Sunday 2nd October
10h00 Clipper yacht open for viewing for RCYC members 
12h00 Clipper Yacht departs RCYC
16h00 Dragon Boat Race for Clipper Crews, V&A
One of the Clipper 68s, the boats which make up the Clipper Race fleet, will be open to the public for a guided tour on Sunday (2 October) from 1300-1500 at the North Wharf, next to the Aquarium in the V&A Waterfront.

Wednesaday 5th October   ( book a trip on one of our spectator boats - R220 per person   )
12h00 Clipper Yachts Depart V&A 
13h15 Clipper Fleet Parade of Sail 
14h30 RACE 4 start Clipper 2011-12 Race to W. Australia

Press Report from the Prize giving on the 1st October ........
The England rugby squad wasn’t the only team celebrating today as the Clipper Race fleet attended the official Welcome Ceremony and Prize Giving in Cape Town.

Earlier in the day a mass of crew members gathered to watch the Rugby World Cup game between the two fierce rivals as the crews continue to relax and recuperate after the 3,300-mile race from Rio de Janeiro.

On the same big screen in the V&A Amphitheatre a video showing highlights of the start of the Clipper 11-12 Race in Southampton played as the crews took their places among the public who had gathered to be part of the event.

Race Director Joff Bailey explained a little about the race before Theuns Vivian, Destination Marketing Manager for the City of Cape Town welcomed the crews on behalf of the city, saying, “We’d like to say welcome to our guests – they’ve travelled a long way.”

Explaining to the audience, he continued, “The guys are in good spirits and say that Cape Town has been a good stopover for them and we would like to see them back here soon.”

And to the crews, “Welcome, have a great time, bring your families back and enjoy wonderful Cape Town.”

Clipper Race Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, first visited Cape Town in 1957, more than a decade before becoming the first man ever to sail solo and non-stop around the world.

“It’s great to be back in Cape Town, and if you haven’t been here before you’ll find out what a great city this is,” he enthused. “When you look up at Table Mountain you realise this is one of those cities you will never forget. I hope you all get a chance to climb the mountain – the view is fantastic and it’s one of those things you just ought to do while you’re here.

“Thank you very much for welcoming us to Cape Town – the Tavern of the Seas – and it’s had that reputation for 400 years. From personal experience I can tell you the people are extremely hospitable but since you are setting off soon across the Southern Ocean to Australia, don’t overdo the hospitality!”

Dutch entry De Lage Landen was the first team on stage as they notched their first podium position of the Clipper 11-12 Race, finishing third into South Africa.

Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi was the next boat song to boom out across the V&A as Visit Finland received another second place pennant to add to the one they picked up during Race 1.

Then it was the turn of Gold Coast Australia, who celebrated a hat trick of victories and in doing so have created a seven point gap between themselves and Visit Finland at the top of the overall race leader board.

The Australian team were ‘persuaded’ to show off their dancing prowess as the Cape Town Ghoema Entertainers gave them a quick lesson in the minstrel tradition that is part of the city’s culture. The group, one of the best in Cape Town, had been on the quay to welcome the Race 3 winners to South Africa when they arrived on Wednesday. Their performance opened the prize giving ceremony and afterwards they led the crews to the waiting trio of bright red City sightseeing open top buses provided by Cape Town Tourism which whisked the ten teams to the Royal Cape Yacht Club for a traditional South African braai, or barbecue.

On Sunday the Leg 3 crews will officially join their boats and the teams’ focus will switch to the forthcoming race across the infamous Southern Ocean to the City of Geraldton in Western Australia. Race 4 will start on Wednesday 5 October.