Clipper Ventures, chaired by bearded sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, is racking up some exciting sponsorship deals. The company recently received a huge boost, choosing the city of Liverpool as host port for its 2005/6 and 2007/8 Round the World Yacht Races in its biggest ever sponsorship deal - Clipper granted the city title sponsorship rights for its own yacht entry in both events. Hot on its heels comes the news the State of Western Australia, or WA, has come on board as a sponsor for the 2005 Clipper race in a US$1m deal. WA will be allowed to emblazon one of the ten 68 foot yachts with imagery pertaining to the state, with the boat acting as a roving tourism ambassador across the Clipper races' five continents. As CEO William Ward explains, 'thirteen cities will be visited during the 10 month race and this agreement follows the £1.8m sponsorship by Liverpool announced earlier this week'. In a recent meeting with Growth Company Investor, Ward played up the vital nature of the Liverpool sponsorship for Clipper. 'We've been through some tough times, but Liverpool has really put us on the map'. Followers can expect 'a small loss' when Clipper reports annual numbers for the year to April, although obviously, none of these huge sponsorships will be included in the figures. Long term, a speculative buy.