CLIPPER 2023-24 RACE START: DAY 2 (31 August)  ACTION ROUND UP

It may have been a rainy day, but that didn’t stop Clipper Race supporters heading out to soak up the atmosphere on day two of Race Start festivities!

There were celebrations on board another trio of yachts as they held their official naming ceremonies. PSP welcomed Managing Director of PSP Logistics Frank Dixie to its yacht as he wished them well on their voyage.

Image: PSP Logistics naming ceremony

Our Isles and Oceans founders Anthony Stodart and David Stewart joined Race Crew for the blessing and brought along with them a stowaway highland cow who quickly became a team mascot.

Image: Our Isles and Oceans naming ceremony with partners Anthony and David

And finally, Perseverance donned their tulip caps – gifted to them by Dutch Skipper Ineke Van Der Weijden – as they learned about the great work of Perseverance and the collaborative work they do with the Princess Máxima Center for Paediatric Oncology.

Image: Perseverance team naming ceremony

Thursday also saw the start of the Clipper Connect series with inspirational speakers taking to the stage to explore the theme Adventure For Good. Clipper Connect is a series of talks that run throughout the Clipper Race, connecting like-minded professionals across the world.

Image: Speakers on stage for the first Clipper Connect series

The fascinating panel of speakers – made up of Laura Ayres, Clipper Ventures Managing Director, Hampshire’s Deputy PCC, Terry Norton, Ineke Van Der Weijden, Clipper Race Skipper and Frankie Townsend, Our Isles and Oceans Ambassador -explored topics such as the positive impacts of sport in communities and how sailing has influenced the lives of those from a range of demographics.

Down in the Race Village the World Street food vans opened their hatches, and Race Crew and Supporters enjoyed a delicious culinary tour tasting some of the food from the countries the Clipper Race will be stopping at around the world.

Old sails were given a new lease of life thanks to Oarsome Chance, who came down to show supporters how it easy it was to turn them into a bag or laptop sleeve.

Back on the mainstage, crowds gathered to hear AQPs Steve Westwood and Angus Whitehead give an insight into life as an AQP and the process of building a team to take on this epic adventure. A busy agenda of inspirational talking was broken up by a wide variety of up-and-coming artists of all ages, showcasing just some of the amazing local talent here in Portsmouth.