News

Rugby International to swap pitch for Clipper yacht

07 August 2008

England Rugby International, Joe Worsley, has announced that he plans to race onboard one of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet at Cowes Week 2009 as part of his testimonial year.

The Wasps and Rugby World Cup winning England International will swap his rugby kit for oilskins next year when he competes on two days of Cowes Week 2009 in the Clipper 68/Farr 65 class.  His plans to get onboard one of Clipper Ventures Plc’s matched fleet of ten 68-foot ocean racing yachts was announced today at Skandia Cowes Week 2008 as part of his upcoming testimonial year calendar.

Joe has had an impressive rugby career and is rated as one the best utility back row forwards in the country.  An integral member of the London Wasps squad, Joe has also achieved 67 caps for England and was a member of the victorious Rugby World Cup squad in 2003.  Speaking at the announcement Joe said, ”I’ve always wanted to sail down here at Cowes Week.  It’s something I’m really excited about and I’ll be sailing on one of the Clipper yachts with four or five other England players.  I’ve already mentioned it to the squad and some of the guys are really keen to take part.”

A special dinner event at the new Twickenham Stadium on 30 October 2008 will launch the start of Joe’s Testimonial year and will be the first rugby event to be held at the recently enlarged stadium.  Guests will be invited to bid for the opportunity to join him and one other England International onboard the Clipper 68 and compete in one of the world’s oldest, largest and most prestigious sailing regattas.  As well as raising money for Joe’s testimonial year the auction will support the Professional Rugby Players Association, the Lymphoma Association and the Burned Children’s Club.  The prize includes:

Two days’ racing onboard a Clipper 68-foot racing yacht for eight guests with Joe Worsley and a guest England player, professional skipper and crew;
Accommodation in Cowes for two nights;
Social events with Joe and his England Rugby guests each evening culminating in the spectacular Cowes firework display on the final Friday evening, Friday 7 August 2009

The Clipper fleet has just returned to the UK at the end the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race and is currently competing at Skandia Cowes Week 2008.  Joe took the opportunity to get up close to one of the Clipper 68s and was shown around by winning Clipper 07-08 Race skipper Duggie Gillespie of the US entry New York.

Joe said, “I would really love to do the entire Clipper Round the World Yacht race but unfortunately time commitments won’t allow me to do it until I retire.  Hopefully I’ll be able to get onboard for a leg in the next couple of years.”

When the Clipper Race fleet is not racing around the world Clipper Events manages a busy corporate programme of hospitality and team building events on the yachts.  When Joe and his guest join the Clipper 68 for Cowes Week 2009 they will be racing with and against some of the country’s most powerful and influential captains of industry.