THE TIMES CLIPPER 2000 ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE

by Sue Warden-Owen/Loretta Spridgeon on 30 Dec 2000 The eight Clipper yachts are presently moored in Academy Bay in the
Galapagos islands. They will now start the 4,100 mile race to Hawaii on
Sunday 31 December after a short postponement of the start. This has been
necessary to allow Rupert Dean to fly out to the Galapagos Islands to take
over as skipper in Liverpool Clipper. Stuart Jenkins has decided to stand
down for family reasons that were preventing him from realising the full
competitive potential of his crew.

Rupert Dean (age 29), who comes from Ilminster in Somerset, will quickly
feel at home having skippered Serica Clipper (now Bristol Clipper) in the
Clipper 98 race. Rupert has also been involved in part of the training for
The Times Clipper 2000 and therefore has the benefit of having met some of
the crew members. Just prior to Christmas he was awarded his Class 4
Certificate that qualifies him to take command of super yachts - a
thoroughly appropriate qualification for his appointment to Liverpool
Clipper! It is planned that a permanent replacement skipper will join
Liverpool Clipper in Hawaii.

The short delay will inevitably have an effect on the arrival date in
Hawaii, however a margin was built in for their coastal passage round the
islands. It is expected that their arrival date in Honolulu is most likely
to be about 48 hours later on the 23 January.

This small also change offers an excellent opportunity to visit the
Ladbrokes site and for followers to place some money on their favourites. So
far there have been 3 different winners in four races and this is making
some of the odds look very attractive and exciting for both the next few
races as well as the overall leader. What will happen to Liverpool's odds
now? http://www.ladbrokes.com

Crew applications are already underway for the next race to be run by
Clipper Ventures Plc, the AIM listed yacht racing and branded sailing event
company, which will start from the UK in Ocobter 2002. For further
information or to sign-up for the 'Clipper 2002 Round The World Yacht Race'
please telephone 02380 237088 or visit www.clipper-ventures.com


For further press information or copyright free sailing images, please
contact :
Sue Warden-Owen/Loretta Spridgeon
MHL Press & Publicity
Tel: 01489 575227
Fax 01489 577766
Mobile 07770 596111/ 07974 754340