Clipper adds port
Clipper Race confirms Puerto Sherry as a stopover on its global route – its first ever visit to Spain.
01 August 2023
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The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will be visiting Puerto Sherry in the Bay of Cádiz. It will be the first stop on its circumnavigation and also the first time Spain will feature as a destination on the event’s race circuit in its 27 year history.
The fleet will sail 1200 nautical miles from Portsmouth, UK to Puerto Sherry, ahead of crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Punta del Este in Uruguay.
Puerto Sherry is no stranger to hosting large sailing events. And the wider tourist resort, Marina El Puerto de Santa María, has everything a weary sailor needs – from accommodation, restaurants and beach clubs.
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Mark Light, Clipper Race Director said: “At the Clipper Race we are really happy for our fleet to be visiting Puerto Sherry Marina. No stranger to top class sailing events, the facilities are fantastic and well suited to the first stopover of the Clipper 2023-24 Race after the start from Portsmouth, UK and up to eight days of hard racing out of the English Channel and across the notorious Bay of Biscay.
“This is the first time that the Clipper Race has visited Spain and the location is perfect for our intrepid Race Crews to recuperate, enjoy and prepare for the next race of 5,300nm into the Southern Hemisphere.”
Nicolás Figueras, Director of Puerto Sherry, said: “The Clipper Race coming is a great opportunity for Puerto Sherry to host this prestigious round the world race. It will strongly place our international position in the Yachting World as a leading Marina in the South of Europe.”
Clipper Race Crew can expect plenty of activities in Puerto Sherry during the stopover, and the chance to explore the surrounding region. Not far from Puerto Sherry is the ancient port city Cádiz in the region of Andalucia in southwestern Spain. Cadiz has a long and rich maritime history. It is home of the Spanish Navy and saw two of Columbus´ four voyages set out for the New World.
Seven Spanish crew are participating in the Clipper 2023-24 Race including an airline pilot, university professor and an IT software engineer. Five of these crew will experience sailing into their home country on the first leg of the Clipper Race and the further two will depart Spain.
The Clipper Race fleet is expected to arrive into Puerto Sherry from 9 to 15 September.
Portsmouth will host the start and finish of the 2023-24 edition. Five days of festivities, beginning 30 August 2023, are planned for Gunwharf Quays, the neighbouring harbour of the sailing company’s operations for almost 20 years.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will see its fleet depart from Gunwharf Quays on 3 September. A Solent spectacular is planned for Clipper Race crew as they commence the 40,000 nautical miles circumnavigation, a feat that will take 11 months to complete.
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