Cape Breton Island eagle to adorn Clipper race yacht

Cape Breton Island gets set to soar in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race © Clipper Ventures

The image of a magnificent eagle, the emblem of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, will adorn the 68-foot racing yacht which has today been confirmed as an entry in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race.

Following the hugely successful stopover there in the 07-08 edition of the race Sydney, Cape Breton, is also confirmed as a stopover on the Clipper 09-10 route and will play host to the fleet in June 2010.

Named Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia’s Masterpiece, the entry will be one of ten identical, stripped down 68-foot racing yachts competing in the event, each sponsored by an international city, region or country. They include Uniquely Singapore, Qingdao and Hull & Humber, all of whom will be making return appearances, the team sponsors having discovered that the Clipper Race provides a unique platform delivering cost-effective global market exposure. Joining them for the first time will be California, whose participation has been endorsed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger following the fleet’s inaugural visit to the state in the last edition of the biennial race. Also making a debut is Cork, the first ever Irish entry in the Clipper Race and the destination for the fleet when they leave Sydney.

The campaign to enter a Cape Breton Island yacht that will showcase Nova Scotia’s masterpiece, the majestic beauty of the region and the warmth of its people to a worldwide audience of more than 200 million people has been backed by Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and Sydney Ports Corporation. They will use the event as a dynamic platform from which to promote tourism, investment, education, immigration and trade opportunities as well as establishing economic development contacts and opportunities in the countries the race visits.

On board the racing yacht will be a team of normal folk, many of whom who have never sailed before, who are taking up the challenge of a lifetime. Cape Breton native Elisa Jenkins, 30, signed up to take part when she saw the ten-strong fleet in Sydney in June last year and knew it was for her. The physiotherapist is using her experience to raise funds and awareness for the Cape Breton Cancer Center.

Elisa says, “I’m proud to be sailing into global harbours with Cape Breton Island on the hull. Our symbol of the eagle will be a source of strength for crew members as we race across the world’s oceans. The Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race has given me an opportunity to pursue personal challenges and draw attention to a meaningful cause in our community.”

Joining her will be two other Nova Scotians, Alyson Murray from Bridgewater and Achilles Huczel from Halifax, who will represent Cape Breton Island on a global stage. Six other Canadians have also signed up to take on the challenge of a lifetime. Housewives, lorry drivers, farmers, doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers and even a vicar are among the former Clipper crews who have demonstrated to the world their unique, inspirational qualities.

In addition to those people with a thirst for adventure who will race around the world representing the region, there are exciting opportunities for local businesses to be part of the event – benefiting both from the economic impact of the race visit and also using the race to showcase their products and services to the world. Teams in previous Clipper Races have helped galvanise the community spirit in their sponsoring city or region, generating a huge sense of ownership and pride in their achievement.

The Clipper Race was set up by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world, in order to give ordinary people the chance to do something truly extraordinary.

Sir Robin says, “Sydney provided the backdrop for one of the most spectacular starts of the last Clipper Race so I’m thrilled we’re coming back. We had some fantastic close quarter racing in the harbour and down the channel out into the Atlantic and I hope we’ll see that spectacle again – this time with Cape Breton Island among the fleet.

“We already have a Cape Bretoner who has signed up to take part in the race, along with two other Nova Scotians, and I hope everyone in Cape Breton and, indeed, across the province will get behind the team and support them all the way around the world.

“The Clipper Race will provide a unique platform for you to showcase Cape Breton around the world, both for business and tourism. We had a wonderful welcome in Sydney last June so we are very much looking forward to bringing the Clipper fleet back here to experience the warmth of the hospitality we know the whole of Cape Breton is renowned for.”

Berths are still available for Clipper 09-10. More information can be found at www.clipperroundtheworld.com, by emailing