Clipper fleet crews get ready to take on world

Sep 13 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

Glasgow, Liverpool and New York boats line up at the Albert Dock in preperation for the round-the-world Clipper yacht race _320

A FLEET of yachts and their crews are busy preparing for extreme weather, cramped conditions and exhaustion at Albert Dock this week, just days before the world-renowned Clipper yacht race begins.

The competition, which starts in Liverpool on Sunday and finishes in the city in July 2008, is one of the biggest events in the maritime calendar and sees vessels from around the world race to 14 different destinations.

The fleet moored up at Albert Dock last Saturday and crew members, made up of enthusiastic amateurs and professional skippers, are busy checking the 68ft-long vessels and supplies.

Ten clippers will leave the Albert Dock at 3pm on Sunday and head for the first port of call, La Rochelle in western France, before moving on to Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.

The teams, from cities around the world including Liverpool and New York, will race back to Liverpool in July 2008 and the winner declared.

The Liverpool 08 team, headed by 26-year-old skipper Ben Galloway, has high hopes of achieving first place. The group has many local members, including father-of-two Tony Aloftus, from Cressington Park, who is sailing in the final leg.

Mr Aloftus, who owns Wizard card and gift shop on Albert Dock, said: “As I am a born and bred Scouser the idea of coming into my home port after 3,000 miles across the Atlantic and parking outside my own shop, with my family and friends watching will be a big thrill.

“Leaving the wife and kids will be tough but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity which I cannot wait for.”

Fellow crew member and father-of-three Richie Pope from Mossley Hill said: “I have always wanted to sail but until now I have been busy running a business but that has been wrapped up and I have time to pursue my dream.

“My family persuaded me to go and I have taken three courses in preparation. I will be present on the first leg and I think it will be difficult to leave everyone, after building up such a team spirit.”

Bruce Macky, from Adelaide, part of the Southern Australian team, was impressed by his welcome into Liver- pool and the Albert Dock. He said: “I think this place is absolutely amazing. At the time it was designed it must have been so forward thinking and the restoration work is brilliant.

“I am sailing on the whole trip and it is my dream to travel around the world. It is so exciting to come to Liverpool and prepare for the race on Sunday.”

Pupils at 10 Liverpool primary schools have visited the boats as part of a year-long education programme.

Each school has been allocated to one of the 10 yachts, and will maintain contact with their allotted yacht until the fleet arrives back in Liverpool in July 2008.

Pupils will keep in touch via email, and send parcels for crews to pick up when they arrive at each port. On Monday and Tuesday the children, from schools including Belle Vale Pri- mary, Corinthian Com- munity Primary, Old Swan and St Paul’s Catholic Junior School, West Derby, met the Clipper crews and heard about day-to-day life onboard.

THE Clippers will leave Albert Dock at 11.30am and the race starts on the Waterfront at 3pm. The public are invited to both events.

lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk