Marine travel: Destination Clipper Race

At 40,000 nautical miles long with a complex global route, traversing the world’s oceans is the ultimate travel adventure. To ensure our crews join their teams at the start line, Official Travel Partner Marine Travel are on hand 24/7, 365 days a year to facilitate their extensive travel needs - offering cost effective prices and a high quality service.

“When I first started planning my race adventure, I looked into booking my own flights to the arrival and departure ports. However, when investigating the price of a single trip from Rio, Brazil to London I decided to contact Marine Travel to see if they could help, as the prices I had found were more expensive than a return!” Says Jenny Day, a crew member on board Garmin who took part in the opening leg from London to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has just stepped off the boat in New York to complete the US Coast to Coast leg from Seattle via the famous Panama Canal.

Marine Travel works with MTA7 Global Partners which cover Asia, Australia, Europe, the UK and the USA, to provide globally negotiated marine fares, as well as the best prices on hotel bookings and car hire. Fares are fully flexible in case of schedule delays and include an increased baggage allowance of 40 kgs which enables crew members to travel with all the kit needed to face the challenges ahead.

Jenny says: “Marine Travel were only too happy to help me find direct flights at suitable times to London Heathrow. In addition, I was informed that there was a £10 cancellation charge if I was unable to make my flight which was peace of mind. MT understand how the Clipper Race works and in the unlikely event a boat could be stuck at sea, delayed due to maintenance work or in an alternative port, they would help me out accordingly.

“The process of booking the flights was hassle free and incredibly easy. All I had to do was converse with a member of the marine travel team on which port I was arriving/leaving from, when I wanted to fly and in due course what boat I was on, so they would be aware if I was delayed.

“As a crew member completing Legs 1 and 7, and therefore completing races in hot regions of the world, I did not need my 40 kg luggage allowance as I did not take the bulkier items needed for colder ocean crossings such as foulies or a heavy duty sleeping bag. However, I am not sure how much shopping I am going to do in New York, so it may come in very handy!” Jenny adds.

As the crew prepare for the Homecoming Leg of the eleven month long race, here are some interesting Marine Travel facts about the travel needs of our intrepid crew.

Top destinations booked:
Heathrow
Seattle
New York JFK
Cape Town
Qingdao

Business Class flights booked – 29
Premium Economy Class flights booked – 31
Economy Class flights booked – 524

For further information about the MTA7 global alliance and Marine Travel visit www.mtaseven.com