Tens of thousands of people gathered in Ocean Village over the weekend (July 28-31) for the Clipper 11/12 Round the World Yacht Race weekend.

Spectators lined the banks and more than 300 boats were on the Solent to see the Royal Navy’s helicopter carrier, HMS Illustrious lead the way for the ten-strong fleet to commence the race. Thousands more well-wishers were waiting on shore on the Isle of Wight while pictures were beamed back to a packed race village.

The Clipper Race weekend, arranged by Southampton City Council, MDL Marinas and Clipper Ventures, also had an array of musical entertainment, with big names such as Toploader, Delays and new girl band Parade.

Clipper Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, had some final words to the crowds seeing of the yachts:
“I just want to say a big thank you to Southampton because coming up with the idea of starting the race from here, bringing back ocean racing to the city, bringing events into the city, creating a buzz, and you’ve just got to take a look around to realise what a fabulous buzz.

“This supports the Southampton economy but it puts Southampton on the map again, makes people realise what a great city this is.

“I want to thank you for coming down to give our crews a fabulous send off – something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. These crews are not professional sailors – these are people from all walks of life going out and doing something extraordinary with their lives.”

Councillor Royston Smith, Leader of the council, added:

“I’m really proud to be here today to wish the crews good luck. This is a fantastic success. We know this sort of event brings great benefits to the city.

“If you looked at the restaurants and bars last night they were crammed with people enjoying themselves and all the hotel rooms were full up; that’s got to be good for the city of Southampton.”

Wave105 were entertainment partners for the event in collaboration with Red Zone Music.

Clipper 11-12: The World's Longest Yacht Race will start in Southampton on Sunday 31 July.
At 40,000 miles the event is the world’s longest sailing race and will take the ten identical 68-foot ocean racing yachts almost a year to complete their circumnavigation of the globe.

Southampton City Council and MDL Marinas, owner of Ocean Village Marina where the yachts will be berthed, are working in partnership to host the Clipper 11-12 race start. It will be an atmospheric, colourful affair as crews bid an emotional farewell to family and friends at a shore-based ceremony before a stunning parade of sail by the yachts as they head to the start line. It is the first time since 2004 that a round the world yacht race has started from the iconic sailing grounds of the Solent and promises to provide a breath taking spectacle for spectators both on the water and watching from the shore.

Visit Ocean Village to see the Boats
Celebrations to mark the start of the 40,000-mile race around the globe will take place all weekend in Ocean Village, beginning with the arrival of the ten 68-foot yachts on the afternoon of Thursday 28 July and culminating in their departure and parade of sail in Southampton Water on Sunday 31 July. Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Southampton over the weekend for the colourful, atmospheric and emotional spectacle.

As well as the ten yachts, each named after a city, region or country around the world, the event will include a live music stage featuring a mix of local bands with big names such as Toploader, Delays and Parade, plus stalls and other entertainment. There will be a raft of free, family-friendly entertainment in the race village while the yachts and their crews, ‘people like you’ drawn from all walks of life and representing more than 40 nationalities, make their final preparations before they say goodbye to their loved ones and set sail on the 12-month challenge – the sailing equivalent of climbing Mount Everest.
On Sunday 31 July the teams will take to the stage from noon for the departure ceremony, which will be followed by a fleet blessing before the yachts begin to slip their moorings and head out of Ocean Village at 1.30pm. The parade of sail will begin at 2.30pm just off Mayflower Park and the ten yachts, battle colours flying, will sail in formation down Southampton Water towards the start line. The race itself will start at 4.30pm from the Royal Yacht Squadron start line in Cowes and the yachts will head out of the Solent eastwards towards the forts.

The Race
Southampton is the fifth UK venue to host the race start. The Clipper Race celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and first set off from Plymouth in 1996. Two editions later the fleet started from Portsmouth before moving to Liverpool for the subsequent three races and then to the Humber on the UK’s north east coast

The race was created by British sailing legend, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world. Since the first edition in 1996 almost 3,000 people have taken advantage of the opportunity to race across oceans in a challenge unlike any other.

40,000 miles of ocean racing and around 450 people facing the challenge of a lifetime. When the starting gun goes off for the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race the fleet of ten sleek, stripped down 68-foot yachts will embark on a full circumnavigation of the globe.

It’s the only race in the world where the organisers supply the fleet of ten identical, 68-foot, stripped down racing yachts – each sponsored by a city, a region or a country – and man them with ten fully trained skippers, employed to lead the crews safely around the planet.

It’s the only race in the world where taxi drivers rub shoulders with chief executives, vicars mix with housewives, students work alongside bankers, nurses work with vets and doctors team up with rugby players. It’s an experience that will change people’s lives and while the crew members may be amateur, no one has told the ocean that. The sea does not distinguish between Olympians or novices and if the Southern Ocean, the Pacific or the South Atlantic decides to throw down its gauntlet, the Clipper crews need to be ready to face exactly the same challenges as those experienced by the professional racer.

The race track is 40,000 miles long and it will take eleven months to complete the circumnavigation. The race is divided in to a series of eight legs and crews can decide to race one of them, select a combination of legs or sign up to become a round the world crew member and complete the full circumnavigation. There are 15 individual races in total and, just like in Formula 1, points are awarded at the end of each race, building towards a championship total. It means that you can put a poor result behind you and head to the start of the next race with the possibility of gaining maximum points as you lead the field in.

The race route is firmly in place but details regarding many of the destination ports are still under negotiation. The adventure will start from the UK and cross the Atlantic Ocean, the South Atlantic, the Southern Ocean, the Java and South China Seas plus the mighty Pacific. It will deliver two of the three great capes – Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin – and visit New Zealand for the first time in Clipper’s history.

Southampton City Council has appointed a preferred developer for the south coast’s most exciting waterfront opportunity, the Royal Pier Waterfront in Southampton.

Morgan Sindall Investments Limited (MSIL) is a leading project development and funding solutions company and is part of construction and regeneration group, Morgan Sindall Group plc.

Councillor Royston Smith, Leader of Southampton City Council, said:
“I am sure a lot of residents are as pleased as I am that the Royal Pier Waterfront is being brought back to life.

“MSIL is financially strong and will bring a large number of vital jobs to the city.

“Despite the current financial climate Southampton continues to attract interest for developments in the city and the council is working hard to create many more jobs for residents.

“I am confident MSIL will create a scheme that will place Southampton as one of the most dynamic waterfront cities in Europe, but also to create a legacy for the city of which everyone can be truly proud.”

Ernie Battey, Executive Chairman of MSIL commented:

“We are delighted to have been selected as preferred developer for this major waterfront scheme. Being South Coast based and familiar with Southampton, I know how important it is to achieve an exciting and vibrant development for which we can all be proud.

“This key site provides the opportunity to position Southampton at the forefront of internationally recognised waterfront schemes and MSIL has the experience, knowledge and financial stability that will be crucial to its successful delivery.”

The Royal Pier Waterfront development is a key element of the city’s emerging masterplan, which outlines a vision for Southampton’s future. This is currently being drawn up by David Lock Associates and will go to public consultation later in the year.

MSIL expects to consult the public on their plans in 2012 after a process of refinement of proposals in dialogue with the landowners ABP, The Crown Estate and Southampton City Council.

Text courtesy of Southampton City Council

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