Clipper 07-08 hits TV screens around the world

The ten-part documentary series featuring Clipper 07-08 produced by Sunset + Vine I APP will be shown across the globe over the coming weeks bringing the unique story of the Clipper Race and the 400 crew taking part to millions of viewers as the racing draws to a close in Liverpool. The character-driven series focuses on some of the people that have taken time out of their everyday lives to take on the challenge of a lifetime sailing around the world. Each of the half-hour programmes tells their amazing stories as the action and drama of the 35,000-mile race unfolds.

Sunset + Vine | APP were commissioned by Clipper Ventures to produce the 10 x 30-minute documentary programmes, using a combination of onboard footage from every yacht from every stage of the race, in-port material from all 14 stops around the world and helicopter / boat-to-boat footage at starts and finishes.

Series Producer Adam Birley said: “The series transcends the boundaries of sports programming by focusing the narrative on the diverse characters taking part. The unique thing about the Clipper Race is that it is the only round the world race for non-professional sailors making it the sailing race that is most accessible to a non-sailing television audience. For once, everyday people can watch sailing that means something to them, everyday people at sea dealing with the hardships of life on the ocean – the audience can actually put themselves in the characters’ shoes. This is a unique opportunity for a sport usually thought of as elitist.”

Sky Sports in the UK will be showing the first programme of the series today (Weds 18 June) and tomorrow (Thursday 19 June) in the following slots:

Wednesday 18 June
Sky Sports Xtra – 1800 / 2300

Thursday 19 June
Sky Sports Xtra – 0200
Sky Sports 3 – 0730 / 1200

Each of the ten programmes will be shown on a weekly basis in these regular slots.

For race followers in South Africa, the series can be seen on M-Net Supersport at the following times:

Episode 1

Wednesday 18 June 2008
17:30 – 18:00 (Premier)

Thursday 19 June 2008

13:00 – 13:30

Friday 20 June 2008

23:30 – 00:00

Saturday 21 June 2008

10:00 – 10:30

Episode 2

Wednesday 25 June 2008

18:00 – 18:30 (Premier)

Thursday 26 June 2008

14:00 – 14:30

Friday 27 June 2008

22:00 – 22:30

Saturday 28 June 2008

10:00 – 10:30

Episode 3

Wednesday 02 July 2008

18:00 – 18:30 (Premier)

Thursday 03 July 2008

14:00 – 14:30 ®

Friday 04 July 2008

22:00 – 22:30 ®

Saturday 05 July 2008

10:00 – 10:30

Episode 4

Wednesday 09 July 2008

18:00 – 18:30 (Premier)

Thursday 10 July 2008

14:00 – 14:30

Friday 11 July 2008

22:00 – 22:30

Saturday 12 July 2008

10:00 – 10:30

Episode 5

Wednesday 16 July 2008

18:00 – 18:30 (Premier)

Thursday 17 July 2008

13:30 – 14:00

Friday 18 July 2008

23:30 – 00:00

Saturday 19 July 2008

10:00 – 10:30

Episode 6

Wednesday 23 July 2008

17:30 – 18:00 (Premier)

Thursday 24 July 2008

14:30 – 15:00

Friday 25 July 2008

23:00 – 23:30

Saturday 26 July 2008

10:00 – 10:30

Episode 7

Wednesday 30 July 2008

18:00 – 18:30 (Premier)

Thursday 31 July 2008

14:00 – 14:30

Friday 01 August 2008

22:30 – 23:00

Saturday 02 August 2008

10:00 – 10:30

Episode 8

Wednesday 06 August 2008

18:00 – 18:30 (Premier)

Thursday 07 August 2008

14:00 – 14:30

Friday 08 August 2008

21:00 – 21:30

Saturday 09 August 2008

11:00 – 11:30

Episode 9

Wednesday 13 August 2008

18:00 – 18:30 (Premier)

Thursday 14 August 2008

14:30 – 15:00

Friday 15 August 2008

22:30 – 23:00

Saturday 16 August 2008

10:00 – 10:30

Episode 10

Wednesday 20 August 2008

18:00 – 18:30 (Premier)

Thursday 21 August 2008

14:15 – 14:45

Friday 22 August 2008

10:30 – 11:00

Saturday 23 August 2008

23:30 – 00:00

In Japan, viewers can view the series on Gaora Sports in the following slots:

Episode 1

28 June 0900-0930

30 June 1800-1830

02 July 1230-1300

05 June 0430-0500

Episode 2

5 July 0900-0930

06 July 1800-1830

08 July 1330-1400

10 July 1000-1030

Gaora transmission times for episodes 3-10 to be published shortly.

The series will be broadcast by a host of other stations around the world. Further schedule information will be published as soon as it is available.