The fleet of The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is just days away from reaching Jamaica, and preparations are well underway to ensure the Jamaica stopover of the race is the most exciting.  A week of festivities is planned from 17 May to 24 May to ensure the crews experience the vibrant culture and warm Jamaican hospitality. 

Participants in the Clipper Round the World Yacht are a mix of paying amateurs and professional skippers, and the Jamaica stopover falls three-quarters of the way through the race.  The race crews have seen a great deal on their journey, and will discover a seafarer's paradise when they approach Jamaica and set eyes on its white beaches and lush rainforest backdrop. The fleet will moor at the world-class Errol Flynn Marina, located in the town of Port Antonio, and in addition to the marina's premier facilities, adjoining areas will be transformed into a sailing carnival and a celebration of all things Jamaican. 

The 12-strong Clipper fleet will receive a distinctly warm Jamaican reception on arrival, complete with live pulsating rhythms and spectacular colourful costumes and bands.  Once all the yachts are moored, the weary crews, who will have travelled 590 nautical miles from Panama to Jamaica, can unwind in true Jamaican style at a Grand Gala evening event on Monday 19 May.  The rest of the week-long festivities will include sailing days, regattas, and excursions right across Jamaica.  The crews will then depart from Jamaica for the next leg of the race to New York on Saturday 24 May. 

Jamaica's Director of Tourism, John Lynch, said:  “The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is an ideal platform to take the Jamaica brand world-wide and highlight the energy and spirit embodied in our people.  This is expressed in JAMAICA Get All Right, the name of Jamaica's entry in this year's event.  Jamaica is more than just a holiday destination, it's also a place where people go to enjoy the island's culture and vibe; it's a place where people go to relax and 'Get All Right'.  

“We look forward to welcoming the entire Clipper fleet and especially the JAMAICA Get All Right crew to Port Antonio in a few days.  They will experience our Jamaican energy, our delicious food, and of course our world-famous rum.  Appleton Rum, a major sponsor of the event, will be providing the top prize for the yacht that wins the Spirit of Jamaica Chase from Panama to Jamaica, but rest assured there will be plenty of rum for all.”  

Top 5 Clipper Race Facts

1. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was launched in 1996 and founded by famous sailor Sir Robin Knox Johnson.
2. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the world's longest ocean race. 
3. The 2013-2014 Round the World Yacht Race fleet consists of 12, 70-foot ocean racing yachts.  Each clipper yacht carries up to 22 amateur crew members guided by a professional skipper.
4. The Clipper 2013-2014 Race is made up of eight legs, and the scoring system is similar to Formula 1, with the team crossing each finish line first securing 12 points and the final team receiving 1 point.  The team with the highest cumulative points will win the overall Clipper Race.
5. Jamaica has competed in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race three times.

Top 5 Port Antonio Facts

1. Port Antonio's marina is named after Errol Flynn, one of Port Antonio's most famous residents. Flynn visited Port Antonio in 1942 when sailing his yacht, Zaca, to the Galapagos Islands. He famously described Port Antonio as "the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon". In 1950 Flynn relocated permanently to Port Antonio with his third wife Patrice Wynmore.
2. Errol Flynn Marina was built in 2002 by the Port Authority of Jamaica.  In addition to being a facility for boats, it has a lesser-known landing area for up to four helicopters.
3. The Blue Lagoon is one of Port Antonio's most popular attractions.  Jamaicans refer to the site as Blue Hole, and the movie 'Blue Lagoon' was filmed there and made it world famous.
4. Port Antonio is featured in many Hollywood blockbusters, such as 'Club Paradise' and 'Cocktail'.
5. Port Antonio is known by photographers all around the world as the most idyllic and scenic place to shoot, capturing Jamaica at its finest.

For more information on Jamaica please see www.VisitJamaica.com

Photo 1 – The Jamaica Get All Right Yacht; Photo 2 – Frenchman's Cove, Port Antonio

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About Jamaica Tourist Board

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica's national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB was declared the Caribbean's Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) from 2006 to 2013. Also in 2013, Jamaica earned the WTA's vote for the World's Leading Cruise Destination, Caribbean's Leading Destination and Caribbean's Leading Cruise Destination for the seventh consecutive year. Additionally, the Historic Falmouth Cruise Port was recognised as the World's Leading Tourism Development Project while Ocho Rios was named the Caribbean's Leading Cruise Port and Sangster International Airport was voted the Caribbean's Leading Airport. In Canada, Jamaica was voted the Favourite Honeymoon Destination by Travel Agents.      

JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo. 

For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB's website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board 020 7225 9090.  Follow the JTB on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitjamaicauk, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jtbuk, on Instagram at http://instagram.com/visitjamaica on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/myjamaica/or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/myjamaicajtb. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com.