Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, will today officially welcome Edinburgh's entry in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. Edinburgh Inspiring Capital will showcase the Scottish capital to a global audience of more than 200 million people when she embarks on the 35,000-mile race next month.
The First Minister said, "I'm delighted to name the race yacht, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital and to meet some of the young people who will be taking part in the competition.
"The crew of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital will take the Homecoming message to ports across the world and encourage visitors to come to Scotland long after the year's celebrations.
"I've no doubt that they will be tremendous ambassadors for Scotland as well as an inspiration to others who are striving to overcome personal challenges or to achieve their ambitions.
"The Scottish Government is proud to be supporting this fine venture and I wish the crew the very best of luck for what should be a tremendous competition."
The First Minister will officially name the yacht and toast her with a dram of Benromach Speyside Single Malt Whisky, the Official Whisky of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race and Race Partner of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital.
The Edinburgh entry is one of ten stripped down 68-foot racing yachts competing in the event. All of the yachts are sponsored by cities and countries around the world and each is crewed by people from all walks of life who are taking on the challenge of a lifetime. The 44-strong Edinburgh Inspiring Capital crew is led by professional skipper, Matt Pike, who will be at the helm as the yacht arrives in the Port of Leith for this afternoon's naming ceremony.
The Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Jenny Dawe, will join the crew for the journey down the Firth of Forth into the Port of Leith, along with the founder and chairman of the Clipper Race, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world. They plan to arrive in style, flying their Saltire spinnaker a huge sail with an area larger than a tennis court as they pass under the Forth Bridge.
Councillor Jenny Dawe said, "The Clipper Race is a fantastic and unique opportunity for the city to be seen on a global scale over a prolonged period. I am truly honoured to have been asked to join the crew onboard Edinburgh Inspiring Capital as she makes her maiden voyage into her home port."
Among the crew of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital is a team of seven young people from across the city who have been selected as Capital Crew. They come from a variety of backgrounds but are all currently unemployed despite actively seeking work. They were chosen by the City of Edinburgh Council's Access to Employment team in partnership with the Joined up for Jobs network. These remarkable young people will each take part in a leg of the race, working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and a special challenge to showcase Edinburgh's rich literary connections to the destinations they visit.
As well as VIP guests, crew and their friends and families lining the quayside outside Ocean Terminal, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers will be on hand to pipe the crew into the city. The bagpipe trio has been in great demand since their victory on When Will I Be Famous and they are taking time out of a hectic schedule of performances to welcome Edinburgh Inspiring Capital.
The yacht will be moored in Leith until Monday 17 August and will be open to the public from Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 August so people from Edinburgh can get on board, meet the crew and get a taste of what life will be like for them during the ten-month race across the world's oceans.