City of Genova to partner with Clipper Race for first time ever

The City of Genova will be a Team Partner in the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race. This is the first ever Italian collaboration with the global sailing event and will see a Genova team entry race 40,000 nautical miles and complete six ocean crossings. The partnership was revealed today by race founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Ms Alessandra Bianchi, Councillor for Sports Facilities and Activities, at the Genova Boat Show, who also announced that young adventurers from city would be able to apply for one of the places on the Genova yacht.

By partnering with the Clipper Race, the city will showcase itself to the world, as the branded Genova team yacht sails on the challenging circumnavigation, crewed by diverse people from all corners of the world. The yacht will stop at approximately 14 host cities on the global route, offering the opportunity for unique events, business development, marine industry exchanges and tourism promotion, as well as international media exposure promoting Genova to the world.

Central to this partnership is an Ambassador Programme, where young Italians will have the opportunity to race on board a Clipper 70 representing Genova. The city is passionate about involving young Genoese people who, as Ambassador Crew, will not only have the experience of a lifetime in becoming ocean racers, but will proudly represent and champion the City of Genova on the race of their lives.

Genova is a destination rich in maritime history, offering world-class sailing along a coastline with a stunning mountainous backdrop, as well as being home to a 16th century historic centre and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city and region are filled with exquisite food, great weather, and plenty of leisure activities in the surrounding areas of natural beauty. Aside from the city being a beautiful place to visit and live, it’s Italy’s busiest port and a bustling nautical business hub, brimming with trade, innovation, technology and education.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “It's fantastic to welcome the City of Genova on board as a Team Partner for the upcoming race edition. The city is steeped in maritime history and culture, and we can’t wait to take this incredible destination around the world on the Clipper 2025-26 Race.

“Over the years, the Clipper Race Ambassador Programmes have been a huge success, not only in showcasing our partners to the world, but by giving individuals a truly life-changing experience in sailing across the world’s oceans. Many Ambassador Crew have gone on to sail professionally or continue their own adventures. I’m very much looking forward to meeting the young Italian sailors as they embark on the race of their lives, representing their city and promoting sailing in Genova for future generations.”

“We wanted to take part in the Clipper Round the World Race, even in a serious way, because we consider the Clipper Race to be an important event, an international event, and above all a slightly different way to sail around the world representing the city of Genoa. We will have a 'Genoa' boat, with the colours and logo of Genoa, which will be immediately recognisable everywhere, and above all we will give four people the chance to take part in the stages of the circumnavigation, “ said the Mayor of Genoa . “They will be four young men and women selected through a call for applications, who will obviously have to be sea enthusiasts and able to face an experience of this kind, which will be unique. An experience that I would gladly do myself, but which unfortunately I cannot do. So, I am very happy that the city of Genoa, the Municipality of Genoa, can create this opportunity and that I can take part in the Clipper Round the World Race, a world event that will make us known around the globe.”

“After the experience with The Ocean Race and confirming the great tradition of our city in sports related to the sea and in particular with sailing, Genoa is ready to set sail again by boarding the 2025-2026 edition of the Clipper Race,” says the Councillor for Sport and Tourism of the Municipality of Genoa, Alessandra Bianchi – "It will be a unique adventure both for our Ambassadors, who will challenge the sea and themselves, going beyond their limits, and for the city which I am sure will make you fall in love with an increasingly larger and more diverse audience. In the wake of the success of the Genoa 2024 European Capital of Sport project, our Administration's commitment to promoting sport and the image of our city through sporting events does not stop. The Clipper Race, in fact, will bring the name of Genoa around the world, helping to promote all its beauties and excellences and helping us to consolidate its positioning as an increasingly popular destination for international tourism."