As they geared up for the start, Clipper Race crews were treated to some invaluable sail repair training as part of the ongoing support from Hyde Sails. The one day sail repair course was run by two of Hyde’s highly experienced team, Martin Newman and Paul Austin.
Specialist sail repair training is given to Clipper race crews © Hyde Sails
As the official sail supplier for the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, Hyde has been closely involved with the boats as they prepared for their round the world test, helping the crews to train in sail repair and maintenance, which will be a necessary part of their trip.
Hyde Sails will power all ten of the Clipper yachts as they race round the world. Over the course of ten months and 35,000 miles of racing, the yachts and their sails will face some of the most testing sailing conditions possible, including the challenges of the Southern Ocean.
Specialist sail repair training is given to Clipper race crews © Hyde Sails..
Martin and Paul, who have over 35 years of sailmaking experience between them, trained 20 crew members in the art of how to use the onboard sewing machines to repair spinnakers and how to carry out hand sewn repairs to their fore and aft sails. Crews will need these skills in case of sail damage during a leg, when they will need to undertake any essential repairs to their sails in order to finish a leg.
At each stopover specialist support will also be available to service the fleets’ sails and perform more permanent repairs where necessary. For more details and to follow the story of Hyde’s Sails in the race.
Hyde Sails Hyde is one of the largest volume sail producers worldwide. Backed up by 45 years of expertise, Hyde has consistently placed itself at the forefront of sail technology, design and production for everything from Optimists to ocean racing yachts.
About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was founded in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world. So that others could follow in his footsteps he set up the Clipper Race enabling ordinary people to become ocean racers and achieve the pinnacle in ocean yacht racing, a circumnavigation.
