Eight yachts are taking part in this year's 34,000-mile race

The Jersey entry leads this year's race, but the format will be different for 2005.

Currently, eight boats from places as far apart as Cape Town, Glasgow and Hong Kong are racing around the world.

But Clipper Ventures is planning a new around-the-globe route for 2005, as well as using new, larger boats for the multi-national teams to sail in.

Larger boats

Held every two years, the Clipper race is the world's longest circumnavigation challenge, lasting almost a year and 34,000 miles.

Jersey leads the overall standings this time around, and came second overall in the first ever race.

For the 2005 race, the organisers plan to change the way the craft in the event are financed in an effort to encourage more boats from overseas to compete.

Over half of this year's vessels are from Britain.