Gyeongnam Province, Tongyeong City, and Gyeongnam Sailing Federation plan to become a Host Port and Team Partner in Clipper 2025-26 Race

Today, at the Yinsunsin Cup International Yacht Race in Korea, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was formally signed between Clipper Ventures and Gyeongnam Province, Tong-yeong City, and Gyeongnam Sailing Federation.

This MOU is step towards a Korean Team and Host Port partnership on the Clipper 2025-26 Race and a long-term co-operation between the partners.

Image: MOU signing at the 17th Yinsunsin Cup

Present at the ceremony was Gyeongnam Province Vice Governor Kim Byung-Kyu, Tongyeong-Goseong Region Senator Jung Jum-Shik, Tongyeong Mayor Chun Young-gee, Gyeongnam Sailing Federation President Lee Sang-Seok and Korea Sailing Federation President Park Bum-Gyu as well as Laura Ayres, Managing Director of Clipper Ventures.

The partnership has the ambition of collaboratively developing the Tongyeong City of Gyeongsangnam-do into a Marine Leisure Sports Center and to promote the city as an international tourism hub and multi-purpose tourism city, with a focus on marine sports.

Laura Ayres, Managing Director of Clipper Ventures said: “I learned that, as one of the three major yacht races in Asia and most renowned race in Korea, Yisunsin Cup was founded to develop sailing as a sport and industry; promote friendship among local and international sailors; while fostering “Gyeongnam” and “Tongyeong” brands as the marine hub of Northeast Asia. This aligns well with what the Clipper Race signifies and aims to do.

“We enter into this partnership with the joint ambition of creating a long-term legacy to develop the province and city as a marine leisure and marine tourism city. We look forward to bringing the world to Tongyeong and taking Gyeongnam to the world.”

This will be the first time that the Clipper Race will stop in Korea on the global race route, promising an exciting new stopover destination for Race Crew, Race Partners, fans and supporters to experience. Located in southeastern South Korea, this vibrant port city is a beautiful natural harbour, surrounded by islands and waterways and home to many beaches. It is a city of incredible seafood, culture, and as a UNESCO City of Music, the city has a vibrant programme of excellent festivals and concerts.

Image: Tongyeong and surroundings is famous for beautiful waterways and amazing culture

There are currently two Korean Race Crew sailing around the world as circumnavigators on the Clipper Race. Jihyun Mun and Nakyung Lee are both currently crossing the South Atlantic from Punta del Este, Uruguay, to Cape Town, South Africa. Nakyung Lee will be the first Korean woman to circumnavigate the globe on the Clipper Race.