On Wednesday 6 February, 2008 Yachtsman of the Year, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston will launch the Clipper Legal Cup at Trinity House, Tower Hill, London.  

Cup partners the Financial Times and Crisis will be joined by Series partners, Henri Lloyd and Moet & Chandon, together with other event partners, Nautica Watches and Albourne Village to ensure Legal industry leaders race in style in the business-to-business and hospitality sailing event in September.  

The first Clipper industry event was initiated by JP Morgan and Citi Group in 2007 as a platform for business-to-business networking, client hospitality and employee reward.  In 2008 the event has developed into a 5 event series which now includes the Legal Industry and will be raced on the ten Clipper 68ft yachts when they return from their current round the world race.  

At the Trinity House reception, Sir Robin will speak about his 2007 solo circumnavigation in the VELUX 5 OCEANS, and welcome the Financial Times and Crisis, as well as competing and potential corporate race teams.

Clipper Events Commercial Director, Nigel Beacham, welcomed the partnership with the Financial Times. “Clipper’s industry sailing events are as much about creating a compelling business environment as they are about competitive corporate racing and client hospitality.  The Financial Times, with a readership of 1.3 million businessmen and women, is the ideal partner to create the right business platform around the Clipper Legal Cup.  We are delighted to have them on board.”

Ben Hughes, Commercial Director, Financial Times, on securing the partnership, said, ‘We are delighted to be associated with the Clipper Legal Cup, and welcome the opportunity to mix business with pleasure with senior level business people, whilst helping to raise funds for Crisis, a charity with which the FT has been involved for many years.’  

Firms entering teams to compete will commit to raising substantial funds for Crisis, the national charity that fights homelessness and empowers people to fulfil their potential and transform their lives.  Commenting on the relationship, Crisis’ Corporate Partners Executive Tom Sessions said, “Crisis is delighted to be teaming up with Clipper Events and the Financial Times to offer the legal sector this exciting corporate sailing and hospitality event.  Crisis relies on the support of various legal firms and this event will enable us to continue to gain support and profile in this sector. The event will raise vital funds for Crisis’ services, enabling us to help homeless people to turn their lives around and get back into the workplace.”

Since the success of the 2007 inaugural Clipper Finance Cup, Clipper’s Industry Series has grown to attract leaders from the worlds of hedge funds, law, pharmaceuticals and mobile communications, who enter both to race and take advantage of compelling hospitality and business-to-business opportunities.  The Clipper Industry Series now comprises of:

25 July - Clipper Finance Cup in association with Nautica, in aid of Sail 4 Cancer.

26 -27 July - Clipper City Challenge in aid of Sail 4 Cancer

11 September - The Clipper Communications Cup Clipper

12 September - Hedge Funds Cup in association with Albourne Village, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

25 September - Clipper Pharmaceuticals Cup

26 September - Clipper Legal Cup, in aid of Crisis, in association with the Financial Times.  

9 October - Clipper Industry Series Final

Corporations wishing to receive more information on the events or wishing to enter teams are asked to contact the Clipper Events team on 02392 526000 or events@clipper-ventures.com

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For further information, please contact:

Lizzie Allen, Financial Times, 020 7873 4463 or lizzie.allen@ft.com

Jo Crosby, Financial Times, 020 7873 3811 or jo.crosby@ft.com

Notes to Editors

Clipper Legal Cup Partners

The Financial Times

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business newspapers, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy.  Providing extensive news, comment and analysis, the newspaper is printed at 24 print sites across the globe, has a daily circulation of 449,187 (ABC figures, December 2007) and a readership of more than 1.3 million people worldwide. FT.com is one of the world’s leading business information websites, and the internet partner of the FT newspaper. FT.com is the definitive home for business intelligence on the web, providing an essential source of news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community. FT.com attracts 6.5 million unique users, generating 43 million page views. FT.com has 101,000 subscribers.

Crisis

Crisis is a national charity that fights homelessness and empowers people to fulfil their potential and transform their lives. Crisis defines its wider constituency as single homeless people. The focus of our work is on hidden homeless people who may be living in hostels and bed and breakfasts, or sleeping on friends and family’s floors. Crisis estimates that there are 400,000 hidden homeless people – but most do not feature in government statistics.

Trinity House Reception

Guest speaker: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston; solo sailing legend and 2008’s Raymarine/RJA Yachtsman of the Year.

Venue: Trinity House, London – Guest list only

Format: Drinks and canapés

Enquiries to: events@clipper-ventures.com + 44 (0) 2392 526000.

About the Clipper Finance Cup

Raced on Clipper Ventures’ ten 68-foot round the world racing yachts, each with up to 12 participatory guests onboard, the Clipper Finance Cup will deliver a morning of race training, an afternoon of up to three competitive races and an evening of hospitality, business-to-business networking and charity fund raising.  www.clipper-events.com

About the Clipper City Challenge

Sailing club members and their guests from leading corporations will be pitted against each other in a weekend of competitive sailing mixed with relaxed hospitality.  This event is more about mixing amongst corporations than client hospitality and has a competitive but fun atmosphere.

Calendar

July                 25th                   Finance

                       26th  – 27th       Corporate Sailing Clubs

September     11th                   Mobile Communications

                      12th                   Hedge Funds

                      25th                   Pharmaceuticals

                      26th                   Legal

October         9th                    Industry Series Final

About Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Clipper Ventures

In 1968 Sir Robin made history by becoming the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the globe. He repeated this feat in 2007 at the age of 68 and is today the inspirational Chairman of Clipper Ventures, a marine events company which owns and runs a number of round the world races and high end corporate hospitality sailing events.  www.clipperroundtheworld.com

About the Clipper Industry Series Partners:-

·Moet & Chandon

In 1743 Claude Moet, a wine merchant and wine connoisseur, founded the Moet House.  Ever since the 18th century Moet & Chandon champagne has provided pleasure to legends, royals and most recently the most prestigious sporting events in history.  Moet & Chandon has become synonymous with fabulous, defining moments and events throughout the 20th century. www.moet.com

Specialist marine clothing, footwear and accessories brand Henri Lloyd are world leaders in sailing gear and have been pioneering the development of fabrics, garment design and product development for over 40 years. The key to successful sailing gear is to offer protection that maximises the wearer’s comfort and performance in the marine environment. To ensure this, Henri Lloyd has a continuous development programme, working with sailing professionals around the world, all new products have been tested and proven in extreme conditions.  Henri Lloyd distribute extensively throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Australasia, the Far East and North America.  www.henrilloyd.com

Clipper Finance Cup Partners

Nautica

Nautica watches perfectly combine Italian styling, meticulous attention to detail and sport performance to create truly unique timepieces inspired by a long and esteemed heritage in sailing. Nautica watches fuse design and functionality to reflect a lifestyle of energy and activity through the creation of iconic collections best described as modern classics. www.nautica.com

Sail 4 Cancer

Sail 4 Cancer is a charity based organisation that aims to improve the quality of life for individuals and their families who have been affected by cancer. The charity offers a variety of sailing experiences for individuals and their families affected by cancer, the recently bereaved and carers thereby giving them the opportunity to switch off from the realities of everyday life. Sail 4 Cancer also awards grants for the provision of equipment within cancer wards and hospices.  www.sail4cancer.org

Clipper Hedge Fund Cup Partners

Albourne Village

Albourne Village is a free and unique Internet-based knowledge economy for the Alternative Investment and Private Equity community. The site has been designed as an ideal environment for evolving hedge fund news, intellectual property, content and debates on current issues, as well as a valuable source of commercial contacts.  Albourne Village supports Macmillan Cancer Support through its media partnership of the Clipper Hedge Fund Cup. www.village.albourne.com

Macmillan Cancer support

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support.  Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. 1.2 million of us are living with it. If you are affected by cancer Macmillan can help. www.macmillan.org.uk