Clipper Ventures plc has today selected the City of Liverpool as the host port for the start and finish of its 2005/6 and 2007/8 Round the World Yacht Races and granted the City title sponsorship rights for its own yacht entry in both events. In return for these rights, the City of Liverpool will pay cash fees of £1.8 million and provide top quality event hosting infrastructure and services.

Clipper’s next 35,000 mile, 11-month race will be a major event linking the city’s Year of the Sea in 2005 and Year of Sport in 2006. The Clipper 2007 race will link the city’s 800th birthday to the year-long Cultural festival in 2008.

Ten new Clipper Dubois 68 racing yachts will be berthed at Liverpool’s award-winning Albert Dock for the start and finish of the fifth Clipper Round the World Series, setting sail in September 2005. Each yacht will be sponsored by a major international city, as the exciting nation versus nation format of the Clipper 2005 race takes shape.