SYDNEY (NS) – April 15, 2009 – Cape Breton Island will sponsor a yacht in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race thanks to an investment from the Government of Canada through Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC). The funding announcement was made today by the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency).
“Clipper 09-10 is more than a yacht race, it is a global marketing opportunity to promote Cape Breton Island,” said Minister Ashfield. “The yacht dubbed the “Cape Breton Island - Nova Scotia’s Masterpiece” will be one of 10 yachts in the race, visiting 14 ports worldwide. The activities organized in each port of call will provide a dynamic backdrop to promote Cape Breton tourism, investment, trade, education and immigration opportunities.”
When the starting gun is fired to officially launch the Clipper 09-10 Race on September 13, 2009, the ten identical 68-foot yachts, each representing a different city, state or country, will travel around the globe stopping in 14 ports on five continents and covering 35,000 miles over 10 months.
The Sydney Ports Corporation will sponsor the Cape Breton branded yacht in this year’s race. Sponsorship secures Sydney as an official port of call along the route and provides extensive international promotional rights for Cape Breton Island in all of the ports of call.
Setting off from England, the Clipper route takes the fleet of yachts across the Atlantic Ocean to South America, then on to Africa, Australia, Singapore, China, the Pacific coast of the USA and through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean and the eastern seaboard of North America. The yachts will be in Sydney in June 2010 as the last stop before the final leg of the race that ends in England in July 2010.
The Government of Canada, through Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, is investing $500,000 in this initiative.
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA’s programs on Cape Breton Island and the Mulgrave area.
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INFORMATION:
D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
902-564-3617