A small souvenir teddy bear bought in a docklands gift shop in England is set to arrive in Airlie Beach this week after travelling more than 20,000 nautical miles as part of a Clipper Round the World Yacht Race delivery destined for two local children.
The bear will be given to Airlie Beach siblings Harper, 12, and Jack, 9, who both take part in junior sailing and have grown up around boats and regattas. Their connection to the global race began in Portsmouth, the historic UK port where the Clipper yachts depart on their circumnavigation of the world.
While attending the race’s departure festival, grandmother Pauline Porter noticed the Great Ormond Street Hospital team yacht displaying teddy bears on its stand. Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the United Kingdom’s leading children’s hospitals.
Crew members explained the bears were being carried aboard to bring comfort and joy to sick children following the race. After mentioning that her grandchildren live in Airlie Beach one of the Clipper Race stopover ports Pauline asked whether a teddy bear could be taken all the way to Australia for them.
With the crew’s agreement, she purchased a Spinnaker Tower souvenir bear and handed it to the skipper, where it was officially placed on board the yacht.
Airlie Beach marks the halfway point of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, with yachts having completed approximately 20,000 nautical miles by the time they arrive. The bear is expected to reach Airlie Beach later this week, with supporters and visitors anticipated at Coral Sea Marina between January 13 and 15. The fleet is scheduled to depart again on January 19.
The Great Ormond Street Hospital team is currently performing strongly, sitting first in the general rankings and well positioned to win the current leg.
For Harper and Jack, the bear’s arrival is especially meaningful. Harper has ambitions of becoming both a sailor and a marine biologist and dreams of one day taking part in the Clipper Race herself.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is open to everyday people from all walks of life, with no prior ocean sailing experience required before undertaking its intensive training program.
Participants can choose to complete one leg or the entire race, making it one of the most inclusive and challenging sailing events in the world.
For Airlie Beach, the arrival of the Clipper fleet (and one very well-travelled teddy bear) highlights the town’s place on a truly global stage.
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