Mace hosts Clipper Challenge 2009
Media
08/07/2009
The annual Mace Group Clipper Challenge took place in the Solent, off the coast of Portsmouth and marks the fourth time the event has taken place. Key colleagues and clients from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Tate, Arup, Nationwide, Fairmont Hotels, Sine QN, Keltbray, Land Securities and Gardiner entered their best sailing teams in what turned out to be a lively and competitive day out at sea, all in the name of duty!
Competitors were greeted with a champagne reception on the eve of the sailing day, 110 metres up Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower, with breathtaking views across the Solent. They were briefed for the event and were able to view the trophies and the prizes that were up for grabs. The following morning a fleet of Benetau 40.7 racing yachts left Gunwharf Quays in perfect conditions of glorious sunshine and winds reaching up to 13 knots. The morning was spent practicing manoeuvres and race training, checking the tide and planning tactics for the three races in the afternoon.
The committee boat took position at the start line and the five minute signal was sounded for the first race. The first race set the tone for the rest of the day with all boats racing very competitively with each other, however it was clear from the beginning that it was going to be a very tightly contested race between Mace Technology, Keltbray and Byrnes.
The first race was won by Mace Technology followed 27 seconds later by Keltbray and then Byrnes, with a significant gap between them and the rest of the fleet. The second race was equally as competitive with Keltbray winning a superbly tactical race beating Mace Technology by 40 seconds and Brynes coming in third place again, meaning the third race would be the decider. The boats were so keen to get across the start line that Swift Horsman who were in fourth place at the time crossed the line early and were disqualified, putting them back to 8th place overall at the end of the day. Keltbray won the final race, with Swift Horsman (OCS) taking second place, Mace Technology in third place and Mace Arts and Leisure in hot pursuit.
The prize giving was held on the top deck of the HMS Warrior where Keltbray proudly took possession of their trophy with a champagne toast to celebrate. The occasion was followed by a three-course meal on the gun deck below, with the after-dinner speech provided by Dee Caffarri, the first woman to sail single handed around the world in both directions when she completed the Vendee Globe Race 2009 in 99 days, coming in sixth position out of thirty entrants.
This year the event has raised in the region of £16,000, which will be donated to The Philip Green Memorial Trust and Cancer Research UK. Mace Group would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors and supporters who make this event possible.
2009 Sponsors:
Byrne Group, Hollandia, Keltbray, Mace, Mace Arts and Leisure, Mace Technology, Mlogic, R&S, RI Building Services and Swift Horsman.
Supporters:
Wilson James, Clipper Ventures, Nautica
To learn more about the history of the Clipper Challenge please click here
