Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race - Race Crew Information Brochure

COURAGE IS CONTAGIOUS

WHETHER YOU’RE A SEASONED SAILOR OR NEVER SAILED BEFORE WE’RE LOOKING FOR INTREPID ADVENTURERS WITH A PASSION FOR LIFE AND A DESIRE TO EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE GLOBE .

Since the first race in 1996, more than 6,000 people have trained to become ocean racers choosing to embark on an ocean crossing, to combine several legs, or to become one of the elite few to complete a circumnavigation of the globe.

Whether you’re looking for the challenge of epic ocean storms, to face 15 metre waves and hurricane force winds, or you prefer the highly tactical mental challenge of navigating the doldrums with equatorial sunsets and ex traordinar y wildlife in pristine seas, you’ll bond with your fellow crew - from all walks of life and around the world - creating lifelong memories before returning victorious.

We will provide comprehensive world class training, the technical clothing and safet y equipment needed, the modern racing yachts, a professional Sk ipper and First M ate on board, maintenance and medical suppor t, as well as a warm welcome in por ts around the world.

You bring the desire for adventure, a passion for life and the fortitude needed to embark on an endurance challenge of this magnitude.

Not for the faint hear ted, this will be The Race of Your Life.

RACED BY PEOPLE LIKE YOU

NATHALIE IMMELMAN

3 9 | Ment al Health Prac titioner

Leg 2 : South Atlantic Challenge

On board : Dare To Lead

I had never sailed before so I k new this would push my physical and mental strength in ways that I couldn’t imagine. I am keen to learn from others and their cultures and excited to experience the world and seas in a way I never have.

DANIEL JOHNSON

24 | Student

Leg 8 : The Atlantic Homecoming

On board : Bekezela

I enjoy sailing and having completed the RYA Day

Sk ipper qualification I felt ready to challenge my endurance by sailing across an ocean, safe with a team to learn from and suppor t me.

LAURA AMORIM

3 8 | L aw yer & Tat too Ar tist

Circumnavigator

On board : Yac ht C lub Punta del Este

This is the biggest life-changing experience of my life. I have no real sailing experience, but I have done hik ing, k ick boxing, clif f-jumping in water falls, and parasailing so you could say I am adventurous by nature.

AMANDA YAP

3 8 | Doc tor

Circumnavigator

On board : Perser verance

My first time sailing was on a small pond in M aine with almost zero wind, so my sailing sk ills were zero. But now I have new sk ills and experiences to at tempt my main goal : a solo transpacific crossing in the nex t ten years.

LERENZO MALCOM

34 | Software Engineer

Leg 3 : Roaring For ties

On board : Washington, DC

I grew up in a small suburb of Dallas and I had never met a sailor. But I am adventurous, and I want to push myself in conditions that I have never faced before. And I want to be able to see par ts of the world that seemed impossibly far away from me as a k id.

CHRIS FARIS

6 0 | IT C onsult ant

Circumnavigator

On board : Q ingdao

I am an avid sailor, and racer, and have always dreamt of circumnavigating. I ’m excited by the mental and physical challenges of staying focused for prolonged periods, the teamwork and sailing with like-minded individuals from around the world. This is the oppor tunit y of a lifetime.

Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race crew members.

GLOBAL CIRCUIT

THE 40,000 NM RACE ROUTE SETS OUT AN INTRIGUING MIX OF SAILING CONDITIONS AND CHALLENGES.

E ach edition of the C lipper Rac e is dif ferent . T he eight legs are t ypic ally split into 13 -15 individual stages ; a mi x ture of sprint and mar athon challenge s that are a tr ue te st of e ach te a m’s abilit y.

T he winning te a m of e ach stage is awarded eleven points ; ten points to sec ond plac e etc . Additional points c an be gained for succe s sful tactic al decisions at sc oring gate s and oce an sprints. T his keeps r acing exciting and c ompetitive throughout the epic eleven month c a mpaign.

The nformation provided here is for your guidance based on prev ous editions of the race to help you consider which leg or egs su t you best. The duration, route and por ts of any future edition is confirmed closer to depar ture.

RACE AROUND THE WORLD

Dates and location information is

for your guidance.

Details of the duration, destination ports, depar ture dates and more will be confirmed prior to your Race Star t.

In addition to the racing days shown per leg, four to five days are spent in por t preparing ahead of each race, and a similar amount of time af ter your team arrival.

EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING

CIRCUMNAVIGATION

Welcome to one of the biggest challenges you can imagine.

£ 51,500* [ Plus training package ]

To complete the Clipper Race you will need to stay mentally focused and competitive, keep in top physical shape and cope with living on a 70-foot stripped down ocean racing yacht for eleven months. Nothing can fully prepare you for a circumnavigation of the globe; the range of emotions you’ll go through while racing and the sense of achievement when you cross the finish line after 40,000 nautical miles of gut wrenching, energy sapping ocean racing.

You might star t as a sailing novice but by the end of eleven months at sea you will have more than 40,000 racing miles in your log book . You will have sailed in all conditions from warm trade winds, through winter storms and the tropical heat of the Doldrums, crossing the Equator t wice.

You will have been becalmed, bat tled through 65-k not gales, struggled through squalls of stinging rain, snow flurries, sleet and fog. You will have experienced the emotions of unt ying your lines and saying goodbye to loved ones as you head into the drama of your first Race Star t in front of the world’s media and tens of thousands of spectators.

Typically, you will have visited more than 13-15 por ts and been welcomed ashore with all the fer vour deser ved for long distance spor ting champions. You will have celebrated at prize givings, shaken hands with the great and good, made friendships that will last a lifetime and realised you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.

You will be fit ter, healthier and more alive than you dared to believe. You will have joined an elite club and, as you return to the point of depar ture and crossed your out ward track in the world’s longest yacht race, you’ll head home with a set of experiences that will live with you forever. You have just become a circumnavigator.

Circumnavigating the world I learned from Mother Nature to be more humble for the things we have and to appreciate ever y th ng more. You also experience ver y interesting and d f ferent places. This a l leaves a footprint on you. It makes you a lit t e b t more open towards other cultures, towards other points of v ews, towards other ways of of of living. And I rea ly appreciate that experience.

Bettina Neid, Austrian | on board Dare To Lead

THE ATLANTIC TRADE WINDS LEG 1

£

8,300* [ Plus training package ]

The first ocean crossing - the Atlantic - sees the crew at sea for four weeks. After experiencing the emotions of saying goodbye to loved ones, there is a huge range of conditions to battle - the doldrums, Trade Wind spinnaker sailing, the first Atlantic crossing and celebrating South American style.

Af ter crossing the star t line, the first challenge will be to negotiate the fast running tides around the U K and Nor thern France. The Bay of Biscay, notorious for violent storms and heav y seas, could present its own challenges and teams will be eager to cross it quick ly.

With the adrenaline-filled star t over and set tled into watch systems, the first major tactical decision of the Clipper Race comes quick ly. The Canar y Islands are on the direct route. The decision whether to leave them to the east, sail through the middle or pass on the west delivers a major tactical headache. Pick the wrong route and teams could end up in the lee of the land, watching the rest of the fleet accelerate towards the Cape Verde Islands.

Typically sit ting just nor th of the equator, the Doldrums will be waiting to test teams mentally and physically with unpredictable conditions, big wind holes, squalls, and high temperatures.

The first equator crossing of the race will call upon King Neptune to pay the boats a visit and a ceremony will turn Polly wog crew into Shellbacks – it’s a real leg highlight !

Teams will then continue south to pick up the easterly trade winds, being careful not to get too close to the South American coast, and head all the way to the finish line. You can look for ward to celebrating your achievement in t ypical South American carnival st yle.

The mental for titude and dedicat on of the crew are hard to quantif y or put into words. We are uncommon folk , tak ng on a challenge that few would dare to at tempt. Our strength comes from each other; especially when we fee our weakest or at our lowest. The drive to continue and to keep g ving ever y thing on ever y shif t comes from that dedication to the crew and the boat.

Hill Martin, American | on board Washington D C

THE SOUTH ATLANTIC CHALLENGE LEG 2

£7,000* [ Plus training package ]

l i n e o r a d d

m i l e s lo o k i n g fo r s t r o n g e r w i n d s? T h e s e a r e b i g d e c isi o n s

t h a t c a n m e a n t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t we e n a p o d i u m p o s i t i o n

a n d a m i d -f l e e t f i n i s h .

U p o n l e av i n g S ou t h A me r i c a , tea m s w i l l s ay f a r e w e l l to t h e Tr a d e W in d s

o f t h e S ou t h A t l a n t i c as t h ey h e a d tow a r d s t h e b i gg e r c on d i t i o n s o f t h e

S ou t h e r n O c e a n w i t h s pi n n a ke rs f lyi n g .

B i g t a c t i c a l d e c isi on s aw a i t ; p r ev i o u s e d i t i on s h ave s e e n p o d i u m p l a c e s

d e c i d e d by j u s t 15 m i n u te s .

A s the fl e et r ac e s south- e a st , long rolling swells will provide fa nt a stic c onditions for sur fi ng dow n wave s . A n exhila r ating le g , b oat sp ee ds will e a sily

b e in exc e s s of 20 k nots a nd some tea ms have previous ly rep or te d sp ee ds of over 30 k nots as impre s sive fount ains of water e merge over the b ow.

A s a p r e d o m in a n t l y d ow nw in d l e g , t h e a s y m m e t r i c s p i n n a ke r w i l l f e at u r e

h e av i l y, t h o ug h c r e w w i l l n ee d to b e c a r e f u l n o t to ove r p ow e r i t a

We have been racing for nearly two weeks and are fast approaching the last thousand miles to the finish. It has been a time of incred ble sailing and ex traordinar y contrasts Days with wind and days without; days with flat a zure seas and others with dark grey rol ing sur f; starr y nights where the moon has created a day-time l ke visibility and n ghts so dark the on y th ngs visible have been the reflective strips on par ts of the boat and our fellow crew, and the fa nt red light emerging from around the companionway cover.

Ed Crook, New Zealander

Af ter a Parade of Sail pa st waving crowds , it ’s out onto the water s of one of the world’s G re at C ape sG ood H ope - and get ting re ady to fac e what , for many s ailor s , will be their ultimate challenge.

THE ROARING FORTIES

3

£ 8,000* [ Plus training package ]

Sometime s k now n as the Souther n O c e a n S leigh R ide, the Roa ring

For tie s le g of fers some of the most exhila r ating a nd te sting c onditions of the entire circumnavigation as tea ms dip into the notorious ly strong winds of the Roa ring For ti e s w hich lie s b et we en 40 a nd 50 de gre e s latitude.

O nc e cle a r of the stunning but of ten fi ck le winde d Ta ble B ay, crews will ma ke their way to the fi r st G re at C ap e, the C ap e of G ood H op e a nd onto the Agulhas B a nk , a n a re a notorious for ver y disturbe d se a s w here the I ndi an and Atla nti c oc e ans me et .

S pinna kers a re likely to re -a pp e a r a s oc e a n r acing t actic s will b e in full fl ow. Tea ms get to disc over exactly w hat the C lipp er 70 s a re m ade of a s they sur f dow nwind at more tha n 25 k nots on 15 metre wave s .

De s pite the gr uelling reput ation that the Roa ring For ti e s c omma nd , this is a plac e re sp ecte d by s ailors a s one of the b e st plac e s to fully a ppreci ate M other N ature in her most r aw a nd p ower ful glor y.

The size of the waves became even bigger. The wind speed recorded up to 66 knots. Even the albatross and other birds flying around us disappeared. Except one, the biggest, the king of al , flying n front of us as if showing us the way, or maybe it was ust playing w th us. At some point the sun appeared from the thick cover of clouds, ready to set, and for a moment the sky became yellow. I fe t no fear just great respect for the immense strength of this uncontaminated nature. We fe t as ONE: the boat, the crew, the ocean.

Paolo Perillo, t alian | on board Qingdao

S

t h e r n O ce a n , to t h e mos t s ou t h e r l y p o i nt of t h e e nt i r e

ci rcu m n av ig at i o n .

C r ew s c a n e xp ec t p l u m m e t i n g te m p e r atu r e s a n d v i g i l a n c e w i l l b e key as t h ey

e xp er i e n c e s o m e o f t h e mos t i n h o s p i t a b l e p a r t s o f t h e p l a n e t w her e i c e b e r g s fl ow n o r t h f r o m A n t a r c t i c a .

So m e tea m s m ay c h oo s e to h e a d s ou t h o f t h e r h um b l in e to t a ke a d va n t a g e

o f s t r o n g e r w in d s , t h o ug h t h i s w i l l a d d e x t r a m i l e s to t h e i r r a c e . T h o s e t h at

c h oo s e t h i s o pt i o n w i l l n ee d to watc h fo r b u i l d i n g l ow p r e s s u r e sy s te m s

h e a d i n g we s t a rou n d t h e b ot to m o f t h e pl a n e t . S t ay to o h i g h a n d tea m s r i s k

l e n g t hy w in d ho l e s i n t h e G r e at A us t r a l ia n B i g h t .

A s yo u rou n d t h e s ou t h e r n t i p o f Ta s ma n i a yo u w i l l t h e n ma ke t h e tu r n to h e a d

n o r t h a n d a c r o s s t h e n oto ri o u s B a s s St r a i t . Tr a d i t i on a l l y a d ow nw in d s ec t i o n

o f t h i s r a c e b u t e q u a l l y w i t h t h e a b i l i t y to p r ov i d e s te e p s e as a n d c h a l l e n g i n g

c on d i t i on s . C o n t i n u i n g , yo u w i l l b e s a i l i n g a ga in s t t h e f a m o u s E a s t A u s t r a l ia n

C u r r e n t w h ic h fl ow s s ou t h a n d e a s t a l o n g t h e c o a s t a n d c a n r e a c h sp ee d s

o f u p to fou r k n ot s . T h i s p r e s e n t s a n

I remember the epic starry skies on the clear nights, and sur fing our way past Tasmania in winds up to 63 knots. The camaraderie amongst the crew: a group of people from the four corners of the globe with a bond based on the collective desire to experience the remote oceans of our planet. On this eg we also shared the celebration of Christmas and New Year at sea. These were fun in a “we sti l have to race the boat” kind of way, and I expect, for me, will not be repeated.

Crook, New Zealander

on board

e a d s n

c h t h e

e q u a to r t h e b r e e z e m a y w e l l d r o p . Hi g h l e v e l s o f c on c e n t r a t i o n w i l l b e n ee d e d as e v e r y t w e a k w i l l a f f ec t t h e b o a t sp ee d a n d t ea m s w i t h s t r o n g

l i g h t w in d s a i l i n g s k i l l s m a y us e t h i s t im e to t he i r a d v a n t a g e .

A s t h e t ea m s r a c e f r o m t h e s ou t h e r n to t h e n o r t h e r n h e m i s p h e r e K i n g

N e p t u n e r e t u r n s f o r t h e s e c on d t ime . H e r e R a c e C r e w a r e l i k e l y to

w i t n e s s s o m e sp ec t a c u l a r l i g h tn i n g s to r m s a n d p a s s i n g s q u a l l s c a n o f f e r

s o m e m u ch - n ee d e d r e l i e f f r o m t h e h e a t , b u t c a n b r i n g s o m e h e av y r a i n

c o n d i t i o n s w i t h t h e m .

C o n t i n u i n g n o r t h p a s t t h e e q u a to r, t h e w in d w i

This race was a bit of ever y thing ! A couple of spr nts, boat-on-boat match racing, such varied conditions, and we crossed the Equator again. It was ver y for tunate to celebrate Lunar New Year with our crew. Usually we celebrate w th a l of our family, and this time it was with my crew at sea which was a real y great experience. We had a dump ing mak ing class, a Chinese teaching class, taught ever yone what the Year of the Dragon means. It was a wonder ful time.

Frank Zeng, Chinese | on board Zhuhai

l a r g e s t o ce

THE MIGHTY PACIFIC LEG 6

[ Plus training package ]

-

n d fo r g oo d r e

s o n . N ot h i n g w i l l g i ve

yo u a b i g g e r s e n s e of a c h i eve m e nt t h a n ove r c o m i n g

i t s e n o r m o u s wave s a n d s to r m s. R e fe r r e d to a s ‘T h e

B i g O n e’ w i t h g o o d r e a s o n , t h e Pa c i fi c i s t h e wo r l d ’s

l a r g e s t o ce a n a n d at t i m e s t h e clo s e s t h u ma n s to t h e

C l i p p e r R a c e te a m s w i l l b e t h o s e o n t h e I nte r n at i o n a l

S p a c e S t at i o n .

B e f o r e t ea m s r e a c h t h e N o r t h Pa c i f i c O c e a n , t h e y a r e l i k e l y to h av e to

n av i g a t e f o g , f i s h i n g b o a t s o r e v e n s n o w. I t i s t h e n a r a c e to t h e t i p o f

J a p a n w h e r e t h e ‘ B l a c k St r ea m’ ( K ur o s h i o C u r r e n t ) r u n s w e s t to e a s t

a n d c a n h e l p p r o p e l t h e f l e e t , b u t t h e v i c i o u s c u r r e n t c a n a ls o c o m e

a t a c os t o f b i g s e as w i t h c o n f us e d wa t e rs a n d t ea m s w i l l h av e to b e

c a r e f u l n o t to g e t c a ug h t ou t .

O n c e cl e a r, t h e N o r t h Pa c i f i c a w a i t s a n d w i l l s o o n b r i n g w i t h i t s o m e

v e r y c o l d t e m p e r at u r e s , b i g c on d i t i on s a n d da r k n i g h t s .

T h i s l e g i s f a m o u s f o r t h e h u g e Pa c i f i c r o l l e rs w h i c h p i c k u p t h e y a c h t s

a n d a l l o w t h e m to s u r f a t 3 0 k n o t s d o w n i n to t h e t ro ug h a h e a d . O u t

h e r e y o u c a n r e a l l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a g n i f i c e n t s c a l e o f ou r pl a n e t a n d

ou r pl a c e w i t h i n i t .

C r o s s i n g t h e I n t e r n a t i on a l D a t e L in e b y s e a i s a r a r e l y a c h i e v e d f e a t b y

m os t i n t h i s w o r l d a n d o f t e n l e a d s to m u c h c o n f u si o n o v e r w h a t d a t e

i t i s . O n c e o v e r t h e l in e , t ea m s k n o w t h e y

You get to the top of the wave a nd the oce a n s a ll foa m a nd s pr ay. You’re look ing a round a nd it ’s just a m a zing . F i ve sec onds later, you’re dow n a mong the se gi a nt wave s a nd the wind is qui eter T hen the nex t wave c ome s . It looks like it ’s going to c r a s h on top of you a nd then you’re up on top of it. T hat wa s w hat I went for. I t wa s a m a zing to me. Ye a h , I love d it . Jody Shaw, American | on board Qingdao F ew p e

B i g t a c t i c a l d e c i si o n s , r i s i n g te m p e r atu r e s

a n d e a s i n g w i n d s c h a r a c ter i s e t h e A m eri c a s

C o a s t-to - C o a s t l e g . P as s i n g t hr o u g h t h e h i s to ri c

P a n a m a C a n al , o n e of t h e S eve n Wo n d e r s of t h e M od e r n Wo r l d , i s a l s o a u n i q u e a n d

evo c at i ve exp erie n c e .

T h e f i r s t b i g

rou t e . T h e C a l i f o r n ia n C u r r e n t f l o w s S ou t h , b u t t h e h e l p i n g h a n d

t h i s g i v e s c a n b e c ou n t e r a c t e d b y h e a t i n g e f f ec t s f r o m t h e N o r t h

A me ri c a n l a n d m a s s w h i c h m i g h t c h a n g e t h e w in d s u n f av ou r a b l y.

T h e r a c e d o w n to t h e c o a s t o f M e x i c o s h o u l d b e a f a s t on e b u t

as t h e b r e e z e b e c o m e s l i g h t e r t h e r a ci n g b e c o m e s m o r e i n t e n s e .

C o n d i t i o n s n e a r t h e I TC Z ( I n t e r Tr op i c a l C o n v e r g e n c e Z o n e -

o r d o l d r u m s ) c o u l d d e c i d e t h e f in a l f i n i s h i n g p o s i t i on s o f f P a n a m a .

O n c e t h e f l e e t h as t r a n s i t e d t h e 41 n a u t i c a l m i l e s o f

t h e C a n a l , s u r rou n d e d b y p r is t in e t r op i c a l r a i n f o r e s t a l i v e w i t h

w i l d l i f e , t h e y a c h t s w i l l s e t o f f o n a n u p w in d b a t t l e n o r t h .

M a n y s a i l c h a n g e s w i l l b e r e q u i r e d d u e to l i g h t e r w in d s n e a r t h e

W in d w a r d P a ss a g e b e t w e e n t h e i s l a n d s o f C u b a a n d H i s p a n i o l a ,

w h i c h m a r k t h e e x i t f r o m t h e C a r i b b e a n S e a i n to t h e A t l a n t i c O

W in d w i l l

t h e N o r t

Having never sailed before, ever y single experience was a brand new one and no mat ter how you expect it to be, look , feel, sound, smell and taste beforehand, I think it will always be dif ferent. I was over whelmed at times. I was expecting to be af fected mentally too, but this race has completely changed the way I look at the entire world.

THE ATLANTIC HOMECOMING

W h i l e t h i s m i g ht b e t h e h o m ewa r d b o un d l e g fo r t h e

fl e et , t h e r e i s p l e nt y of r a ci n g s t i l l to b e e n j oyed .

F i r s t pl a c e ove r a l l wa s d e c i d e d o n t h e fi n a l r a c e of t h i s

l e g o n m o r e t h a n o n e o c ca si o n . O n t h e c l as s i c r a c e r ou te

t h e r e i s t h e p ote nt i a l fo r s o m e ve r y f a s t s a i l i n g . W h i l s t i t

m ay b e t h e e n d of t h e a d ve ntu r e , t h e m e m o ri e s of a l l t h at

h a s be e n e ndu r e d a n d c e l e b r ate d w i l l l a s t fo r eve r.

I t i s im p o r t a n t f o r t ea m s to av o i d c o mp l a c e n c y a s t h e y b e g i n t h e f in a l l e g o f

t h e ci rcum n av i g a t i o n . Ta k i n g a p o p u l a r rou t e a c r o s s t h e N o r t h A t l a n t i c , t h e

f l e e t w i l l f o l l o w t h e G r e a t C i r cl e o n i t s w a y b a c k to w a r d s E ur o p e .

We a t he r i n t h e N o r t h A t l a n t i c c a n b e as h e av y a s t h e Pa c i f i c w i t h

d e p r e s si o n s s w i r l i n g a c r o s s c a u s i n g h i g h w i n d s a n d b i g s w e l l s . C o n t i n u i n g

e a s t b a c k to w a r d s E ur o p e , s om e f u n a n d f a s t d o w n w in d s a i l i n g i s o n o f f e r

i n p r e v a i l i n g w e s t e r l i e s .

W i t h f in a l p oi n t s u p f o r g r a b s , t h e r e i s s t i l l e v e r y t h i n g to r a c e f o r a s y o u s a i l

i n to a p o r t i

mpl e t e t h e

Regardless of how you do in the race ever y crew member deser ves to be applauded. But the feeling when you get up on the podium is indescribable. You put a lot of work in for a long time and to have that rewarded feels absolutely ama zing ! Victor Ansart, French | on board Sanya Serenity Coast

LIFE AT AN ANGLE

GOING

BEYOND THE CONSTRAINT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

The crew, t ypically divided into t wo watches together with your Skipper and the First M ate, will become a well-oiled machine, constantly developing as you look for ways to optimise boat and team per formance in the ever-changing conditions.

But racing is only par t of the experience. You’ll witness the vastness of the oceans, encounter ex traordinar y wildlife up-close and see sunsets and clear starr y-night sk ies that ’ll take your breath away. You’ll discover an inner strength and resilience that you may not k now you had and forge life-long friendships from the bonds created through team work and trust.

ROLES ON BOARD

A CLIPPER 70 IS NOT A PLACE FOR THE FAINT HEARTED OR WORK-SHY.

As a crew member you will be trained as an ocean racer, working as a team to be a self-suf ficient unit capable of taking care of any situation, no mat ter what the conditions.

You will be able to get involved in all roles on deckas helm, mast, pit, bow and grinder - or go on to specialise in the areas where your strengths lie.

In addition, you’ll also play a crucial role in your team across various roles from media to engineer, sail repair to galley dut y.

BOSUN

ENGINEER

VICTUALLER

Ensures the team is properly fed, watered and has the necessary provisions for the duration of the race. The Victualler is in charge of meal planning as well as ensuring that communal supplies and general items are purchased. An army marches on its stomach and the nutritional and calorie content of meals needs to be considered depending on the weather and duration of each race.

SAILMAKER

L e a d s t h e s a i l r e p a i r te a m

to c o o r d i n ate ma i n te n a n c e

a n d r e p a i r o f t h e te a m’s s a i l

wa r d r o b e . T h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e

ya c h t ’s s a il s w i l l b e cr i t i c a l to

r a ci n g su cce s s .

STOPOVER MANAGER

Responsible, under direction of the Sk ipper, for organising the yacht and crew stopover program. This may include ensuring rig and safet y checks are completed, organising the deep clean of the yacht, being on hand to super vise the crew to ensure all tasks and overseeing maintenance days. Must have good leadership and organisational sk ills in order to allow ma ximum time for rest and r e c u p e r at i o n a s h o r e .

TEAM COORDINATOR

SOCIAL SECRETARY/ TREASURER

H e l p s to ma n a g e t h e c r ew fun d , a c t s as a l i a i s o n w i t h t h e f a mi l i e s

o f t h e te a m , s o c ia l eve n t s , te a m

b u i l d i n g , ma n a g e o r c u r ate s o c ia l

m e d i a a n d a ny t h i n g e l s e t h at w i l l

h e l p br i n g t h e te a m to g e t h e r.

O n c e t h e r a c e i s i n a c t i o n , t h e

c o h e s i o n o f t h e w h o l e te a m i s

ma i n t a in e d by h avi n g a s t r o n g

l i n k b e t we e n t hos e s a i l i n g a n d

l e g g e r ’s w h o a r e ye t to j o i n .

C o m mu n i c at i o n s Te a m to o r g a n i s e m e d i a o u t p u t fr o m t h e ya c h t . T h i s i n c l ud

h

o r g a n i s e c r ew fo r a ny m e d i a i n te r v i ew r e q u e s t s .

WORLD CLASS TRAINING

PRE-RACE TRAINING IS COMPULSORY FOR EVERYONE .

A core element of the Clipper Race experience is our pioneering training programme that enables novices and skilled yachts-people to tack le the most challenging situations on the planet.

COMPULSORY Training and CLIPPER RACE CLOTHING Package

£ 6,700*

We take the lessons from having raced more than five million miles, and apply them to our global training courses, constantly updating material to ensure our crews are focused on safet y and trained to the highest level.

Working with our professional skippers and mates, you will live on board 68-foot and 70foot yachts. From day one you will build teams, practice safety drills, learn the ropes, cook, clean and race. On top of that you’ll learn the basics of yacht maintenance and management, racing tactics, sur vival at sea and weather routing to weather conditions.

The most impor tant sk ill you’ll learn is being par t of a multi-disciplined high per formance team that will function in ever y condition that Mother Nature can muster.

There are four levels of compulsor y training. E ach is an intensive physical and mental programme under taken from the Clipper Race training school in the U K .

The sequential one-week courses must be completed successfully before you race but this can be scheduled back-to-back or spread over several months.

Your fitness levels will improve during training and while racing but your pre-race fitness programme will benefit you and add to your overall enjoyment of the race.

We estimate around 30 percent of crew members have not sailed before they star t their sail training. If you wish, you can also complete optional courses designed to compliment your compulsor y training by the Hamble School of Yachting in the UK .

*Price

g ven is for the Clipper 2025 -26 Race

E V E L 3

CREWING SKILLS OFFSHORE SAILING AND LIFE ONBOARD

To be a great sai or, you first need to be a safe and competent sailor. This is where you will learn the fundamentals of sa ling and how to safely navigate your way around a C ipper Race yacht.

Within a few days you’ll take your turn at the helm, and learn about all the roles on board. You may be pushed to your physical l mits, but you’ l understand just how we l you w ll be ab e to function as a team player while cold, wet and tired.

During this level you’ll also get measured for your Cl pper Race technical clothing kit. As par t of the select on process you need to successfully complete Level 1 before you’re guaranteed a place on the Cl pper Race.

ASYMMETRIC SPINNAKER TRAINING AND RACING TECHNIQUES

As your skil and confidence levels increase so will the demands we place on you so that when you race for real, you wi l do things right first time and quickly.

We will help you build your confidence and stretch your comfor t zone The Clipper 70s fly asymmetric spinnakers, which are great fun, fast, furious and reward ng, although more technical and physical y demanding Here you will really hone your sailing skills. Ever y th ng will be about sail trim, making the boat go faster and understand ng the weather systems that you’re rac ng in.

You w ll be ama zed at how the crewing skills you earned on Level 1 come back to you, especially the necessar y safety dr lls and procedures.

On Level 2 you w ll star t to experience sa ling at an ang e for long periods of time. Your physical fitness and concentrat on will be tested as th s is the first time you wi l sail through the night, as you work in your watch systems.

You are now well on your way to becoming an ocean racer

TEAM TACTICS AND OFFSHORE FLEET RACING

You’re almost there; you can fee the Race Star t. Now it’s time to put the final touches to your pre-race train ng. Here you will train w th your Skipper, F rst Mate and team while racing against the rest of the C ipper Race fleet. You will practice Race Star ts, bu ld and rea ly get to know your team and impor tantly star t to work on a psychological edge over your rivals.

There are no race points at stake during Level 4 – but you’d better be ieve that the race has star ted Imagine the feeling as you win practice race af ter practice race.

GE T TING THE INSIDE EDGE

YOUR PERSONAL RACE CREW CLOTHING PACK AGE .

When you face the world’s most ex treme ocean conditions, you need the world’s best ocean sailing clothing. Because when a sailor is protected on the outside, they are stronger on the inside.

From Musto’s collection, we’ve hand picked a Race Crew clothing package, tried, tested and approved by professional ocean racing sailors who venture to the most ex treme places on ear th.

Valued at over £ 2 , 400 RRP the clothing package is included in the cost of your compulsor y training and contains the renowned HPX GORE-TE X Pro Series Smock and Salopette.

ADVENTURE FOR GOOD

TOGETHER WE CAN HELP BUILD A BETTER WORLD.

As a member of the Clipper Race crew, you’ll be taking on one of the greatest challenges on Ear th, testing your wits, skills and courage in an endurance race across the toughest oceans. At the same time we see vulnerable children and environments around the world experiencing even more precarious challenges.

Since it’s inception, the Clipper Race has been fund raising for charities and suppor ting corporate social responsibility programmes around the world.

As par t of your race campaign, you may also want to raise funds and awareness for the Clipper Race Charity by par ticipating in activation oppor tunities pre-race and at each stop-over por t.

By r a ising just 10 p for ever y k ilometre r ac e d , I was ab le to re ach 86 % of my goal , a nd thous a nds of p ounds for a n imp or t a nt c ause. O ne hundre d p erc ent went direc tly to the char it y.

RACE TO GREATNESS RACE TO WIN

PERHAPS THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF ALL IS THE THRILL OF WINNING.

There are as many reasons to race as crew. Whatever your reason - to challenge and push yourself, to learn or discover, or to encourage others - the courage of crossing an ocean or the pace of coastal racing is always marked in true celebrator y st yle, watched on by the world’s media , your friends and family.

SUPPORTING YOUR SUPPORTERS

YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN YOUR EXPERIENCE , WHETHER MEETING UP WITH YOU IN PORTS AROUND THE WORLD OR FOLLOWING YOUR JOURNEY FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME .

R ACE VIEWE R

By check ing the Clipper Race website regularly family and friends can follow ever y exhilarating moment around the world. Updated hourly when racing, the Race Viewer shows the most up to date information on the yacht positions, weather conditions and the points position of each team.

Even af ter a gruelling month-long ocean crossing the dif ference in the yacht positions can come down to a mat ter of seconds. Suppor ters around the world can watch live online, of ten sending real-time messages to their loved ones and friends.

We encourage your loved ones to get involved with your adventure whether they plan to meet you in stopovers around the world, or to follow you from the comfor t of home.

Through regular, tailored updates, drop-in events and informal gatherings, Race Crew Suppor ters will never miss a beat of the action.

FUTURE CREW

Junior Crew Suppor ters’ activities provide a way to connect fur ther with the race and help them feel a par t of the Clipper Race family while their loved one is at sea.

ACHIEVE SOMETHING REMARK ABLE

CREW FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE OF A LIFETIME .

2025-26 RACE FEES

This epic event sees the teams battle ex treme conditions as they race identical modern race yachts over 40,000 nautical miles around the globe. A true test of for titude and determination, crew members from around the world, and all walks of life, will experience Mother Nature in her raw and power ful glor y.

Each race edition lasts eleven months and crew can join for any number of its individual legs, or complete an entire circumnavigation.

Raced by People Like You, no previous sailing experience is required but four levels of intense ocean racer training is completed before you can compete.

You can pay by standing order commencing the month af ter your contract is processed. CLIPPER

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If no prior sailing experience is required, is it safe?

The C ipper Race is not for the faint hear ted or unprepared. E x treme spor t of this nature requires training to par t cipate safely so your safety is core to ever y thing we do. Whether you are a complete nov ce or experienced sailor, from the first moment you begin your train ng, our profess ona Skippers and First Mates wil focus on safety protocols and procedures.

What are you looking for in a crew member?

Crew members jo n from across the globe, are from a l walks of l fe and have dif ferent levels of experience. What is crucial is your evel of desire, determination and enthusiasm. You need to be a team player and someone who is tolerant, forgiving, understanding and suppor t ve. If you have these sof t skills we can turn you into an accomplished ocean racer.

Does

it matter that I’m not a sailor, medic or

engineer?

Not at all Your unique life experience w ll bring as much to the team as your career and background But if you do have the relevant background you may wish to be the on board medic, engineer, or watch leader to suppor t the Skipper and First Mate f needed

Will I need a visa?

It is highly probable, but depends on your nationality and the countries you are visiting We will advise you of the correct visa to apply for, and when It will be up to you to make the required visa applications Your passpor t will also need to be up to date

How fit do I need to be?

Like any big challenge, most people will need to put a programme in place as part of their phys cal preparation. Everyone coming to the Clipper Race has a different level of fitness. Teamwork and technique are just as important as core strength. So our train ng will show you what areas you may need to work on. Be prepared to burn around 5,000 calories a day during the race.

How are people allocated to teams?

Not only are the yachts identical we also make sure that each crew is matched to ensure an even and competitive race. We spread ages, experiences, vocations and national t es across the fleet. Of course if you have a par ticular team that you would like to represent please tell us and, although we can’t guarantee it, we will do our best to grant your request.

How do people deal with seasick ness?

Ever yone finds a dif ferent remedy that works for them; an over the counter medicine, herbal remedies like ginger, wrist bands that apply pressure to key po nts and even cotton wool in the ears. The worst case scenario is you feel terrib e for 48 hours and then your body ad usts.

What technical clothing or kit will I need?

We provide you with the essential, technical sailing and team kit package from a range by our Technical C oth ng Par tner. Depending on the races you choose, we will advise you on other items you may wish to add. We also supply your life-jacket, AIS beacon and all safety equipment

What happens in the Host Por ts?

Following the initial celebrat ons of your arrival, your prior ty is the yacht’s maintenance, prepar ng for the nex t race, re-provisioning and race plann ng. You’l want to par ticipate in events with your Team Par tner inc uding the Prize Giving ceremony. And catch your breath w th friends and family as you see the local sights.

How much personal kit can I take?

As a team you will make that decision together. Ever y thing you do is a fine balance between hav ng enough and having too much. Too much adds we ght and slows the boat down. Not enough means you are cold, wet and demoralised. Somewhere between 20 and 30 kgs of kit is typical.

How flexible is the training?

All four levels of training take place n the UK where our courses are avai able most weeks of the year so you can plan ahead of time around your own projects, holidays, family and other commitments In addition, you can elect to complete optional courses designed to compliment your compulsor y tra n ng by the UK based Hamble School of Yachting

When do I have to pay?

Your payments commence when you sign your contract. We encourage you to spread the cost of your legs with our interest-free payment plan. The terms and cond t ons are set out n your contract and we are also availab e to discuss this with you when you make your appl cation.

What happens now?

We know a decision of this impor tance requires time and consideration. You can attend a presentation, join webinars, or cal us to ask quest ons before you apply.

When you have applied you will be invited for an nter view to d scuss your goa s W th this successfully behind you, the nex t step is to rece ve a contract of fer Once you accept the of fer you wil star t your payments and be nvited to take par t in the comprehensive tra n ng programme, preparing you for the adventure of a ifetime and The Race of Your Life