CLV Clipper Ven.

RNS Number:7411M
Clipper Ventures PLC
7 November 2001

CLIPPER VENTURES PLC ANNOUNCES PORT-HOSTING DEAL

Around Alone goes home to Newport, Rhode Island for its 20th anniversary

Clipper Ventures plc, the ocean racing and marine events company founded by
Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in 1995, today announces that
agreement-in-principle has been reached with Newport, Rhode Island, to host
the start and finish of the 2002 "Around Alone" race for lone sailors.

Ownership of Around Alone, a 28,800-mile solo circumnavigation sailing race,
was acquired by Clipper Ventures in April 2001. Held every four years, the
2002 event will be the sixth since the race's inception and the first one
under Clipper Ventures ownership and management.

The agreement is multi-layered and involves a signing-on fee together with a
series of milestone payments. In addition, Clipper Ventures and Newport will
enter into three profit-sharing deals relating to local merchandising, local
sponsorship, and a waterfront festival timed to coincide with the September
starting date. Finally, Newport, Rhode Island, will be providing Clipper
Ventures with extensive goods and services including moorings, race offices,
media facilities.

The Newport, Rhode Island, agreement represents the biggest race-hosting deal
ever negotiated by Clipper Ventures and indicates how valuable an addition
Around Alone is to the company's portfolio.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston comments: "Part of our strategy for Clipper Ventures
is to broaden our portfolio of marine races & events. After our signature
event, The Clipper Race, Around Alone represents our second major offering and
means we now control two out of the world's five circumnavigation races. The
Newport agreement has given our staff and board a tremendous boost and
demonstrates that our strategy is sound."

Considerable sentiment is attached to the location of the 2002 event as Around
Alone was actually founded in Newport in 1982. It has been run once every four
years ever since. According to Sir Robin: "We are delighted to take this
global event home on its 20th anniversary. It has matured greatly since its
inception and it will be a pleasure to share it with our long-time friends and
supporters at Newport."

Clipper Ventures aims to make Around Alone the number one lone sailing event
worldwide. To this end it has adopted the rules developed by the
competitor-led IMOCA Open 60 Class Association.

Around Alone typically generates media coverage in at least 100 countries
worldwide and the official website has attracted as many as one million visits
per day.


Ends


Further information from:

Ashley Nield, Director, Woodside Communications,
tel: 020 7435 0901 or 07730 435 0901.

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