Ten British registered 68 foot yachts participating in the world’s longest
ocean race formed up into a spectacular ‘Parade of Sail’ in New York this
afternoon (GMT) with the lead boats flying huge GREAT Britain spinnaker
sails in a salute to Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Clipper fleet sails past the Statue of Liberty - photo Onedition

The Clipper fleet sails past the Statue of Liberty - photo Onedition



The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race flotilla flew their GREAT Britain
spinnakers by the Statue of Liberty before being welcomed by hundreds of
people waving British flags in North Cove Marina in front of the World
Financial Center at lunch time (local time).

Today’s event happened at the same time as 1000 boats participated in a
flotilla in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in London. The Clipper Race
founder and chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who became the first person
to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-9, is participating in the
Avenue of Sail in the boat Suhaili he took around the world over forty years
ago. Tomorrow he flies out to New York to join the GREAT Britain
celebrations and promotions taking place in Manhattan.

Flying the GREAT Britain spinnakers were British entries Welcome to
Yorkshire and Edinburgh Inspiring Capital.

Upon arrival into North Cove Marina, Welcome to Yorkshire skipper Rupert
Dean said, “What an immensely proud moment for us to be flying these GREAT
Britain spinnakers here in New York, while the whole of Britain celebrates
Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee today. I’m very excited that we as
crew and skippers of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race have paid our
tribute to the country.”

The ten entries and crew represent global destinations, including the ‘home
boat’ New York, the only US entry in the 40,000 mile race.

The UK has a GREAT heritage and this ‘parade of sail’ marks a milestone
historical event, HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, an occasion being marked
across the Commonwealth and here in the US. This is the beginning of a
remarkable period for the UK; the Olympic Torch run is making its way across
Britain and will reach its destination on 27 July, when The London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games begin. The heritage for the modern Olympics and
the Paralympics began in the UK.