The Clipper Round the World Race is to get its own TV show. The ten-part documentary series featuring Clipper 07-08 will be shown across the globe over the coming weeks bringing the unique story of the Clipper Race and the 400 crew taking part to millions of viewers as the racing draws to a close in Liverpool.

In a press release, Clipper said, “The character-driven series focuses on some of the people that have taken time out of their
everyday lives to take on the challenge of a lifetime sailing around the world. Each of the half-hour programmes tells their amazing stories as the action and drama of the 35,000-mile race unfolds.”

Sunset Vine | APP was commissioned by Clipper Ventures to produce the 10 x 30-minute documentary programmes, using a combination of onboard footage from every yacht from every stage of the race, in-port material from all 14 stops around the world and helicopter/boat-to-boat footage at starts and finishes.

Series Producer Adam Birley said: “The series transcends the boundaries of sports programming by focusing the narrative on the diverse characters taking part. The unique thing about the Clipper Race is that it is the only round the world race for non-professional sailors making it the sailing race that is most accessible to a non-sailing television audience. For once, everyday people can watch sailing that means something to them, everyday people at sea dealing with the hardships of life on the ocean – the audience can actually put themselves in the characters’ shoes. This is a unique opportunity for a sport usually thought of as elitist.”

Sky Sports in the UK will be showing the first programme of the series today (Thursday 19 June) in the following slots:

Thursday 19 June
Sky Sports Xtra – 0200
Sky Sports 3 – 0730 / 1200

Each of the ten programmes will be shown on a weekly basis in these regular slots, and on Wednesdays at 1800 and 2300.

Meanwhile, in the race, light airs and fog are making for a challenging set of conditions. “Typical Grand Banks weather… damp, cold and foggy, with one exception… no wind,” reports Duggie Gillespie, skipper of New York, the current overall
leader in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race. “We have been drifting about for what seems like days. What little wind that is about, is really patchy.”

Keep up with the race on the Clipper 07-08 website