Young South Africans Head For UK to Start Unique Global Adventure

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, July 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Nelson Mandela charity applauds Sapinda Rainbow  crew at official 95^th Birthday children's celebration in Johannesburg as they leave for Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - longest ocean race at 40,000 miles

The Sapinda Rainbow  project and Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF) have wished ten young South Africans (eight primary crew and two reserves) 'bon voyage' today as they head off to the UK to participate in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race: at 40,000 miles it's the longest ocean challenge on the planet! The unique initiative aims to develop young community leaders of the future who will also raise international awareness and funds for the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.

The group were centre stage at the 2013 Annual Children's Celebration to mark its founder Nelson Mandela's 95^th birthday. The event remains the children's way of honouring Madiba as the children's champion and is highly regarded by former president Mandela who made it a tradition to attend as a special guest.

His daughter Ms Zindzi Mandela attended and congratulated the team. She said: "They are a great example of our young people. I can see Madiba's legacy in what they are doing: it is a very brave thing they are embarking on, an act of courage, and the fact they are bringing that experience back into their communities; it's that combination Madiba has of courage, determination, humility and service. All of that is visible in these young people."

The Sapinda Rainbow project is working with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF) which promoted the opportunity throughout its network and encouraged nominations from the communities it serves of young people aged 18-23. The final selected crew will form a 'tag' team, each completing one of the eight legs of the Clipper Race. The successful candidates will act as ambassadors for the Sapinda Rainbow project to raise awareness around the world of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, regarded as his last great legacy for South Africa's children.

Zindzi Mandela added: "Taking on this incredible challenge of the Clipper Race, combined with the young people's aim to raise awareness and funds for the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital as they travel around the world, alongside his other values, is the best gift the Sapinda Rainbow crew can give Madiba, it's an exciting 95^th Birthday present, it's wonderful."

The project is funded by the Sapinda Group to give young people a unique personal development opportunity through participation in a life-changing global adventure and at the same time encourage them to become a catalyst and role model within their own respective communities.

Dirk van Daele, Sapinda Executive Committee member, participated in the 2009-10 edition of the Clipper Race and experienced first-hand how the event was used to develop young people from other countries. He said: "The Clipper Race is a unique event which changes lives. We aim to make a difference. So this isn't just about what they can do individually, but what they can contribute through leadership and gaining confidence which will ultimately be a catalyst back within their own communities."

The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF) strives to change the way society treats its children and youth. This long-term vision captures the central role society plays in shaping children's lives. The fund introduced the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust as a legacy project to provide world-class healthcare for all children of Southern Africa. The hospital will be a dedicated specialist hospital working on a referral basis - and no child will be turned away due to inability to pay. Currently in its planning and fundraising stage, the Hospital Trust aims to break ground later this year.

The NMCF's CEO Sibongile Mkhabela said: "Even though our Founder Nelson Mandela physically last honoured the event on his 93^rd birthday in 2011, the tradition continues. The children's celebration ranks as one of the Fund's platforms to give children a voice. It was fantastic to have the Sapinda Rainbow crew participate in the ceremony to share their story and enabled us to wish them well on their journey."

The Clipper Race is the world's longest at 40,000 miles and will visit 14 ports on six continents over eleven months. It is unique in that it trains amateurs from all walks of life to take on some of the most challenging oceans on Earth under the guidance of a professional Skipper following an extensive training programme. The ninth edition of the Clipper Race starts and finishes in London, departing on 1 September and stops in Cape Town in late October when all candidates will be invited to participate in stopover events and to experience sailing aboard the new Clipper 70 ocean racing yachts.

"We have an excellent group of young people and they are excited and proud to be here today," explained David Cusworth, the Clipper Race crew manager who was part of the selection panel. "These young people are going to participate in a life changing experience which will give them new skills to bring back to their communities. The Clipper Race is famous for that."

The team will leave for the UK tonight (Friday 26 July) to undertake an intense period of training based out of the Clipper Race base on the Solent prior to the race start in London on 1 September 2013. The South African host port for the Clipper Race is Cape Town; the fleet of twelve 70 foot ocean racing yachts will arrive in late October this year.

Media interested in more information should contact the Clipper Race media contacts listed below.

NOTES TO EDITORS

SAPINDA RAINBOW PROJECT:

Sapinda, an investment holding company with particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa with existing investments in South Africa and Zambia, is engaged in a wide range of socially responsible initiatives and is taking particular interest in promoting leadership among young people in South Africa.

Through the Sapinda Rainbow project, Sapinda is encouraging the potential of youngsters from a variety of communities and backgrounds who might otherwise not have the opportunity of the hands on experience of participating in the Clipper Race.

The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund strives to change the way society treats its children and youth. This long-term vision captures the central role society plays in shaping children's lives. The fund introduced the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust as a legacy project to provide world-class healthcare for all children of Southern Africa. The hospital will be a dedicated specialist hospital working on a referral basis - and no child will be turned away due to inability to pay. Currently in its planning and fundraising stage, the Hospital Trust aims to break ground later this year.

The Clipper Race is fully supportive of the initiative and is project managing the programme which includes a month in the UK in August to undergo final training before participating in the race start from the UK   this year. It will also support the young Ambassadors in raising awareness and fundraising for the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.

The Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital will be a state-of-the-art specialist paediatric academic and tertiary referral hospital, providing child-centred best quality medical services to all children of Southern Africa, irrespective of the social and economic status.

The Clipper Race was set up thanks to the vision of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world in 1968-9. He wanted people to be able to experience ocean racing no matter what their background. Forty-five years after setting off on that record breaking voyage he is still very much at the helm of the Clipper Race and will play an active role in supporting the Sapinda Rainbow project.

About Sapinda Group

The Sapinda group is a privately owned investment group led by a team comprising experienced entrepreneurs, former managing partners/CEO's of law firms, private equity and financial services such as Lars Windhorst, Rob Hersov and Dirk van Daele. The group is funded by selected prominent high net worth families who sought exposure to special situations investment opportunities across continental Europe, Asia and Africa. This wide network of relationships enables Sapinda to provide creative equity and debt solutions for complicated transactions and investment products. Since inception the group has executed several billion Euros of investment and financing transactions across a wide range of geographies and asset classes. In 2012, Sapinda was active in sub Saharan Africa in a number of sectors; more specifically Sapinda built and is the reference shareholder of the South African coal mining business Ichor Coal (http://www.ichorcoal.com) which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and continues to grow by acquiring more assets. Sapinda is also the largest shareholder of Amatheon Agri, an agribusiness growing crops in Zambia (http://www.amatheon-agri.com). As an advisor looking for growth capital, Sapinda works with its financial services partner Anoa Capital (http://www.anoacapital.com) on a number of assignments such as the capital raising for Minocongo Group in the DRC engaged in the flour/bakery business in Kinshasa.

Today Sapinda employs over 85 professionals and has offices in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Moscow, and Johannesburg. Sapinda is engaged in a wide range of socially responsible initiatives and is taking particular interest in promoting leadership among young people in South Africa. Through the Sapinda Rainbow programme, Sapinda is encouraging the potential of youngsters from a variety of communities and backgrounds who might otherwise not have the opportunity of the hands on experience of participating in the Clipper Round the World Race. Sapinda is particularly proud to be able to work in close co-operation with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund; not only in sharing the same objective of helping young people but also to assist in the funding of The Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.

About Nelson Mandela Children's Fund

The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund strives to change the way society treats its children and youth. This long-term vision captures the central role society plays in shaping children's lives.

http://www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com

The Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital will be a state-of-the-art specialist paediatric academic and tertiary referral hospital, providing child-centred best quality medical services to all children of Southern Africa, irrespective of the social and economic status.

http://www.nelsonmandelachildrenshospital.org

About Clipper Ventures Plc

Clipper Ventures Plc was established in 1995 by legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69.  Sir Robin founded the company on the premise that sailing should be made available to everyone, regardless of age or experience. So he launched the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 1996. The company owns and operates its own matched fleet of ocean racing yachts and so far more than 3,000 people have competed in the eight editions of the Clipper Race to date. The company also owns the rights to the professional solo round the world VELUX 5 OCEANS race and runs a successful events division offering corporate sailing and development programmes. Today Clipper Ventures is recognised as a leading international marine events company which is focused on developing and promoting major global events such as the Clipper Race.

Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race will start in summer 2013 and return almost a year later after completing the 40,000 miles route, making it the world's longest ocean race. The event was established by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to give everyone, regardless of sailing experience, the opportunity to discover the exhilaration of ocean racing. 650 people representing more than 40 nations will compete in the Clipper 13-14 Race on twelve brand new 70-foot yachts designed by renowned naval architect Tony Castro. It's the largest race ever. Crew members can sign up for the whole circumnavigation or one or more of eight legs. The only qualification for the race is the minimum age of 18 (there is no upper age limit) plus a thirst for adventure. The overall race is divided into individual stages and points are accumulated in a Formula 1-style scoring system. The yacht with the highest total points at the finish wins the Clipper Trophy.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

It is 45 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set off on his record breaking solo and non-stop circumnavigation in 1968-69. Now, as Executive Chairman and founding Director of Clipper Ventures Plc, he is at the forefront of promoting round the world yacht racing. Sir Robin has been involved in sailing all his life and holds a Department of Transport Master's Certificate. He set the record for the fastest circumnavigation with Sir Peter Blake. In 2007; he completed his second solo circumnavigation when he competed in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race. Sir Robin has considerable experience of the administration of round the world races having served on the Whitbread Race committee from 1990 to 1994 and having organised the BOC Challenge Round the World Race in 1982 and 1986. He has been named RYA/YJA Yachtsman of the Year an unprecedented three times and participated in the 2010 Sydney-Hobart race at the age of 71.

Press contact in Johannesburg until Friday evening is Jonathan Levy - jlevy@clipper-ventures.com or UK mobile +44-7813-948385

Or please contact the Clipper Race media office in the UK:

Amy Martindale, amartindale@clipper-ventures.com

Office Tel: +44-(0)2392-526-000 Mobile: + 44-(0)7824-817-270

For further information about the Clipper Race please visit http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Images and video to illustrate this release available on request

SOURCE Clipper Ventures Plc