​TEMPORARY SKIPPER REPLACEMENT FOR UNICEF

Unicef team Skipper Jim Prendergast is to be replaced temporarily during the Australia Leg while he is treated for kidney stones which developed during the last race across the Southern Ocean. The treatment will take about a month including recovery and it’s therefore anticipated Jim should be fit to continue from Airlie Beach.

The replacement is Martin Clough (57), a veteran of Operation Drake, a ground-breaking around-the-world expedition in the 1970s, an accomplished training skipper and a competitive racer, having led the Portsmouth team in the 2000-01 Times Clipper Race. He will take over for the three Australian races to Sydney in New South Wales, Hobart in Tasmania and Airlie Beach, Queensland.

Martin has a wealth of experience as an RYA instructor and is also a Sail Training Skipper on the Jolie Brise (winner of the first Fastnet race) and Relief Commanding Officer and Sailing Master on the Brig Tall Ship Royalist.

Race Director Justin Taylor and Jim introduced Martin to the Unicef crew in Albany on Sunday afternoon.

Martin said: "I look forward to leading Jim's crew on the Australia leg while he fully recovers. He clearly has a very competent team and I look forward to sailing with them. It is great to be part of the Clipper Race again and I am happy to race the new Clipper 70.”

We will follow Jim’s progress and wish him a very speedy recovery.