Following a somewhat wasteful but nonetheless important maritime tradition, the Lieut-Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire, smashed a magnum of champagne across the bow of the Jersey Clipper – the Island’s entry in this year’s Clipper round-the-world yacht race.
To applause, cheers, and the clamourous horns of two Royal Navy vessels moored close-by, the Island officially welcomed its new ambassador on the high seas.
As well as naming the yacht, Sir John also unveiled her new livery, which was designed by Angela Jeune, who won a competition to ensure that people were in no doubt which boat was the Jersey Clipper.
More than 100 Islanders, from schoolchildren to graphic designers, entered the competition, sponsored by UBS, but Mrs Jeune, a local businesswoman who had never entered an art competition before, won first prize for her design.
Hannah Towey, a 13-year-old pupil at Haute Vallée School, won the competition to design the 6ft by 4ft flag which the yacht will fly whenever she is in a harbour.
The Jersey Clipper is a 68-foot yacht that has just been built specifically for the race, which sets sail from Liverpool in September.
With a crew of 17, including recently appointed skipper Mark Taylor, the yacht will race against nine other identical boats for the Clipper prize, which the last Jersey entry won in 2003.
Offering enthusiastic encouragement to Mr Taylor and his crew, Sir John said he had no doubt that Islanders would give their unqualified support during the race and would track every mile of its ten-month, 35,000 mile challenge.
He added that with four crew from Jersey and three from Guernsey, the race was truly a Channel Island effort.
The Lieut-Governor also thanked the Jersey Clipper’s sponsors, in particular property developer Dandara, Swiss bank UBS and Les Pas Holdings, who came up with the cash to enable the Island to have an entry in this year’s race.
