Usain Bolt joined the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister for Tourism, in Berlin yesterday to launchJamaica Lightning Bolt, Jamaica’s entry in the Clipper Race 09-10. Bolt was in Berlin to compete in the IAAF World Championships where he confirmed his status as the fastest man on the planet with world records in the 100m and 200m.

‘To be involved again with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is yet another element of our strategy to put Jamaica on the map by using our sporting events,’ said Bartlett. ‘Our sporting heroes and our sporting facilities to show the world that we may be a small island but we are a great nation of sporting excellence.’

Jamaica Lightning Boltand her amateur paying crew will compete against nine identical stripped down 68-foot yachts in the 35,000-mile race around the world. ‘I can’t tell you how proud I am to be leading the team that will represent Jamaica,’ said skipper Peter Stirling. ‘The race route will take in a visit to the island when we arrive at Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio next May and the team and I want to ensure that we arrive there in first place.’

The Clipper 09-10 Race will start from the Humber on the east coast of England on 13 September 2009, returning on 17 July 2010.