DERRY HAS been selected as one of the 15 host ports for the 2011 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
The event, which starts in August 2011 and ends in July 2012, attracts a global television audience of 460 million viewers and at 40,000 miles is the longest ocean race in the world.
Ten yachts will take part in the race, one of them called Derry-Londonderry. Interviews for anyone wishing to be a member of the Derry-Londonderrycrew will be held in the city next month.
Among those at yesterday’s announcement in Derry was Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who, in 1968, became the first man to sail solo non-stop around the world.
“This will be a great challenge for the crew of 18 who will be drawn from all walks of life. No previous sailing experience is necessary,” he said.
Pointing out that more people have climbed Everest than have sailed around the world, Sir Robin said the race “has an excellent track record for developing business and cultural links which in the past have created considerable wealth for the host ports”.
The Mayor of Derry, Cllr Colum Eastwood, said hosting a stage of the race would enable the city to be marketed globally. "This is just phenomenal news for this city. Joining the Derry-Londonderryyacht will be the Chinese entry Qingdao. [For the Chinese city] hosting the race was a key step in securing the rights to host the sailing events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic games.
“This is the catalyst project that will bring together public, private, education, sports and community interests to build a maritime legacy for this city. And what an opportunity it presents for people from here to take part in a 10-month long race,” he said.