Garmin sponsors 10th Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Garmin, the global leader in satellite navigation, is proud to announce its continued sponsorship of the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race.

Garmin’s technology will be put to the test for a second time in a gruelling 40,000 mile race through some of the world’s harshest environments.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Mattias Daldborg, EMEA Marine Marketing Manager says, “It is a privilege to be able to fit out the prestigious Clipper Race yachts with the latest Garmin technology. We are looking forward to getting feedback from the skippers and crews about how the products are performing 24/7 for 11 months.”

The identical 70 foot yachts will all be equipped with Garmin navigation and electronics equipment. Products fitted as standard include VHF radio with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and Automatic Identification System (AIS), GPSMAP multifunction display and wind instruments.

Every yacht has one professional sailor – the skipper, and the remaining are amateur sailors, with many of the crew changing at each stop-over. New team members can be confident they will be able to quickly get the best from the navigation and electronics equipment as it is designed to be simple and easy to use. 

Mattias Daldborg from Garmin continues, “The Garmin team are getting really excited about the race which starts later in the year. As part of helping the teams prepare for the race experience we will be offering tips and training on getting the best from the electronics and navigation equipment.  As the race gets started the Garmin teams in our offices around the world will be following the progress of the yachts.” 

For 25 years, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation.

Notes to editors:

For further press information, please contact Amy Hutson or Abbie Whitehouse on 01460 241641 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

Photo Caption: Image from last year’s race (credit: Paul Hankey).

About Garmin International Inc.

Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. A component of the S&P 500 index, Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.  All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company’s future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at http://www8.garmin.com/company/investors/SEC/. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the world’s longest ocean adventure and is also regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. At 40,000 nautical miles long and taking almost a year to complete, it consists of twelve teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to taxi drivers, nurses and firemen, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date was 74.

Whether they choose to take on  the whole circumnavigation or compete in one or more of eight individual legs, all our crew achieve something remarkable as they conquer some of the world’s most challenging oceans.

The overall route is split into a series of up to 16 races and points are awarded for each race, resulting in an exciting Formula 1 style leader board. The team with the highest cumulative points at the end of the final race wins the series, and the Clipper Race trophy.

In the 2013-14 edition of this biennial challenge, 670 people from more than 40 different countries took part, and over 3,000 novice sailors have been transformed into ocean racers throughout Clipper Race history so far. The next race starts in August 2015 and will be the event’s tenth edition.

For more information, go to  www.clipperroundtheworld.com.