber

Chat to former Clipper Race crew members from different countries including Australians who are sailing the yachts to Sydney