“Achieve something remarkable” preach Clipper sailors

Memnia Theodorou with her poster on the London Uderground.

UK commuters will come face to face with Clipper 2015-16 Race crew at over 600 London Underground and national railway stations over the next two weeks with the relaunch of the race’s inventive 50:50 advertising campaign.

Crew members Alex Laline (ClipperTelemed+), Ana Downer-Duprey (Visit Seattle), Memnia Theodorou (GREAT Britain) and Junior Hoorelbeke (LMAX Exchange), who all competed in the last edition of the race, star in the eye-catching recruitment campaign which aims to inspire everyday people to “achieve something remarkable” on the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the only event of its kind on the planet which trains amateur sailors to become ocean racers.

Junior Hoorelbeke. Clipper 2017-18 Race 50:50 campaign to recruit sailors.

Ana Downer Duprey. Clipper 2017-18 Race 50:50 campaign to recruit sailors.

Alex Laline. Clipper 2017-18 Race 50:50 campaign to recruit sailors.

Memnia Theodorou. Clipper 2017-18 Race 50:50 campaign to recruit sailors.

Katharine Schäfli, Head of Brand for the Clipper Race, said: “This is our third year running the ‘50:50’ campaign. The idea is powerful – it clearly demonstrates how people from all walks of life can change when they become ocean racers on the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

“The appeal of adventure and a life lived to the full is extremely attractive to weary commuters seeking a unique lifestyle change. More than 40 per cent of the 2017-18 crew already signed up have mentioned they discovered the race thanks to the poster campaigns.”

This October marks twenty years since the Clipper Race, brainchild of legendary sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world, first set sail in 1996. Since then over 4,000 people have taken on the challenge to become ocean racers.

Known as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet, 690 people representing 44 different nationalities competed in the tenth edition race which returned to London in July this year after taking eleven months to complete the 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation.

Memnia Theodorou, who became the first Cypriot woman to sail from the UK to Australia when she completed the first four legs of the eight stage race, said: “I myself actually signed up to do the Clipper Race after seeing a 50:50 campaign poster in Shepherd’s Bush underground station. Every time I saw the posters I kept gauging the before and after changes of the girl’s face and thought what a brave decision it was for her to take part in this race.

“The following year I came across the GREAT Britain boat poster, which said, “You?” That’s when I thought ‘this is for ordinary people like me, why not?’ so I applied!” explained Memnia.

With the posters on display for the next two weeks, circumnavigator Junior Hoorelbeke, from Belgium, reflects on life before the race and admits it feels strange to think it is now his image that will be inspiring future generations of crew to take up the challenge.

“Life is too short to sit behind a desk every single day. Before the Race Start I stayed in London for two weeks and sat between the standard commuters of the London Underground. Although I normally also am one of those suits, I felt for them. They did not seem happy at all, while I could not stop smiling, knowing the adventure I was going to embark upon.

Junior added: “The only advice I must give to those who want to join the race is ‘beware’. You will need to fight Mother Nature at her hardest, this is not a luxury trip. But being part of a race team and working together on greater goal is spectacular. You will meet incredible people, visit amazing places and achieve something remarkable. Your life will change forever.”

The Clipper 2017-18 Race starts next summer and is already 70 per cent full, with crew undergoing their training at our Hampshire, UK, and Sydney, Australia, HQs.

Action from the 2015/16 Clipper Race.

GREAT Britain yacht departs Rio during the 2015/16 Clipper Race.