Diane Reid resigns from Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race

Cape Town, South Africa (October 24, 2015) – Clipper Race veteran British Skipper Matt Mitchell, 28 is to join ClipperTelemed+ in Cape Town, to lead the team for the remainder of the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race following the resignation of its current Canadian Skipper, Diane Reid, who is leaving for personal family considerations.

“We are very sorry to see Diane leave us, but respect and understand her decision,” said Race Director Justin Taylor. “She has been a very popular skipper and has run a great race into Cape Town. We wish her well.”

Reid, 42, was the first Canadian woman to be appointed as skipper in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Reid was one of two female skippers, also a first for this 10th edition of the race.

Mitchell has over 120,000 nautical miles under his belt, not only having led a team in the previous edition of the Clipper Race, but in a long catalogue of races including two Fastnets, three RORC 600s, Antigua Sailing Week, St Martin Heineken Regatta, St Thomas Rolex Regatta, BVI Spring Regatta, Le Voiles de St Barths, Cowes Week, Round the Island Race, Hamble Winter Series and ARC.

Matt said: “I’m very excited to be getting back aboard a Clipper 70 and look forward to meeting the ClipperTelemed+ crew. Diane has done a great job and I look forward to working with the crew to build on their campaign.”

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Report by event media.

Background: The 40,000 mile Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race began in London, UK on August 30 for the fleet of twelve identical Tony Castro designed Clipper 70s. The series is divided into 16 individual races, with the team with the best cumulative score winning the Clipper Race Trophy. Each team is led by a professional skipper with an all-amateur crew.

The second leg started October 7 and takes the fleet 3387 nm from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town, South Africa. The fleet is due into Cape Town between October 21 and 26 and will be berthed at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront until October 31.

The ports along the race route are Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Cape Town, South Africa; Albany, Sydney, Hobart and Airlie Beach, Australia; Da Nang, Vietnam; Qingdao, China; Seattle, USA; Panama; New York, USA; Derry-Londonderry, Ireland; and Den Helder, Netherlands before returning to London by late July.