20th Anniversary Ball – the finer details

On Saturday 15 October we are celebrating twenty years of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Like the race itself, Saturday night promises to be one to remember as crew, skippers, staff and supporters of the race from all editions join together in the same place for the first time.

A far cry from the simple pleasures of our stripped down racing yachts, the Great Hall of the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane will provide the epitome of luxury and elegance to help us mark this special occasion in style.

Here are is the running order for the evening and also a list of auction and raffle prizes which have been generously donated by race partners and supporters from the last two decades.

Your evening
1900 Champagne Reception

2000 Welcome address from William Ward and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Note of thanks from Unicef UK
Dinner will be served

2130 Live Auction

2215 Rink Bar opens

2230 Entertainment starts:
Harry Hammersmith and the Flyovers
Madhen

0100 Carriages

Auction Prizes
A VIP photo shoot in your home or a studio, or location within the M25, for you and your family by 'Imagethirst’, one of the world’s most sought after family photographers. Auction to start at £1000.

A racing berth on board a Clipper 68 in the Rolex Fastnet race 2017. Auction to start at £1500.

A seven night, all-inclusive holiday for two people at the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande Hotel, plus return flights from the UK to Jamaica. Auction to start at £2000.

Sir Robin has offered four people the opportunity to go sailing with him on board Suhaili, the yacht he raced in 1968-69 when he became the first person to sail around the world solo and without stopping. Become one of a handful of people to have ever been on board Suhaili and sail with Sir Robin as skipper. Auction to start at TBC.

A limited edition framed photo print of a Spitfire in mid-flight, signed by the youngest World War II Spitfire Pilot Geoffrey Wellum who is now 95 years old. Kindly donated by Imagethirst and shot by their director of photography John Dawson as he flew alongside. Auction to start at £700

A one of a kind sailing experience with world famous yachtsman Alex Thomson onboard his IMOCA Open 60 Vendee globe yacht Hugo Boss. Also included will be Hugo Boss team Kit. Auction start price TBC

Return Flights to Vietnam Courtesy of Vietnam Airlines plus 3 days and 2 nights for two people at the Vinpearl Golf Land resort in Nha Trang courtesy of Vinpearl. Auction to start at £2,500

A racing berth on board a Clipper 70 on the upcoming Clipper 2017-18 Race for Leg 6, “The Mighty Pacific” from China to the USA. Included in this prize is all necessary training, a full set of race team kit, foul weather gear and insurance. Auction to start at £3000

“THE BUDDAH MANJUSHRI” A very rare opportunity to own one of these highly prized cultural artworks. Painted by the Tibetan Vajra Master, Lobsang Samten, who has personally provided this piece to The Qingdao Sailing Association in aid of Unicef. Auction to start at £2000

A sailing day in the Solent on board a Clipper 70 ocean racing yacht for you and 11 guests. Auction to start at £2,000

A five night stay for two adults at the Rickety Bridge House winery in South Africa’s Western Cape plus a tutored wine tasting and lunch, dinner in their renowned restaurant and another meal out in one of Franschhoek’s top restaurants. Kindly Donated by Duncan Spence CEO of 2013-14 Clipper Race Official Wine Supplier Rickety Bridge. Rickety Bridge. Auction to start at £1,500

A specially commissioned artwork by world famous Australian Artist Ken Done. The piece was commissioned by Clipper Race Fleet Sponsor Henri Lloyd and is painted onto original Clipper Race yacht sail canvas which Hyde Sails provide for the fleet. Auction to start at £500

Raffle prizes
A one-year supply of Stormhoek wines. One case per week delivered to your door, worth more than £2,000.

A limited edition Elliot Brown Canford Watch uniquely designed for the Clipper Race, worth £395.

A Garmin VIRB® XE compact, waterproof HD action camera, worth up to £350.

A Garmin vivoactive® GPS Smartwatch, worth £160.

A one year supply of Rocktails - hand-crafted, bar quality, non-alcoholic frozen cocktails at home, worth over £500.

For four, an 18 hole round of golf at Stoke Park Country Club, worth over £500.

A bottle of 21 year old Old Pulteney Whisky together with a VIP tour for two at the distillery including a special cask bottling only available at the distillery.

A signed copy of celebrity chef Tom Kerridge’s new cookery book and merchandise from his two star Michelin star pub, the Hand & Flowers.

A signed NFL Jersey from starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions.

A week’s ocean racing experience with the next generation of Clipper Race crew on board a Clipper 70, including RYA competent crew certificate.