Bid to bring Clipper race to Capital's shores sets sail

ONE of Britain's most accomplished yachtsmen is backing a bid to bring the world-famous Clipper Race to the Capital for the first time.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop, around the world, said that hosting the biennial event would put a global spotlight on Edinburgh.

Council figures and city business leaders met this week to begin the process of bringing one of the race's stop-overs to the city for the 2011-12 event. Inspiring Capital, which is one of just ten identical stripped-down clippers to take part in this year's 35000-mile race, has already received media exposure for the city worth close to 1 million during its first six months of the voyage.

Sir Robin, chairman of Clipper Ventures, which hosts the race, said today: "We are delighted that the city of Edinburgh is keen to field another entry to the Clipper Race and is working with us, its partners and city businesses to make it happen.

"The Clipper Race is a proven global platform for trade and investment.

"It would also be a real first for Scotland, to bring an international round-the-world yachts race and its influential sponsors to the Capital."

Other teams alongside Inspiring Capital have been fellow Brits Hull & Humber, the Spirit of Australia and Jamaica Lightning Bolt.

The current race, which left from the Humber River on September 13, attracted around 150,000 people, a global media audience and brought an estimated 9.3m to the economy of the region.

The council and the city's business community have now pledged their support to the project. Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "I support Clipper in efforts to not only continue Edinburgh's participation but also to explore the possibility of bringing the race here."

VisitScotland's regional director Sinead Feltoe said: "Edinburgh would be an ideal choice for one of the legs."

RETURNING HOME

THE hardy crew of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital are to return home this weekend after a gruelling 35,000-mile challenge.

The team, led by captain Mike Pike, will have completed 14 races across six continents when the sail down the Humber River on Saturday and attend the prize-giving ceremony at the Hull Marina.

It will be the end of a 10-month journey for the 40-strong crew, who have covered 35,000 miles of ocean, 14 ports, and competed with nine rivals.

Along the way fellow sailors on the Cork clipper ran aground off Java, with the Inspiring Capital crew later taking on one of their crew onboard.

Despite the team's best efforts, the Spirit of Australia have won the event on points already, although all yachts finished the second last race within just 90 minutes of each other.