Clipper Race headed on Irish crew recruitment tour

Over the coming weeks our race team will be visiting locations across the Emerald Isle to meet potential future race crew looking to get on board the Derry~Londonderry~Doire team for the 2015-16 series and help make its third race campaign the most successful to date.

To find out more about the race and decide if you can take on the challenge yourself, join Crew Recruitment Manager Della Parsons, along with former local race crew, on the following dates:

-Saturday 31 January – Dublin – National Yacht Club, 10.30am

-Monday 2 February – Cork – Royal Cork Yacht Club, 6.30pm

-Wednesday 4 February – Galway – Harbour Hotel, 6.30pm

-Friday 6 February – Derry/Londonderry – Guildhall, 6.30pm

-Saturday 7 February – Belfast – Odyssey Complex,12noon (Boardroom opposite W5)

Conor O’Byrne, a 40 year old Garda from County Meath was one of seventeen Irish crew who took part in the Clipper 2013-14 Race and will join Della to speak with potential new crew at the Dublin event.

Conor circumnavigated the globe on the Derry~Londonderry~Doire yacht and spent more than eleven months at sea crossing Mother Nature’s toughest oceans and says: "For about 20 years I had a desire to sail around the world to test myself against elements of nature. With the Clipper Race, I feel I have more than achieved my goal.

“I have had experiences which will last with me a lifetime. Experiences that only a few will understand or ever get the chance to live through. It was a huge decision to sign up, but one I will never regret."

Clipper Race founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “This will be the third entry from Derry-Londonderry and builds on the huge success achieved in previous races both by the crew and its business partners, building a lasting legacy as UK City of Culture 2013. I encourage everyone to get behind this and I know the fleet’s visit to the Foyle will again be a highlight of the Clipper 2015-16.”

Huge crowds lined the Foyle to welcome home the Derry~Londonderry~Doire yacht and the international Clipper Race crew members last June. During the stopover, more than 250,000 people also attended the city’s 2014 LegenDerry Maritime Festival which was held in conjunction with the race fleet’s arrival.

Derry-Londonderry Mayor Cllr Brenda Stevenson says the race is a unique opportunity for people from all walks of life across Ireland to get involved. She commented: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the world and be part of a global racing team and to embark on an expedition that will have a lasting impact on your life.

“We hope the people and businesses from our city, district and beyond will get involved in support of the Clipper Race as we prepare to welcome them back to our shores in the summer of 2016.”

As well as crew opportunities, there will be a range of partnership opportunities for businesses to engage at a local, national or international level; more details will be released by the Council later next month.

Through its Clipper Race partnership, Derry City Council created a return of £5 for every £1 it invested into the local economy from just the LegendDerry Festival alone. The Derry~Londonderry~Doire team and Host Port partnership also created a PR value in excess of £14 million globally.

Derry City council credits its participation in the race for allowing it not only to promote Derry-Londonderry but also Northern Ireland and the North West region around the world and to be part of high quality international business engagements.

80 per cent of crew places for the 2015-16 race are now filled but there are still places available on most legs. If you would like to attend any of the Irish recruitment dates please RSVP to Della Parsons, Clipper Race Recruitment Manager at [email protected].