CHICAGO and BOSTON, USA — July 17, 2017 — Clipper Round The World are very pleased to reveal that world leading technology brand Dell has come on board as the Rugged computing technology supplier for one of the world's toughest endurance challenges, the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race.

Legendary British sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop, around the world, in 1968/69, and Clipper Race founder, said: "The Clipper Race partnership with Dell is a great fit for both sides.

"The race and its crew will traverse some of the most inhospitable corners of the globe, and having the very best rugged performance technology on board each yacht will support the teams' efforts to perform at their very best, whilst showcasing the Rugged capabilities in such extreme environments."

Dell's Latitude Rugged laptops and tablets will be fitted to each of the Clipper Race's twelve 70-foot ocean racing yachts and will be the perfect fit to endure this eleven-month global challenge of a lifetime. The Clipper Race brings non-professional sailors from very different walks of life around the world together to work as a team, to meet challenges, and work towards a common yet extraordinary goal.

"These themes are reflected in the products, services, and core values of Dell," said Shannon MacKay, vice president Rugged Mobility, Dell Client Product Group. "Taking on Mother Nature's toughest conditions, the yachts and their crew will face many tests, including extreme heat, condensation, corrosive salt water, and numbing cold, requiring the toughest technology to see each team through to the finish."

Each of the Clipper Race teams will be provided with Dell Latitude Rugged laptops, as the keystone computing technology on board. Rugged tablets will be used by the skippers and crew for onboard navigation to plot the fastest routes, keep regular contact with the Race Office, and send back daily blogs, images and video so followers and those at home can keep up with all the action on board.

The Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme 14-inch notebook is made with shock-absorbent materials and meets rigorous military-standard requirements. Compression-sealed from sand, dust and liquids and built to withstand extreme heat and cold whilst withstanding shocks, drops and vibrations. The Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme is a 12-inch 2-in-1 notebook built for real-world performance and security. It features a first-of-its-kind flip-hinge design for versatility in any environment.

Around 710 crew compete in the Clipper Race, from all walks of life and from all around the world, with over 40 different nationalities represented. Crew can complete the full circumnavigation, or one or more of its eight challenging legs. Approximately 40 percent of crew have no previous sailing experience before they start their intensive race training programme.

The Clipper 2017-18 Race, the biennial event's eleventh edition, starts in Liverpool, UK, on 20 August and will visit six continents. After racing across the Atlantic Ocean to the first stopover port, Ponte del Este, Uruguay, the fleet will continue on to Cape Town, Fremantle, Sydney, Hobart, the Whitsundays, Sanya and Qingdao in China, Seattle, Panama, New York, and Derry-Londonderry, before completing the circumnavigation in Liverpool on July 28, 2018.

About Clipper Round the World Yacht Race The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the world's largest ocean race 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 firefighters, 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 is 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 global races and a maximum 12 points going to first place ascending to 1 point for twelfth place. The team with the highest cumulative points at the end of the final race wins the series, and the Clipper Race trophy.

The next edition of the race is due to start on Sunday 20 August 2017. For more information, go to: www.clipperroundtheworld.com

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