Geraldton will be the focus of international ocean sailing later this year when it hosts the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet.
Announcing Geraldton's selection as one of two Australian host ports for the 2011-12 race today, Tourism Minister Kim Hames and Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls also revealed that the City of Geraldton-Greenough and Tourism WA had sponsored one of the race yachts.
"To be named 'Geraldton Western Australia' and adorned with Western Australian branding, the yacht will provide valuable global media exposure and promotional opportunities for the State for the 11 months it will take the fleet to circumnavigate the world,' Dr Hames said.
"That will peak in late October when the fleet is expected to start arriving in Geraldton where they will stay for about seven days before heading off on the next leg of the race to New Zealand.
"To be a host port and have a sponsored yacht in the Clipper is a great coup for Geraldton and Western Australia."
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the State Government was proud to support the City of Geraldton-Greenough's bid to host and participate in the famous Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
"This is the first major event to be funded through the $40million Royalties for Regions Regional Events Program, which is administered by Eventscorp," Mr Grylls said.
"Events have a crucial role to play in regional tourism, not only in attracting visitors but in engaging the community and adding vibrancy to that community.
"When Geraldton hosts the Clipper fleet there will be a festival atmosphere that visitors and locals alike can enjoy.
The 2011-12 Clipper Race will start in Southampton on July 31 with the 10 yacht fleet racing to Brazil, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, China, the United States, Central America, Canada and Ireland before returning to the United Kingdom.
"With a race distance of 64,000 kilometres, the Clipper is one of the world's great sporting challenges and attracts an audience of millions of people through press, radio, television and online coverage," Dr Hames said.
This will be the second time Geraldton has hosted the Clipper fleet following a successful stopover there during the 2009-10 round the world race.
As well as providing funding support for the City of Geraldton-Greenough's Clipper bid, the State Government also recently announced a significant funding boost for smaller and developing regional events.
"The Regional Events Scheme (RES) has been doubled this year with a $300,000 contribution from the Royalties for Regions program," Mr Grylls said.
"With the extra RES funding, Eventscorp will be able to support 39 events in regional areas in 2011-12, including 20 that are receiving funding for the first time."
Dr Hames said more announcements about new major events for regional WA would be made in the next few months.
"Eventscorp is currently assessing a number of exciting event proposals that will deliver substantial economic, social and media benefits to regional communities," he said.
Tourism Minister's office - 9222 8788
Regional Development Minister's office - 9213 7000
