Bermuda is to take part in a around-the-world yacht race — as a port of call and as team partner for the just-named clipper GoToBermuda.

Kevin Dallas, the Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO, christened the vessel yesterday at St Katharine Docks in London just before the launch of the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. GoToBermuda will compete against 11 other Clipper 70 racing vessels in a 40,000 nautical mile race to start in London on Sunday.

Mr Dallas said: “This is a really exciting partnership and we are proud to be a part of the Clipper race for the first time.

“Sailing is part of our DNA. In Bermuda, we live life differently. Set apart, not only by our location, but also the way of life, sailing has always been a part of who we are, so we’re really excited to invite romantics, explorers and adventure-seekers like our Clipper race crew, to Bermuda next June.”

The City of Hamilton will be one of 15 ports for the race fleet — on the epic journey’s final leg from New York to Londonderry, Northern Ireland in July 2020.

Other places the boats will stop over include Panama, Portimao, Portugal, Cape Town, South Africa, Fremantle, Australia and Qingdao, China.

The race teams are made up of a professional skipper and mate, and crew from all over the globe. The BTA will offer the opportunity of a lifetime for a Bermudian to compete in the final leg, as part of the GoToBermuda crew, as part of a forthcoming promotion.

The Clipper race is the only event of its kind for non-professional sailors, training everyday people to make six ocean crossings. The race was founded in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who was the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world 50 years ago.