Northern Irish city Derry-Londonderry is to return to the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as a team sponsor for the event’s 2013-14 and 2015-16 editions.
The designated UK City of Culture for 2013 will promote its international trade, tourism and business development by lending its branding to a yacht for the 40,000-mile, 11-month race and host stopovers for the entire Clipper Race fleet in 2014 and 2016.
It will be the second time Derry-Londonderry is represented in the biennial race having sponsored an entry in 2011-12 and hosted the 10-day Clipper Homecoming Festival in July 2012.
Derry-Londonderry Mayor Martin Reilly said: “Our participation in the 2011-12 Race and the Clipper Homecoming Festival in July 2012 was a phenomenal experience for everyone and was the stepping stone to the city’s UK City of Culture 2013 celebrations.
"It successfully showcased the city and achieved a PR value of £104m (€120.4m/$157.1m) in media coverage as well as generating almost 8,000 bed nights and achieving 98 per cent positive comments in relation to civic pride.”