As its Valentine’s Day, we thought to look at the places where adventure sports people could pop the question. Why do it in the pub or at a party when you’ve got Peru or Parachuting to pick from?

On top of a mountain

Photo from Flickr user: M. Janicki

Just about any mountain will do. It could be Everest after a short trekking holiday in Nepal, or even one of the Lake District’s peaks after a day walk. Popping the question on top of a hill is one of the best ways to do it. Why? Well, having made it up there you’ll both be elated, your hearts thumping, with broad beaming smiles; a great time then to dig that ring box out of the waterproof case in the bottom of your day sack – and as you can be completely alone, you will also avoid any embarrassment should it go wrong!

At the bottom of the ocean

Yes, it’s been done before; people have even got married in full scuba gear. However, it’s not an easy one this: You’ll need to work on your hand signals, perhaps spell out your devotion on a marker board – it’s either that or write it out in seashells on the ocean’s floor.

At 50,000ft

No, not taking on some high altitude parachute jump, but in the aircraft on your way to a holiday together. Book some champagne for your in-flight meal, and once it’s served do the honourable thing and get down on one knee. This bold move is almost the exact opposite of popping the question at the top of a mountain: there’s nowhere for your partner to run, and should it go wrong, you’ll be left bright red with embarrassment pretending you were just looking under your seat for something. If successful, you can always announce the good news over the intercom and receive a round of applause for your bravery.

On an overland trek

You really can get to visit just about every region of the world, it just takes a little time and a lot of planning. Either pick up a ring beforehand or keep your eyes open and spot a little bling along the way. With so much variety scheduled, it’s just down to you to make the final decision: pop the question during a campsite sunset? Or in the wilderness, sat on the bonnet of your vehicle, sharing that can of cold beer you stashed long ago?

Pop it on the piste

Everyone’s making the most of a fantastic European winter season, so why not make yours a magical one and get hooked up during your skiing holiday? Try it half way down a black run or half way up the mountain on the chair lift. Whichever you choose, you can guarantee the extra thought you put into popping the question will be repaid in full in the years to come –not just during the après ski celebrations!

A brand new fleet of twelve 70-foot racing yachts has been announced for the 2013-14 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Sir Robin Knox Johnston will be celebrating 15 years at the top of global yacht racing events with the announcement, which heralds the third generation of Clipper racing yachts.

Photo from Flickr user: Eric The Fish (2010)

He said: “Racing around the world still remains one of life’s great challenges and I’m extremely proud to have witnessed over the past 15 years how the Clipper Race has changed people’s lives and turned almost 3,000 sailing novices into experienced ocean racers.”

Naval architect Tony Castro’s Clipper 70 will be built in China and fitted out in the UK. His design is believed to be perfectly suited for this kind of gruelling sailing event.

The Clipper fleet will increase from 10 to 12 yachts and retain an option for a further four. The new yachts will also have an increased crew capacity of 22, up from 20.

Among the new features are twin rudders, twin helms and a six-foot bowsprit, allowing the inclusion of the huge Code Zero sail to complement the Yankee headsails, staysail and the main.

This new sail will improve the performance during light airs, delivering higher daily average speeds across the 40,000-mile race. The mainsail will be set from a 92-foot mast and have three reefing points.