Coppercoat makes debut as Official Antifoul Supplier

Today we are pleased to announce that Coppercoat will be the Official Antifoul Supplier for the 2017-18 race.

This is the first time the specialist provider of long-lasting antifoul has partnered with the race, and follows the successful application of Coppercoat to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Golden Globe winning yacht, Suhaili, in addition to the Clipper 68-foot training fleet.

Welcoming Coppercoat on board, Sir Robin says: “I am really pleased to welcome Coppercoat as our first ever Official Antifoul Partner.

“The Clipper Race yachts navigate over 40,000 nautical miles of ocean, and each yacht encounters the full range of Mother Nature’s environment along their journey. We have been very impressed with Coppercoat’s success on our Clipper 68 training fleet and are confident its impressive antifouling technology will help get our Clipper 70s round the world more efficiently.”

Image: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Suhaili with her Coppercoat antifoul

Coppercoat is made from recycled copper and renowned as the strongest copper based antifouling available through its combination of solvent-free epoxy resin and the high purity (99%) copper. It is the only antifoul that exposes active copper, allowing the underwater surface to withstand the unrelenting attack of a wide variety of fouling organisms the fleet will encounter. It will also provide less drag from its smooth surface and long lasting clean hull, which will provide better performance during the eleven-month race campaign.

In previous editions the fleet has been lifted halfway through its circumnavigation in Sydney, Australia, for maintenance and antifoul reapplication. With a proven lifespan of at least ten years, the application of Coppercoat will eliminate the need to re-antifoul which will have a positive impact on the race logistics and provide the added benefit of low-maintenance and long-term reduced costs.

Speaking of the new partnership, Ewan Clark, Coppercoat Director, says: “We are very proud to be the Clipper Race’s first ever Official Antifoul Partner. Not only is this a fantastic opportunity for Coppercoat to prove its durability in the world’s longest ocean race, but in turn it will allow the Clipper 70 yachts to have much more efficiency in the water and will be a long-term and durable solution for its antifoul needs.

“Coppercoat is looking forward to working with the Clipper Race maintenance team over the next year to help prepare its fleet for its 2017-18 edition circumnavigation.”

Image: From left to right - Ewan Clark, Director of Coppercoat, Simon Johnston Head of Clipper Race Fleet Maintenance and Jayson Kenny, Director of Coppercoat.

The Clipper 70 fleet is currently in the process of its refit in preparation for the next race edition. Each of the twelve ocean racers will be lifted and refitted, with the first Coppercoat antifoul application commencing next week.

For more information on Clipper Race partnerships, click here.