Mace Group

In 2005 at the Philip Green Memorial Trust Boxing Dinner, five 68 foot round-the-World Clipper yachts were put up for auction for a day’s corporate sailing. Mace CEO Steve Pycroft was not happy until he had won all 5 yachts!

Undeterred by a general lack of sailing experience on yachts of this size, Mace set about organising the Clipper Challenge which took place in May 2006 in the Eastern Solent. Mace entered a head office boat and the other four boats were sponsored by trade contractors who then organised teams of 10 people per boat from across the industry. Guests included colleagues from British Land, Stanhope, Foster & Partners, Morgan Stanley, Hurley Palmer Flatt and Arup, to name a few. 

The event proved so successful that the following year Steve Pycroft surpassed himself and won all 10 boats at the Boxing Dinner.  All 10 boats were sponsored within 48 hours and many disappointed potential sponsors were turned away as there are only 10 Clippers in the World.

The Clipper 2008 event has taken on a different format as the Clippers are on their round the world race and therefore unavailable. However Mace has chartered 20 Benateau 40.7’s which although smaller are technically more challenging to sail and faster. The event is now fully booked and all teams are preparing their 8-strong teams to take part in May.