In spite of being chief executive and a major shareholder of AIM-listed yacht race organiser Clipper Ventures, William Ward admits he is not much of a sailing man, preferring motorbikes and skiing.

Recently exhibiting its new Dubois 68 yacht (to be used for the Clipper 05-06 race) at the London Boat Show, Clipper's strategy of attracting sponsorship of its races from international cities and territories appears to be paying off. Six, including Liverpool, Singapore and Western Australia, have already signed up and another four are being sought out.

The company, which operates the amateur Clipper Races, the professional 5-Oceans race and Zapcat racing (akin to speedboat racing), is also throwing its lot in with sports marketing companies to attract sponsorship. 'We may as well get a higher percentage of something than all of nothing,' comments Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, Clipper's amiable chairman and veteran round-the-world yachtsman.

But Ward is unlikely to compete in any event, claiming to be too busy running the company. Besides, with associations with sailing luminaries such as Ellen MacArthur and Ben Ainslie, he very much doubts his chances of winning.