Nova Scotia Yacht Nears Home Port in World Yacht Race

A yacht flying Nova Scotia's flag is nearing its home port in the 2008 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Yachts in the international race are now arriving in New York and are scheduled to depart for Nova Scotia on Wednesday, June 4.

"For the past nine months, we've had a yacht sponsored by the province and branded with novascotia.com racing around the world and promoting Nova Scotia," said Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Bill Dooks. "Along with our partners, we are asking Nova Scotians to support the crew and get involved in the 2008 Clipper Yacht Race activities being planned for Halifax and Sydney."

The race is the longest sporting event in the world, with 10 identical state-of-the-art yachts sailing on a 65,000-kilometre (35,000-nautical mile) odyssey to the yachts' home ports around the world. The race gives home ports exposure to a global audience of more than 200 million people.

Each of the 21-metre yachts is backed by a city or region around the world. They are crewed by up to 17 people from all walks of life who are led by professional skippers. The 2007-08 event began in September and is divided into 14 individual races in which the teams earn points. The team with the most points when the fleet arrives in Liverpool, England on July 5 will win the Clipper Trophy.

After twice crossing the Atlantic Ocean, rounding the Cape of Good Hope, navigating the Pacific Ocean and traversing the Panama Canal, the yachts will reach Nova Scotia on Sunday, June 8. Visitors and residents will be able to view the extraordinary vessels in Halifax until June 12 and in Sydney from June 13 to 16.

Mr. Dooks said a highlight of the activities will be the presentation of the Democracy 250 Cup to the winner of an unofficial leg of the Clipper race from Halifax to Sydney. Democracy 250 is sponsoring the Nova Scotia race in recognition of this year's 250th anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in Canada. The cup will be presented at a public ceremony at the Sydney Marine Terminal on June 14.

The cost of of Nova Scotia's participation in the international race is $500,000. The federal government is investing $200,000 and the province is investing $100,000. Other funding partners include Destination Halifax, Halifax Regional Municipality, and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Nova Scotia's participation in the race is being co-ordinated by Events Halifax.

"The race is of definite interest to Nova Scotians because of our proud seafaring traditions," said Peter MacKay, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "Hosting the yachts in both Halifax and Sydney will attract visitors and generate significant economic spinoffs for the local economy."

Supporters of Nova Scotia's team can follow its progress by clicking on the race viewer tab at www.clipperroundtheworld.com . The yachts' positions are updated every six hours. The crew's blogs, videos and photos are also posted.