News

Put yourself in an ocean racer’s shoes

22 October 2008

Put yourself in the shoes – or sailing boots – of the crews who took part in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race as the ten-part television series about the race airs around the world.

Fox Sports in Australia continues its broadcasts today with Episodes 5 and 6 on Fox Sports 2 between 1630 and 1730. Episode 5 begins on New Year’s Day as the crews of the ten identical 68-foot yachts begin 2008 as they mean to go on – with a hugely competitive start to the race from Fremantle, Western Australia, where the jostling for position in Freo’s harbour gets a little too close for comfort.

The two episodes follow the fleet through the sweltering conditions onboard as the ten internationally-backed yachts race across the Equator en route to Singapore and through the punishing race from there to Qingdao in China and the spectacular receptions in both ports. From the Olympic sailing city the action switches to the dramatic race across the Pacific to Hawaii when two of the crews in particular must call on all of their seamanship skills and strength of character to get across the largest ocean on the planet.

Fox Sports continues the series on Fox Sports 1 on 3 November (1700-1800: Episodes 7 and 8) and on Fox Sports 3 on 14 November (1400-1500: Episodes 9 and 10). A one-hour documentary will be broadcast on Fox Sports 3 on 22 November starting at 1700.  (Please check local listings for different time zones.)

The series is also showing across Asia on ASTRO Supersport. Episodes 7 and 8 will be on air today (Wednesday 22 October) at 2200 and 2300 with repeats on Thursday 23 October at 1100 and 1130 and Friday 24 October at 0130 and 0200. The final two episodes will air on Wednesday 29 October (repeated on Thursday 30 and Friday 31) and will follow the crews on their final ocean crossing from Nova Scotia, Canada, to their spectacular arrival under spinnaker in Cork, Ireland.

The fleet musters at the Royal Cork Yacht Club for the final sprint to the finish line and the emotional and triumphant return to Liverpool at the end of the 35,000-mile race. (Again, please check local listings for your time zone.)

Of the 400 crew who competed in Clipper 07-08, 62 joined the ranks of an elite band of sports men and women – circumnavigators. Fewer people have raced around the world under sail than have climbed Everest. Could you be one of those who reach this peak of sporting excellence in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race?

Twelve months ago the Clipper crews were on the eve of departure from Brazil for their second transatlantic crossing, this one taking them into the fringes of the Southern Ocean. One team even glimpsed Tristan da Cunha, a group of remote volcanic islands 1,750 miles from South Africa and 2,088 miles from South America. What will YOU be doing this time next year?

To apply for a berth on the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race email .com or call +44 (0) 2392 526000.

The ten-part series is available on DVD from nauticalia.com.

Visit Clipper Round The World Yacht Race for more exciting updates.