Land Rover supports Great Britain yacht entry

• Land Rover is supporting the GREAT Britain entry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as an official Team Partner and becomes part of an innovative global campaign partnership between the race organisers, Clipper Ventures, the UK Government and British brands
• The spirit of adventure, strength and mental fortitude required by each Clipper Race team member is a natural fit for Land Rover’s ethos of going above and beyond
• Land Rover’s support of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race further strengthens its ties with global competitive sailing

Land Rover is supporting the GREAT Britain entry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as an official Team Partner.  GREAT Britain, a 70-foot, monohull, state-of-the-art ocean racing yacht, was unveiled to large crowds in London’s Trafalgar Square on 31 July.

Land Rover’s support of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race further strengthens its ties with global competitive sailing, which dates back to 1988 when the brand first sponsored Cowes Week.  In May this year, the manufacturer announced a three-year sponsorship of the Extreme Sailing Series of global challenges.

Land Rover is one of several Team Partners from across the UK’s private sector supporting the UK Government’s GREAT campaign under the pillar of Adventure.  The project brings together a cross-section of partners from the private sector to sponsor the GREAT Britain yacht over the next 16 months and participates in an international campaign that will link up with UK trade and tourism marketing initiatives.

Mark Cameron, Land Rover’s Global Brand Experience Director, said: “The sport of sailing and the philosophy of Land Rover go hand in hand, with our shared values of adventure, inner strength and a competitive spirit. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a fantastic initiative and, with the entry of the GREAT Britain yacht, provides a perfect platform to deepen Land Rover’s involvement in sailing as well as support the Government’s efforts to celebrate what is great about Britain overseas. As a major British brand we are thrilled to be involved.”

Unveiling  GREAT Britain in Trafalgar Square were Sports and Tourism Minister, the Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP, and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Clipper Race chairman, founder and the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world.

Sir Robin Said: “This is a unique project and I am very proud that the Clipper Race can provide a powerful platform to promote Great British trade and tourism to a global audience.  We look forward to working with Land Rover and the other GREAT Britain brand partners, along with the UK Government, through the Prime Minister’s office, to deliver a highly effective international marketing campaign.”

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is being staged for the ninth time.  The fleet of 12 matched Clipper 70 ocean racing yachts will depart from London’s iconic Tower Bridge on 1 September 2013.  The teams of 20-strong crew members will tackle the 40,000-mile challenge over 11 months and eight legs, visiting 15 ports on six continents.

Each crew member has gone through a pioneering training programme, which transforms novices and relatively inexperienced sailors into highly skilled racing yacht crew.  The opportunity to enter this race is open to any individual aged 18 or over, with or without sailing experience.  Every yacht is skippered by a professional sailor who is charged with the task of guiding the crew of amateur sailors in the world’s longest ocean race.