Capital set to win from sponsorship of yacht in Clipper race

Published on Tuesday 7 July 2009 22:04

TOURISM and business leaders in Edinburgh are to cash in on a move by the city to sponsor an entry for the Clipper 09-10 Around the World Yacht Race – and help secure millions of pounds worth of publicity from the ten-month event.

A week-long Clipper festival is to be staged at Leith Docks next month to unveil the yacht Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, which will be seen by more than 200 million people during the race, starting in September.

The Duke of Edinburgh and First Minister Alex Salmond will be among the first visitors to the yacht, which Scots celebrities will be urged to board when it visits ports such as Sydney, New York and Rio de Janeiro.

It is hoped tourism initiatives and business events will be staged along the route to promote Edinburgh, while the city also hopes to attract events and conferences on the back of its participation in the race.

The Scotsman revealed on Monday how Edinburgh had stepped in to rescue Scotland's involvement in the clipper race after the surprise withdrawal of Glasgow in the spring.

The Clipper 09-10 race is expected to provide the biggest exposure yet for the "inspiring capital" campaign, which aims to lure people to visit, study, live or invest in Edinburgh.

Although sponsors have yet to be revealed, the city council, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and the capital's new marketing alliance yesterday revealed that a 750,000 package had been agreed to secure an entry in the race.

The event involves 35,000 miles of racing across all the world's major oceans by ten identical 68ft yachts.