GoToBermuda Team Begins Clipper Sailing Race
A sailing team — representing Bermuda on the Clipper Race – has started its race across the North Pacific Ocean.
A spokesperson said, “After a two-year delay caused by the pandemic, the GoToBermuda team started its North Pacific quest, restarting the Clipper 2019-20 Race from the Philippines. Leg 7 will see the teams race from Seattle down to Panama, pass through the Panama Canal and then up to Bermuda arriving in mid-June where the crews will take a break and enjoy a week in Bermuda before racing on to New York. After New York, the fleet will race across the North Atlantic to Londonderry for the city’s Maritime Festival.”
“We have been waiting for two years to welcome Team Bermuda, and the Clipper Race to Bermuda,” said Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO, Charles Jeffers II. “We’re proud of Bermudian ambassadors, Clipper Race sailors Matthew Stephens and Chanara Smith-Rookes who will each brave the voyage and will bring a dose of Bermudian culture to their respective legs. We wish our ambassadors and each crew a safe and easy journey and look forward to welcoming them to Bermuda’s shores.”
A spokesperson said, “The multinational crew of some 150 sailors includes the 14-strong GoToBermuda crew, representing five different nationalities from Canadian to Chinese. It also includes father and daughter Chris and Maddie Church.
Maddie said, “Sailing halfway around the world with my father is the opportunity of a lifetime. Sailing has always been a huge part of his life, so I’m excited to do this together and share these moments and memories to come.”
Chris added: “Sailing is a passion of mine and I am thrilled to be sailing across the most challenging oceans in the world with my daughter. Bermuda is a home-from-home for us, it’s a spectacular place with super-friendly people, and it’s going to be amazing to sail into port there, having crossed the North Pacific and transited the Panama Canal.”
A spokesperson said, “The entire GoToBermuda Race Crew competing across the full edition consists of 67 men and women, from 18-72 years old from 13 different countries. The 2019-20 edition sees Bermuda as a debut Team and Host Port Partner, working with the Clipper Race to promote the island, a long-standing sailing destination, famed for its azure waters and luxury yet laid-back lifestyle. Through this campaign, the Bermuda brand will be showcased globally, elevating brand awareness for the destination, while supporting some of the most challenging sailing in the world.
“On restarting the race and the challenges that lie ahead, GoToBermuda Skipper, David ‘Wavy’ Immelman, said: “We are feeling confident in our team. There’s a lot of things to look forward to about this North Pacific challenge, from the experience itself and to the hard work of the team pulling together and of course celebrating the team’s achievement when they complete it!”
“Explaining what lies ahead for the Race Crew, Mark added: “The crossing ahead will be huge. The Pacific Ocean is the biggest body of water on Earth, and the crew can expect huge depressions that will roll across every few days, making for huge waves and strong winds. You will not get sailing like this anywhere else in the world. It’s one of the most inhospitable environments, and a place that not many people get to go, let alone sail across. It’s hostile, but beautiful at the same time, and the crew can look forward to some really exhilarating sailing on this race.”
You can follow the GoToBermuda team’s progress on the Clipper Race Viewer, which is now live.
