News

Image Source: ybm.com 

Yachts participating in the dramatic Clipper Round the World Race are scheduled to move through the Panama Canal on June 3rd, as part of an event promoted as “one of the biggest challenges of the natural world and an endurance test like no other.”

The race covers 40,000 nautical miles and contestants, many of whom have no previous sailing experience, man 70-foot yachts. “It is the only race in the world where the organizers supply a fleet of 12 identical racing yachts, each with a fully qualified skipper to safely guide the crew,” according to the race promoters.

The race is expected to reach Panama later this week, depending on the weather. Several of the racers will be staying at Naos Harbour Island, according to PPR property manager Brian Kelly.

“Three different groups have booked so far,” Kelly said. “More have contacted me, but we’re  waiting to see final dates of arrival, with current weather conditions playing a big part.”

Naos and the Amador Causeway is “the perfect quiet spot for the participants to take a break and relax, without the hassles of a hotel or the craziness of the city,” he added.

(Naos is one of the few developments in Panama City that offers short-term rentals. Read more here.)

The Clipper Race, which is in its 11th year, is undoubtedly one of the most unusual sporting events in the world. Created by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, participants come from all walks of life, from business executives to taxi drivers. Participants must complete a “rigorous training course” and they are outfitted in the “latest extreme protection gear” to prepare for the challenges of an ocean contest.

The race is divided into eight legs and there are 13 to 16 individual races during the trip around the world.

“The sea does not distinguish between Olympians or novices,” the race website says. “There is nowhere to hide–if Mother Nature throws down the gauntlet, you must be ready to face the same challenges as the pro racer.”

Interested in participating in next year’s race? You can sign up here.