Fleet heads to Big Apple today

The Clipper Race fleet is heading to New York’s North Cove Marina today at 5pm local time and the crews are looking forward to experiencing the iconic city’s cuisine, landmarks, culture and atmosphere.

Welcoming the fleet into his home city is the oldest male crew member taking part in the race, 74 year old Manhattan resident, Sam Hagler.

A former partner of Booz and Co and now retired, Sam saw the 2011-12 edition of the race in North Cove marina whilst walking his dog.

He says: “When the last Clipper Race fleet was here I stopped to talk with the crew members I ran into on my walk and asked about what they were doing. As I remember the first interchange, I asked was, ‘are you guys coming from a race or about to start one’ and the response was ‘both’. They went on to explain what Clipper Race was and I went home to google the website. The rest, as "they" say is history.”

Sam took part in the Australian leg of the race on board entry Henri Lloyd racing 3,928 miles from Albany in Western Australia to Sydney in New South Wales to take part in the prestigious Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race, and up to Brisbane, Queensland.

“I have followed the Rolex Sydney-Hobart race for many years and sailing those same waters would be a great challenge I knew I would enjoy. A way to test myself, learn some skills and share a goal with others. I have a great feeling of accomplishment, of a shared joy in achieving something that I could not do alone and I have made a number of great new friends. The people on your boat become your family for this adventure.”

This is the seventh time New York has hosted the race and on arrival Sam will be showing true Manhattan hospitality providing his crew with a New York style brunch.

He adds: “I am really looking forward to welcoming the crew in to my city; hopefully a good time will be had by all!”

 There are several events to learn more about the world’s longest yacht race during the fleet’s stay. 

5 June – 6pm to 8pm: Open boat tours, FREE

The chance to step on board one of the 70-foot round the world yachts for a personal tour as crew members explain and demonstrate life on board these stripped out ocean racers.

6 June – 6pm-8pm: Presentation about the Clipper Race, FREE

Find out more about this unique challenge. Learn about the leadership lessons, inter-personal challenges and environmental challenges. If you’re inspired you could take part in a leg, multiple legs or a circumnavigation – the Mount Everest of sailing come and say hello.

Email Crew Recruitment Manager, David Cusworth– [email protected] to reserve a place or to find out more.

Saturday 7 June Race Start: 10:00am – 6pm

Wish the 250 international crew members farewell on Saturday 7 June as the fleet departs from the iconic North Cove Marina in Manhattan to start Leg 8 of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race. The fleet will leave the Hudson sailing past the iconic Manhattan skyline to cross 2,850 miles of the North Atlantic ocean to Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland and Den Helder in the Netherlands before celebrating the completion of its 11-month, 40,000 mile global ocean odyssey in London on 12 July.

11:00 am – First boat slips lines from North Cove Marina

12:15-12:45 – Fleet parade of sail past the iconic New York skyline and Statue of Liberty from North Cove to Governors Island 

6pm – Race Start near Ambrose Lighthouse for Le Mans start 

The New York stopover marks the end of the penultimate race leg before the final leg departs Manhattan on 7 June to return home to London’s Tower Bridge on July 12 via Northern Ireland and Den Helder, the Netherlands.

You can view the fleet arriving in North Cove Marina on 4 June via the marinas webcam HERE