Seattle to debut in US Coast-to-Coast Leg to New York

Seattle has been revealed as a new US host port in the Clipper 2015-16 Race at the end of the challenging 5,600 mile month-long North Pacific leg from Qingdao in China

The race will reach Seattle in mid-April 2016 for the first time in our 19-year history. The fleet will be berthed in the city’s Bell Harbor Marina before setting off on the US Coast-to-Coast leg which will again conclude in New York City via the Panama Canal.

Seattle, Washington State, is known as the Emerald City for its vast parklands, just one of the many features this new stopover will showcase to crew, friends, family, supporters and partners.

Ralph Morton, Executive Director for the Seattle Sports Commission is looking forward to welcoming the fleet. He said: “Hosting the Clipper Race allows Seattle to showcase all of its great attractions, opportunities, and industries to an international audience.

“This platform will allow Seattle an opportunity to develop long-term relationships with both domestic and international partners and drive economic opportunity to the Pacific Northwest. We look forward to welcoming Clipper Race crew and supporters to Seattle and wish them a wonderful stay in our great city.”

Positioned on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has a vibrant downtown surrounded by natural beauty which encompasses the ocean, mountains, evergreen forests and thousands of acres of parkland, hence its ‘Emerald City’ nickname. Its futuristic Space Needle, a legacy of the 1962 World's Fair, is the city’s most famous landmark. The stopover will last approximately ten days.

Clipper Race Chairman and Founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston welcomed the announcement. He commented: “I’m really looking forward to bringing the Clipper Race to Seattle for the first time. As well as being an exciting stopover for our crew members, this is also an excellent opportunity for Seattle to promote itself and its strengths to our global race community.”

Discover more about Seattle here.