Praxes to provide around the clock medical support for Clipper 2019-20 Race
by Kathryn Pridie 16 Apr 2019 17:49 BST
Praxes to provide around the clock medical support for Clipper 2019-20 Race © Clipper Ventures
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is continuing its partnership with remote medical specialist Praxes Medical Group for its upcoming 2019-20 edition. Praxes will be providing expert around-the-clock medical support to the eleven Clipper Race Skippers and their non-professional teams during the toughest endurance challenge on the planet.
Praxes will play a crucial behind-the-scenes role as Global Medical Support Partner to the Clipper 2019-20 Race setting sail this summer. Drawing on 22 years of experience in providing bespoke medical support and immediate access to its team of doctors. Praxes will be on hand 24/7 via email and satellite phone with expert support during the epic 11-month 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation.
Clipper Race Co-Founder and Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world 50 years ago, said: "The Clipper Race fleet races through some of the most remote parts of the planet. At times, the nearest human life will be in the International Space Station. When health and safety is paramount, transport is challenging and timing is critical, the excellent service that Praxes provides the Clipper Race is invaluable.
"During the 2017-18 edition, just four percent of calls to Praxes during racing resulted in diversion. As such, Praxes has allowed teams to perform to the highest possible level and I am very pleased to continue working together for the 2019-20 edition."
The 2019-20 race will be the third consecutive edition to benefit from Praxes' remote medical support. When the 2019-20 edition gets under way, Praxes will have supported 35 Race Skippers, 22 Mates and over 2,000 non-professional crew. They have provided timely and experienced medical advice, for both minor and serious conditions, wherever and whenever it was needed.
Susan Helliwell, Praxes CEO said: "The Clipper Race is truly an adventure of a lifetime and to help make that happen, considerable planning is done behind the scenes to protect the health and safety of everyone onboard. As the Global Medical Support Partner, Praxes is responsible for assessing risk and ensuring the Skippers are prepared for the wide range of medical issues that may happen during the race. We provide a 24/7, direct connection to our team of Emergency Doctors who provide advice and care for any medical event, at any hour, in any location.
"Our job is to help reduce the risk and impact of unexpected medical events so that all Crew members can have the best experience possible."
In addition to remote medical support at sea, Praxes provides bespoke medical training to Clipper Race Skippers and Medical Assistant crew members in the lead-up to the circumnavigation and will be available to provide medical support for crew onshore during each of the Clipper Race stopovers.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is unique in that it is the only event on the planet that trains non-professional sailors from every walk of life to become ocean racers. Approximately 40 percent of crew members have never sailed before they sign up. Starting this summer the Clipper 2019-20 Race route will commence in the UK and see the teams race to South America, South Africa, around Australia, before heading to the confirmed Host Ports of Zhuhai, Sanya and Qingdao in China. Then it is across the Pacific Ocean to the US ahead of returning to the UK in the summer of 2020.