Ollie Phillips Around the World with the Clipper Race – Part 2
November 13, 2013
The culmination of Leg 2 really set the precedent as to what this Clipper Round the World Race is all about. The setting for the boats was picturesque and idyllic to say the least. With a backdrop of Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain behind us and the stunning surroundings of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront all around, the Clipper Race team really ‘pushed the boat out’ on this one (excuse the pun!!).
The boats formed the centrepiece of this African hotspot and what a fantastic spectacle they made. A major focus was placed on ensuring that all of the major sponsors were given their own air time and with over a week in port, there was ample opportunity to promote each one individually.
This stopover was all about one boat though, Invest Africa. With Sapinda Rainbow being a major supporter of the boat and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation, this was their chance to shine. The message was a resounding success as the Clipper Race and Sapinda Rainbow sought to promote the charities involvement within the race. With young South African youths having been carefully chosen by the charity to champion their cause on each Leg of this prolific race, the Clipper Race organisers were keen to demonstrate just how much this experience will help change these young adult’s lives forever.
There were press from all over the continent on site, keen to see just what the Clipper Race offers to the future of the rainbow nation. Visits to Robben Island, the deprived holding cell for Africa’s prodigal son, Mr Nelson Mandela was a particular highlight of some of the many activations that took place. The message was clear, this is the ‘Race of Your Life.’ It gives hope, confidence and fulfilment to all those that take part in it and will be an integral part in these young adults road to success and freedom in the future.
Away from its African focus, the Clipper Race continued to promote its flagship GREAT Britain boat, by further integrating and aligning its key messages with that of the British High Consul. An open evening for the Consulate who invited 250 of its key investors and supporters down to the waterfront to be shown around the boats, was an example of how the Clipper Race and Number 10 Downing Street continue to champion its ‘Adventure is Great’ campaign.
Team sponsor and Clipper Race learning and development partner, Mission Performance demonstrated its ability to be one of the world’s leading motivators and performance assessors in the business world, by holding several workshops and appraisal sessions for both the crews and skippers on board the Clipper Race yachts. Supported and inspired by several stand out sportsman and military generals, all of whom have demonstrated an appetite for success throughout their careers, Mission Performance seeks to foster a winning mentality and collective determination within the organisations that it works with. They are a company that is becoming increasingly ever-present within the Clipper Race infrastructure and their involvement is becoming an increasingly positive one.
Derry~Londonderry~Doire began their promotional activity around the race by ensuring that their deputy mayor was on site and heavily involved within the prize giving ceremony, encouraging the masses to be there for the ‘party of the year’ when the race comes in to town in Derry Londonderry in June 2014.
OneDLL were surprisingly quiet this time around and Henri Lloyd appear to be letting their boat do all the talking for its brand as it currently leads the Clipper Race overall.
With Albany the next port of call for the race fleet, it will be interesting to see how the Clipper Race organisers go about trying to reproduce the spectacular scenes that were created in Cape Town. That said, it is a town that is very keen to promote everything that is great about its brilliant coastline destination and I for one can’t wait to see what they have in store for us.
Onwards and safe sailing to Albany….
Ollie Phillips is a talented and diverse rugby player, having played Premiership, Top 14 and International rugby.
Since beginning his professional rugby career in 1999, Ollie has played for Harlequins RFC, Newcastle RFC, Gloucester RFC and Stade Francais.
Internationally, Ollie has played for England Sevens and between 2004 – 2009 and was the captain from 2008 to 2009. Since 2012 Ollie has returned to the England Sevens team.
Ollie captained England in seven of the eight World Series tournaments in 2008-09, only missing George through injury.
Following his global plaudits, Ollie was rewarded by being named World Sevens player of the Year in 2009, being only the 2nd English player to win this award.
Ollie’s 
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