Crew’s new world record attempt will be at speed of knots

A team of novice sailors competing in the 2013-14 edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is preparing to set a new Guinness World Record in aid of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

OneDLL, one of the twelve teams competing in the ninth edition of the Clipper Race, will attempt to create the longest chain of reef knots tied by two people in one hour. They’ll be aiming for more than 800 in total, which means they’ll have to tie over seven knots every minute to achieve their goal and set a new Guinness World Record.

Professional Skipper Olly Cotterell, will lead his team of amateur sailors around the world during the 40,000-mile race, said, “As a team OneDLL wanted to achieve something unique, and the reef knot challenge requires everyone to work as a team to achieve something remarkable.

“What makes the challenge even more worthwhile is that all the proceeds from the challenge will go towards the Official Clipper Race Charity, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, which does so much to help the extraordinary young people who have battled cancer and are now focused on rebuilding their lives.”

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national organisation that gives young people between the ages of 8-24 who are in recovery from cancer the opportunity to take part in sailing to help rebuild their confidence.

Dame Ellen MacArthur, who founded the charity in 2003 to enable young people in recovery from cancer the opportunity to regain their confidence through sailing, said: “This is a fantastic initiative by the crew of One DLL. Their fundraising and the relationship with the Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race will help us to take more young people sailing."

The chain of reef knots will be made into individual bracelets and sold at Race Start of the Clipper 13-14 Race on the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust stand at St Katharine Docks, London. The public will be able to purchase their very own record breaking reef knot bracelet with all the proceeds going towards the Trust.

The record attempt will take place as part of team OneDLL’s team building weekend at Calshot Activity Centre at 11am - 12pm Saturday, 3 August. Team members from across the world competing in the Clipper Race will come together to meet the team they will sail around the world with on the 11 month challenge.