Second Placed GREAT Britain Celebrates Clipper Race Successes

Clipper 2013-14 Race runners-up GREAT Britain had much to celebrate yesterday after the team officially became the most decorated boat in the fleet following its final, Race 16 home port win into London.

Whilst the team may have lost out on the overall Clipper Race title, GREAT Britain topped the yellow winner’s pennant tally with a total of six race wins, one more than overall winners, and long-term race rivals, Henri Lloyd.

GREAT Britain and Henri Lloyd developed a gripping rivalry throughout the Clipper Race, maintaining an endless source of nail bitingly close performances as the series continued, constantly leapfrogging each other on the podium for first place. At one stage, GREAT Britain scored three consecutive first places, winning Race 9, then pipping Henri Lloyd at the post twice in Races 10 and 11. Henri Lloyd fought back valiantly, creating an unbeatable points gap between the two in Races 12 and 13.

The closest finish between the two teams came in Race 12 from Panama to Port Antonio, Jamaica when Henri Lloyd finished just 31 seconds in front of GREAT Britain.

During a reception at the Foreign Office on Friday evening, jointly hosted between the Government’s GREAT campaign and Clipper Ventures (Clipper Race organisers) to connect overseas Clipper Race partners with UK business and investment opportunities. GREAT Britain skipper Simon Talbot was linked to the reception live via satellite link at the precise moment his team crossed the Race 16 finish line in first place.

Remarking on his team’s overall performance, the GREAT Britain skipper said: “What an incredible past eleven months. I’d like to thank my incredibly hard working team for their non-stop drive and determination that undoubtedly led us to win the most amount of yellow pennants of any team in the fleet, an achievement to be very proud of.

“Our countless battles with Henri Lloyd provide endless effort and motivation for us to dig deep in every race and I must congratulate my sparring partner Eric Holden and his team on their well deserved achievement.

“Coming first into our home port in the final race topped off a remarkable series of memories that topped off our whole experience. The honour of leading the GREAT Britain team around the world is something I will be proud of for as long as I live.”

The GREAT Britain yacht will remain in St Katharine Docks London until Monday, 21 July to host a week long programme of UK trade and investment events; It will also be open to the public during the day. The Clipper Race crew recruitment team will be available in St Katharine Docks each day to talk to anyone interested in joining the crew for the Clipper 2015-16  and 2017-18 Races.