North Sydney, NS - Northern Yacht Club (NYC) junior sailing instructors and students received a once in a lifetime experience this week through the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race visit to Sydney.

On Tuesday, three NYC instructors joined tactician John Hughes, the first Canadian to sail solo around the world, with Clipper Race skipper Chris Stanmore-Major in sailing the Qingdao to victory in the Clash of Legends Race around Sydney Harbour.

“It was an amazing experience”, says Stephen Cantwell, NYC junior sailing instructor. To have an opportunity to sail with some of the world’s best known sailors, on board a clipper is a once in a lifetime opportunity. To do it in my own hometown was incredible.”

The Clipper 09-10 Round the World visit also provided the opportunity for some younger NYC sailors to tour the Cape Breton Island Clipper and meet the crew. Thursday’s visit allowed for those children and youth who normally sail a 4.2 meter International 420 Class Dinghy as compared to boarding a 20.7 meter Clipper 68. “I’m looking forward to standing behind the wheel that’s taller than I am,” says 8 year old Kate Smith, one of the youngest NYC sailors.

The junior sailors have been busy over the past month training and preparing for the Canadian Yachting Association sanctioned Sail East 2010. The junior race event being hosted by the club July 21 to 24, is expected to attract up to 150 competitors.

The Northern Yacht Club's Learn to Sail Program promotes excellence in sailing skills in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and fun. Participants are taught according to Canadian Yachting Association standards with emphasis on safety, theory, boat handling, sportsmanship, and for those so inclined a competitive sailing. The prime objective of the program is to sail safely. The NYC Junior Sailing program is a not for profit organization that is run through the Northern Yacht Club in North Sydney.

The Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race started on 13 September from the Humber on the UK’s east coast and return there in July 2010 after 35,000 miles of ocean racing. No previous sailing experience is required to take part as full training is provided. More than 40 nationalities an 230 professions are represented by crew competing in Clipper 09-10. Crew can sign up for the whole circumnavigation or one or more legs. The overall race is divided into individual races and points are accumulated according to each individual race position. The yacht with the highest total at the finish wins the race trophy.

For further information log onto www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Standings after Race 11

1. Spirit of Australia 107 points

2. Cape Breton Island 87 points

3. Team Finland 83.3 points

4. Jamaica Lightning Bolt 80 points

5. Hull & Humber 73 points

6. Uniquely Singapore 66 points

7. Qingdao 57 points

8. Edinburgh Inspiring Capital 43 points

9. Cork 41.8 points

10. California 32 points

For more information, please contact:

Paula Smith, Learn to Sail Director, Northern Yacht Club

Telephone: (902)794-4028

Email: paulasmith@eastlink.ca

Heather Ewing, Communications Manager (in Cape Breton Island, Canada GMT -3/BST-4)

Local cell phone: +1 (902) 549 3549

Mobile: +44 (0) 7792 408 695 Tel: +44 (0) 2392 526000

Email: hewing@clipper-ventures.com