WIREDGOV

The UK based Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, established by legendary British sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, is proud to reveal that Unicef UK will extend its official race charity partnership to include the 2017-18 edition. 

More than 700 international crew members and Clipper Race supporters will be encouraged to fundraise for Unicef, the world’s leading children’s organisation, during the Clipper 2017-18 Race. This will be the second consecutive partnership between the world’s longest ocean race, and Unicef who are already working together to help make a safer world for children.

Clipper Race CEO, William Ward said: “The Clipper Race is committed to a long-term fundraising partnership with Unicef so I am very pleased to be announce that our partnership is extending to include the 2017-18 edition race. 

Unicef is global and so are we so together we are a powerful fundraising combination. As our crew train and navigate the world’s oceans and face challenging environments, they will be making a difference to children around the world facing even tougher challenges each day.”

Unicef operates in 190 countries round the world, including every country on the Clipper Race route, and with more than 700 people from over 40 countries expected to take on the challenge of the world’s longest ocean race in 2017, crew members will continue to generate the much needed awareness and funds to help keep more of the world's most vulnerable children safe from danger.

Becks Bohling, Head of Public Fundraising at Unicef UK, said, said:  “We are delighted to have been chosen as the official race charity for the 2017-18 race and to continue our relationship with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. 

To date, since the partnership launched in April earlier this year, Clipper crew have raised an amazing £83,000 for Unicef and we are excited to see what more we can achieve together over the coming months and years in order to create a lasting change for children in danger around the world.”

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is 40,000 nautical miles long and takes almost a year to complete. The longest ocean race in the world, it is also known as one of the planet’s toughest endurance challenges. 

Uniquely for amateur sailors, more than 700 crew members representing 44 different nationalities are competing in the current, 2015-16 edition of the biennial race. 40 per cent of crew have never sailed before they sign up to take part and complete a rigorous training process to prepare them for the journey ahead.

The fleet of twelve identically matched ocean racing yachts set sail from London on 30 August 2015 and has already raised £83,000 for Unicef. The race has just arrived at its first stopover in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will continue on via Cape Town, Sydney, Da Nang-Vietnam, Qingdao–China, Seattle, Panama, New York, Derry-Londonderry and Den Helder – the Netherlands before returning to London in summer 2016 to a victorious homecoming.

Specific 2017-18 race fundraising activities and ways for crew and supporters to get involved can be found on the Clipper Race website www.clipperroundtheworld.com 

To find out more about Unicef visit www.unicef.org.uk

Notes for editors:

For further information please contact the Unicef UK Press Office on +44 (0)20 7375 6030 or media@unicef.org.uk

About Unicef

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.  

Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.org.uk

About Clipper Ventures Plc

Clipper Ventures Plc was established in 1995 by legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69. Sir Robin founded the company on the premise that sailing should be made available to everyone, regardless of age or experience. So he launched the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 1996. The company owns and operates its own matched fleet of ocean racing yachts and so far almost 4,000 people have competed in the nine editions of the Clipper Race to date. 

Clipper Ventures also owns the rights to the professional solo round the world VELUX 5 OCEANS race and runs a successful events division offering corporate sailing and development programmes. Today Clipper Ventures is recognised as a leading international marine events company which is focused on developing and promoting major global events such as the Clipper Race.