Clipper Ventures has today instigated an international recruitment campaign to appoint ten skippers for its Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race which starts from Liverpool in September 2005.

In a bid to secure the most qualified and proficient skippers for the race, applications are invited from around the world and across the sailing spectrum.

Ten new 68ft racing yachts, from the drawing board of designer Ed Dubois and currently under construction at Shanghai Double Happiness Yachts, will contest the Clipper 05-06 Race; each adopted by an international city representing its nation. The first Clipper Dubois 68 will undergo trials in Shanghai, before being shipped back to the UK for commissioning in early Summer 2004.

On board each yacht will be one professional skipper and 17 crew, many of whom will have never sailed prior to their Clipper training and who will be cutting their offshore teeth for the first time on the 05-06 race.

Each team will comprise men and women from all walks of life and of all ages and nationalities, although recruitment will be primarily focussed on individuals from each competing nation. Liverpool (UK), Western Australia and Durban (SA) have so far joined the international line-up for the competition, which pits ten identical 68ft yachts against one another.

The skipper selection process is designed to ensure that applicants are sufficiently tested both on and off the water, resulting in the appointment of ten professionals able to effectively prepare their teams pre-start and to race safely and competitively around the world.

Initial trial sails, including three to four days offshore, will take place throughout March and April 2004 on board Clipper Ventures’ existing fleet of 60ft yachts. A further assessment period then enables the potential skippers to have an involvement in the Clipper 05-06 crew training.

Skipper applications should be addressed to Tim Hedges at Clipper Ventures on contact 44 (0) 23 8023 7088 or thedges@clipper-ventures.com

Clipper Ventures will also have a stand at the London International Boat Show from the 9-18 January 2004 at the new location of ExCel in the London Docklands. Interested skipper candidates are invited to meet the Race Director and his team on the stand at N1734 in the North Hall.