GoToBermuda, WTC Logistics and Dare To Lead Ready To Race

As the clock continues to countdown to the start of the Clipper 2019-20 Race on 1 September, the action at the Fan Zone at London's St Katharine Docks is in full swing.

Among the events have been the Naming Ceremonies, which is carried out on each of the eleven Clipper 70s in order to bring good luck and fair weather to those on board.

WTC Logistics was the first to have a Naming Ceremony and the Team Partners set the bar high. On Tuesday evening, the WTC Logistics Skipper, Mate and crew were treated to a live band and hog roast as the team behind WTC Logistics, which also acts as the logistics provider for the race, wished the boat and crew well for the adventure ahead.

Bermuda’s debut team entry GoToBermuda enjoyed a buzz of activity over lunchtime on Wednesday for its naming ceremony.

CEO of Bermuda Tourism Authority Kevin Dallas was joined by Clipper Race Founder and Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and a host of travel writers, editors and bloggers to officially christen the GoToBermuda team yacht alongside the Skipper, David ‘Wavy’ Immelman and crew.

Before the obligatory champagne spray, Kevin Dallas addressed the Race Crew and press, saying: “We’ve brought the Bermuda weather with us today as an added extra! This is a really exciting partnership and we are really proud to be a part of the Clipper Race for the first time. Sailing is part of our DNA. In Bermuda we live life differently. Set apart not only by its location but also the way of life, sailing has always been a part of who we are so we are really excited to invite romantics, explorers and adventure-seekers like our Clipper Race Crew to Bermuda next June.”

The GoToBermuda crew members were proudly wearing their new team kit which has Bermuda’s coordinates on the sleeve whilst showing press around their home for the next year.

The Dare To Lead team entry topped off the naming ceremonies on Wednesday. Skipper, Guy Waites, crew and guests heard from two representatives of their Team Partners, British rocket scientist Tim Harper and his wife, and Chinese entrepreneur, Hailing Yu. The original founder Dirk van Daele was away on international business but sent a video message in his absence.

In addressing the team Tim Harper said: “You are an inspirational example of how courage, vision, leadership and teamwork can overcome any obstacle, of how a group of people working as a team can exceed their wildest expectations, and achieve goals that a collection of individuals could never aspire to. And that gives us, here on dry land, the courage and inspiration to rise to these global challenges.”

Dare To Lead is unique in the 2019-20 edition as it represents a concept with the aim to promote the development of human qualities and common values to achieve effective teamwork, innovative thinking and leadership in a socially responsible context

Hailing Yu underlined their mission and vision, speaking to crew and guests in both English and Mandarin: “Together we dare to lead. Together as one team, where good teamwork is essential for optimum performance. And we are Dare To Lead, with strong leadership, not only with the aim of winning but also in demonstrating leadership in adversity, being resilient and creating a working culture admired by our competitors."