Glasgow Clipper Sets Sail Around the World

After months of preparation the Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper set-off on Sunday, September 18 on the Round-the-World Yacht Race from Albert Dock in Liverpool.

 

Skippered by Graeme Johnston who is originally from Glasgow, the Glasgow Clipper raised her sails at 12 noon to compete in the world’s longest yacht race.  She is due to return in the summer of 2006 after sailing 36,000 miles on the high seas.  

 

James Cracknell, four-times Olympic Gold Medallist for rowing started the race, before he sets off on his own adventure – rowing across the Atlantic.

 

S3 Pupils from Bellahouston Acacdemy won a competition to design a flag to be taken around the world on the Glasgow Clipper and presented it to the crew before the race. The Clipper team were also given Black Isle Kilts from 21^st Century Kilts to carry the Scottish message across the globe.

 

The Glasgow Clipper will face strong competition from a formidable international field including Liverpool (England), Fremantle (Western Australia), Durban (South Africa), Singapore, Victoria (Canada), New York (USA) and race title defenders Jersey (Channel Islands).

 

Before the race began, Skipper Johnston said: “We’ve done well in all our training races over the past few months so we are all eager to get the race underway.  The crew have trained exceptionally hard and the Glasgow Clipper yacht has been performing well, so we have high hopes for this race and are confident that we will do Glasgow proud.”

 

Councillor Alex Mosson, Chairman of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, added: “The Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper and her crew are great ambassadors for Glasgow and Scotland.  We wish them every success as they undertake this huge challenge and we’ll be keeping a close eye on their progress.  We hope that they have a safe voyage and strong winds at their back.”

 

 

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