World’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racers in 84th JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race
26 June 2015: Today the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racers is on the Solent in preparation for its debut in the 84th JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.
The twelve Clipper 70s will be joined by four Clipper 68s on the start line tomorrow (Saturday 27 June) to compete against more than 1500 competitors. Clipper Events has mustered the record breaking 16-strong entry in the RTI for a range of clients including the title sponsor.
The current Clipper Race fleet which already has one circumnavigation of over 40,000 miles under its belt, and will set off from London in just over two months for the 2015-16 series, will host 144 guests from JP Morgan Asset Management, with each team led by one of the current Clipper 2015-16 Race skippers. So this will enhance the competitive nature of the race, especially in the Clipper Yacht Class for the Vaphio Cup.
Henry Gates, Vice President, JP Morgan Asset Management says: “We are extremely excited and have been planning this for months now so we are ready to go. Clipper Events skippers and staff have been extremely welcoming to us and it’s amazing that we are going to have all twelve of the Clipper 70’s out and racing against each other.
“We are looking forward to pitting our sailing skills against each other across the JP Morgan fleet. Clipper Events has been really attentive, very relaxed and thorough in organising and briefing the team, especially with people who in some cases have no previous sailing experience at all. We are looking forward to the 5am start and watching the sun rise on the Solent to start racing.”
The leading global financial service will be racing on the Clipper 70 fleet against four Clipper 68’s, chartered by private clients and companies Standard Chartered Bank and the RTI official clothing partner, Henri Lloyd. The Clipper Yacht class was created in 2009 after event organisers the Island Sailing Club donated the Vaphio Cup to Clipper Events for its class. Each yacht design will race under its ITC handicap.
Clipper Events was established alongside the Clipper Race by British yachting legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who became the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-9. 46 years later at the age of 76, he is still sailing competitively and commented on this year’s RTI from his boat Grey Power, currently preparing for the start of the Transatlantic Race from the US on 1 July.
Sir Robin says: “This is Britain’s largest sailing participation event and our fleet of twelve new Clipper 70’s and four Clipper 68’s will be up against some seriously fast yachts as well as some intense competition between themselves.
“The prospect of racing against nearly 1600 boats in a crowded course of the 50 miles around the Isle of Wight really makes this one of the most exciting days in the sailing calendar. I wish them all an exhilarating day of competitive racing.”
On board the Henri Lloyd entry are Joint Chief Executive Paul Strzelecki and two crew members competing in the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race who won the opportunity through a competition run by the original British Sailing Brand, which is also the Official Technical Clothing Partner of the Clipper Race.
Henri Lloyd RTI crew member and Clipper Race round-the-world competitor Chloe Ford, a 31 year-old IT Consultant from London, says: “I’m very grateful to have won a place on board the Round the Island race with Henri Lloyd – my first ever race! I’m pleased to have the opportunity to experience race conditions before the Clipper Race, which is looming, and it’s all getting scarily real! I’m a heady mix of excitement and nervousness at the moment.”
This will be the eleventh time that Clipper Events has entered the RTI, the largest single sailing race in the world and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK. It sees teams of individuals from all walks of life from across the globe take to the Solent with a variety of sailing experience, ranging from complete novices who have never sailed before to famous faces from the sailing industry.
Standing apart from other sailing event providers, Clipper Events uses its unique fleet of identical ocean racers for iconic sailing events and hospitality and development experiences in the UK and Australia in Sydney, which also meets the business and relationship development objectives of UK and global companies. Previous sailing experience is not required as training is provided by professional Clipper Events staff.
Clipper Events Sales Manager, Mark Kelly says: “We are delighted to be working with JP Morgan Asset Management again on this year’s Round the Island Race which is a continuation of our strong relationship with JP Morgan over the years.
“Clipper Events has established a comprehensive corporate client base for bespoke hospitality and team building experiences together with participation in iconic regattas.”
Clipper Events is an official partner with the America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth and TEAMORIGIN to allow its official spectator boats to operate within the closed-off race perimeter this July. Clipper Race yachts are available for a unique VIP sailing experience and champagne lunch with a front row view of the AC45 foiling catamarans as they race each other on the Solent. Clipper Events also has entries in the Rolex Fastnet Race 2015
