The new boats have arrived, and so have the sails, so the first sailing days for the new generation of Clipper yachts are imminent…

The first of the 12 all-new Clipper 70 yachts have arrived in the UK, as have the first of their sails. The Hyde Sails team has been working hard developing the sails for the new boats, which are due to start their race round the world in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race next year.

Clipper Ventures commissioned highly respected Hamble-based naval architect Tony Castro to design the new fleet, which features the third generation of Clipper Race yachts, replacing the earlier generation 68- foot yachts which will continue to be used for training.

The 12 new yachts will create the world’s biggest matched fleet of large ocean racing yachts.

As the official sail supplier for the Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race, Hyde Sails will power all 12 of the Clipper yachts as they race round the world. Over the course of 10 months and 40,000 miles of racing, the yachts and their sails will face some of the most testing sailing conditions possible, including the challenges of the Southern Ocean. As well as the benefits of the highest quality workmanship, skippers will receive specialist support at key stopovers.

The ninth edition of the unique biennial event starts in summer 2013 and will take almost a year to complete. It is the longest of all the ocean races and the only race to train amateurs to cross some of the world’s most challenging oceans.