Clipper Ventures has appointed a new Race Director to supervise the biennial Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Justin Taylor, 41 is a previous skipper and served as Deputy Race Director during the Clipper 11-12 Race.

“I have a real passion for ocean yacht racing and I’m delighted to be taking up the role of Race Director,” said Justin Taylor. “I have plenty of experience with the Clipper Race, having been a skipper in the 2002-03 and 2009-10 editions, and as the Deputy Race Director for the past two years.”

Justin is a qualified RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and Yachtmaster instructor with more than 130,000 nautical miles under his belt. As well as circumnavigating in the 2002 Clipper Race he has also made several Atlantic crossings and two of the North Pacific. He was also the winning skipper in the inaugural Round Ireland Challenge Race in 2006.

He has managed the race office and supervised the safety of the fleet whilst at sea and in race stopovers during the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race. As Race Director he takes on many new responsibilities, including managing the introduction of a brand new fleet of twelve 70-foot yachts that will circumnavigate the world for the first time in the ninth edition of the world’s longest ocean race.

Clipper Race Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “The Clipper Race is going from strength to strength and Justin’s appointment builds on the considerable experience in the company at an exciting time in our development. The new fleet, and increased number of crew and boats, will all add to the challenge which I feel our race team, under Justin’s direction, will handle admirably.”