Clipper Race yachts open to Albany public this weekend

West Australians will be able to get a taste of life at sea this Saturday with an open boat session on two Clipper Race yachts that have arrived in Albany en route for their new home in Sydney as part of Clipper Ventures’ new training base.

Local people will be able to look on board the Clipper 68 yachts and meet previous race skippers Piers Dudin and Jan Ridd and crew members this Saturday 12 October from 9am – 5pm AWST ahead of the Clipper 2013-14 Race stopover.

The yachts will be berthed at Albany Waterfront Marina until 19 October, ahead of the current racing fleet’s stopover in the port at the end of November.

The two Clipper 68 yachts are veterans of four global circumnavigations of previous Clipper Round the World Yacht Races.

The brand new matched fleet of twelve 70ft ocean racing yachts will arrive in Albany from 26 November until 3 December.

Yachting legend and Clipper Race founder and Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “The arrival of the two Clipper 68 yachts in Australia is a great milestone as we look to expand with our new training base in Sydney. We have lots of exciting activities planned for Albany when our new fleet arrives in late November and look forward to the Clipper Race crew receiving a warm Western Australia welcome.“

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 famous Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. 

Australia has been a regular Clipper Race destination since the 2005-06 edition, with past stopovers including Freemantle, Geraldton and the Gold Coast.