On 22 April 2019, it was precisely 50 years since I returned to Falmouth in Suhaili and became the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the planet. While it made history at the time, my 30-year-old self really had no idea of the scale of impact it would have on the rest of my life – or on the lives of others.
People always ask what I’m most proud of in my life, and I believe it is two things. Firstly, that by being the first to do something, suddenly it sparks the confidence that anything is possible in life, and that is where progress comes from. I’ve watched with great interest over the years, as the records for circumnavigation have fallen as yacht designs and technology keep developing, even though the oceans
remain the same challenging landscapes they were all those years ago.
My other proudest achievement is, of course, the Clipper Race, which enables anyone, with dedication, enthusiasm and our world-class training, to become an ocean racer. Meeting William Ward, my business partner in this adventure, was, without doubt, one of the most important days of my life – I only wish I’d met him sooner. Without his input and our friendship, the race would not be what it is today.
Over the past 24 years, we’ve turned more than 5,000 people across the world into ocean racers, enabling them to say they have truly done something special with their lives. It’s a legacy of which I’m immeasurably proud, and one I hope continues to grow.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Founder and Chairman, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race onboard Suhaili
FSC® C015185
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THRIVING THROUGH AMBITION
Clipper Ventures CEO William Ward on the impact the expanding Clipper Race business has had on thousands of lives around the world
17
A WORLD FIRST FOR WOMEN
The 2017-18 Clipper Race saw Wendy Tuck and Nikki Henderson become the first female Skippers to secure the top two spots of a round-the-world yacht race 23
MEET THE TEAMS
Who are the 688 crew members taking part in the Race of Their Lives? 48
GET IN GEAR
The must-have items every crew member will need during the challenging months at sea 55
The rigorous training Race Crew endure to become ocean racers
58
BATTLING MOTHER NATURE
From tropical storms to waves the size of tower blocks, Clipper Race Director Mark Light describes the challenges every race brings 69
DESTINATION ADVENTURE
Find out more about the Host Ports the teams will sail into as they experience 16 places in ten countries across six continents 104
BUILDING NETWORKS
How Clipper Ventures forges partnerships and connects communities 112
RISING TIDE
Clipper China and Hamble School of Yachting join forces to provide first-class sail training 120
RACING
The positive impact the race has had on past crew members
135
TEAM UP
From problem-solving to teambuilding: exciting Clipper Events help inspire businesses and individuals alike 140
HISTORY
Remembering Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s historic solo navigation and its impact on the world of sailing 148
READY TO RACE
From an Olympian to family duos, inspiring people from all walks of life 154
BEHIND THE LENS
The challenge of capturing vital pictures and videos to meet increasing media demand in the digital age 160
The role families and well-wishers play in boosting morale
A total of 24 years and eleven round the world race editions have passed since William Ward and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston joined together to launch the first Clipper Race. The results have proved life-changing, both on a global business scale, and because of the remarkable impact the race has had on thousands of lives around the world – not least on their own
While Sir Robin Knox-Johnston takes the more visible role as Clipper Race Chairman, CEO William Ward is more comfortable staying behind the scenes, but his influence has been anything but low key. He remains in the driving seat of the business, securing the commercial success that ensures its future.
Like Sir Robin, William shares a bold appetite for extreme experiences and pushing boundaries. Whether on the race track, where he gets an adrenaline lift as a Mini racing driver, or in business, where his self-made entrepreneurial sense led him to build a successful portfolio in imports, exports and commercial property at a young age, his ambition knows no limits.
William’s 18-year-old son Andrew signed up for the very first Clipper Race. After hearing some of the passionate stories of other crew, William recognised that the Clipper Race would not only be an unbelievable experience, but also visualised its
many commercial opportunities. So, shortly after first meeting Sir Robin in 1995, he invested the £1.8m required to get the first edition under way.
William explains: “When you meet people who have got something about them, you can feel that energy and strength. Sir Robin instilled in me a lot of confidence that he knew what he was doing and my first impression stands firm today.”
William and Sir Robin’s friendship, as well as their combined sailing and business knowledge, has made them a force to be reckoned with. It has provided the backbone of their continued success, enabling them to thrive where their competitors have faltered.
William says: “Not many businesses have taken on the challenge we have and come out the other side, stronger than ever. It wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t stood shoulder-to-shoulder. We find our solutions together, we recognise one another’s strengths and, most importantly, we respect each other too.”
William was duly rewarded for growing the Clipper Race brand and his achievements were recognised at the highest level in 2018, when he was awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace for services to the economy and the GREAT Britain campaign, which showcases the best of what the UK has to offer.
Speaking about the OBE, which he received from HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, William says: “As a royalist and a proud Brit, it felt quite overwhelming, but I do take enormous pride in the growth the Clipper Race has had since Robin and I first set out together.
“The GREAT Britain partnership has been an example of the hundreds of different business partners and international destinations we’ve worked with over our past 24 years. It has been a fantastic journey so far, full of challenges and surprises, and one which Robin and I have taken enormous satisfaction in seeing go from strength to strength. But, as ever, it makes us want to do more.”
MAIN Unicef and GREAT Britain enter New York LEFT
William receives his OBE from HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
Our partners share our vision; their campaigns come to life far outside of the boundaries of sailing
William
Partners
William
He adds: “The race’s values, such as courage, teamwork and human fortitude, come to life at all levels in the harsh and challenging environment of Mother Nature’s most extreme conditions. There is no greater example of everyday people overcoming adversity, and it creates an incredibly powerful place for brands to align with. Our sponsors don’t just invest money – they share our vision and their campaigns come to life far outside of the boundaries of sailing and the race track as a result.”
The race essentially becomes an 18-month PR and marketing campaign, which takes a great deal of commitment on both sides to deliver, but provides huge rewards and incredible value for money, which can’t be found anywhere else.
Continuing its aim to grow and expand its influence as it keeps its eyes on the future, Clipper Ventures recently announced the two biggest expansions in its history: the opening of its new Clipper China division, and the purchase of a leading UK sail training school.
William explains: “We are already the biggest single provider of offshore sail training in the world, having trained more than 5,000 sailors to participate in the Clipper Race over the past two decades. However, the current increasing interest in sailing in a country as large as China means it could take us just a couple of years to train the same number there.
signing the Unicef Spinnaker of Support with Sir Robin at his side TOP
and pals Sir Robin and William BOTTOM
in Qingdao, signing his name in Chinese
Not many businesses have taken on the challenge [Robin and I] have and come out the other side stronger than ever
“Closer to home, we also recently expanded our sail training offering through the purchase of Hamble School of Yachting, one of the leading sailing schools in the UK. This is part of a wider strategy to develop our offering within the offshore sailing industry and maintain ourselves as the gold standard for global sail training.”
Summing up his friendship with Sir Robin, William says: “Like the many crew who do the race and form lifelong bonds with their teammates for years to come, the same has been true of my relationship with Sir Robin. I could never have known where our first meeting in 1995 would take us, but all these years later, I’m prouder than ever of our friendship and, for me, it sets the foundations for what our race is all about.
“I joined Sir Robin to see him recreate his return to Falmouth 50 years after he made history. I was a young lad in 1968 who had no idea what impact Sir Robin and his achievement would end up having on my own life. I am incredibly grateful for his experiences, but I also know our journey is far from over yet. We have no regrets, and we still have plenty more to do together, which remains an exciting place to be, both in life and business.”
The Royal Navy joined in celebrations at Falmouth for the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin’s homecoming
I was a young lad in 1968 who had no idea what impact Sir Robin and his achievement would end up having on my own life© Shaun Roster Photography
As the Clipper Race Crew rise to the challenge of an endurance race across the oceans, children around the world need our support to overcome an even more dangerous global challenge.
Climate change represents an on-going emergency for children. Rising malnutrition, scarce water supplies, increasing disease, and more frequent and severe storms, droughts and floods put children’s futures at risk.
Unicef and the Clipper Race are working together to protect children and young people, everywhere. We work tirelessly to make sure that children like Mara have access to basic services and resources such as clean, safe drinking water. With your help, more children will survive, thrive and fulfil their potential.
Please help us to make a lasting difference for children around the world.
Sign up to fundraise clipperrace@unicef.org.uk
Anything’s possible, isn’t it? I love saying that – anything is possible
As the first female skipper to clinch victory in a round-the-world yacht race, it’s no surprise that Wendy Tuck’s motto is ‘you can never give up’
Becoming a trailblazer was not Wendy Tuck’s intention when she signed up to be a skipper in the Clipper 2017-18 Race – the Australian simply wanted to go sailing. But that all changed on 28 July 2018, when she entered the history books for being the first female skipper to win a round-the-world yacht race.
News of her achievement was reported worldwide and a nomination for World Sailor of the Year and winning Australian Sailor of the Year followed. In her typical understated manner, she admits she hates “banging on about women”, but is proud and a little awed of what she achieved while at the helm of Sanya Serenity Coast.
She said: “I didn’t start the race with that in mind at all. To find out that’s what has happened is extraordinary. If one little girl sees this, sees it can be done and has a go, that will be what matters to me.”
The Sydney skipper’s love of sailing didn’t begin until her mid-twenties, when she bought a boat, armed herself with a children’s instruction manual, and taught herself to sail in Spain. She was instantly hooked and then set about making her passion into a career.
Her first Clipper Race began in 2015. There were plenty of highs along the way (including ‘Wendy Tuck Day’ in her team’s home port of Da Nang in Vietnam), but there were also some challenging times. During a knockdown in the North Pacific,
Wendy was thrown out of her bunk, knocked unconscious, and ended up sustaining broken ribs.
In true Wendy style, she bounced back to claim second place in the North Pacific Leg in the 2017-18 edition of the Clipper Race. This was just one of six podiums for team Sanya Serenity Coast, with Wendy also winning the prestigious Jane Tate Memorial Trophy for being the first female skipper across the finish line in her beloved Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Wendy credits much of the team’s success to the men and women who made up the Sanya Serenity Coast crew. The team, which was representing China’s tropical sailing paradise in Hainan, made its debut in the Clipper 2017-18 Race.
The award-winning skipper said: “I had a pretty cool crew. There were times I had made a decision that was wrong, or it wasn’t quite evident that it was right or wrong. But the crew would always back me up.”
It was her crew who kept her going through the ups and downs that are synonymous with ocean racing.
Wendy explains: “We had some disastrous results, where we had a wind hole and lost the lead by 200 miles and had to sit for 36 hours and watch the whole fleet go past us.
“If my attitude is ‘well, we’ve chucked it away’, then it’s surprising how quickly the crew starts to think the same. You can never give up.”
One team, and one skipper in particular, pushed Wendy right until the final moments of the 40,000-nautical mile race. The first one-two female finish in Clipper Race history occurred when Visit Seattle skipper Nikki Henderson crossed the line just 17 minutes behind Sanya Serenity Coast in the race from Fremantle to Sydney, and that result was then repeated when it came to the overall leaderboard at race finish.
Wendy said: “Out of the skippers to come second, I’m so glad it was Nikki. Sometimes I wish it had been her that won, as it would have been so fabulous for her at that age.
“She was 25 when she finished the race and that’s extraordinary, though I don’t think she realises how amazing she is. Either she was on our heels or we were hot on hers the whole way, and to get first and second for two women is just so cool.”
It didn’t take long for the Wendy and Nikki effect to take hold. In the month following their historic one-two finish, enquiries for information on the race from women increased by 115 per cent. There will be more than 200 women from 44 different countries taking part in the 2019-20 edition of the Clipper Race, while the teams will be assisted by mates Lyndsay Barnes and Rhiannon Massey, aged just 23.
These facts are what makes it all worthwhile to Wendy, who said: “Anything’s possible, isn’t it? I love saying that –anything’s possible.”
A jubilant Wendy Tuck with Nikki Henderson, who is the youngest Clipper Race Skipper in history
If one little girl sees this can be done and has a go, that will be what matters
Teamwork, tenacity and dedication have all led to yet another award-winnning campaign
In its 23-year history, the Clipper Race has received sailing awards and recognition for its participants, and the 2017-18 edition was no different, generating an internationally diverse range of accolades.
Wendy Tuck, 52, and Nikki Henderson, 25, stole the headlines when their teams, Sanya Serenity Coast and Visit Seattle, finished first and second overall in the Clipper 2017-18 Race, making it the first time a female had won any round-the-world yacht race ever, let alone securing the top two spots.
Wendy claimed both the Offshore Racer and Female Sailor of the Year awards at the annual Australian Sailing Awards, and was the lone Australian nominee for World Sailing’s prestigious Sailor of the Year award.
Wendy said: “Who would have thought a girl from Mount Druitt could do this? Look where I’ve come from. I didn’t even sail until I was in my 20s. I guess this shows you really can do anything if you put your mind to it.”
In the UK, Nikki Henderson was awarded the prestigious Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA) Yachtsman of the Year Award for making history by becoming the youngest ever skipper to compete in the Clipper Race.
Cliff Webb, YJA Chairman, said: “The YJA is delighted to recognise Nikki’s achievement in becoming the youngest skipper ever in the Clipper Race, and to have guided her crew to a second-placed finish overall, missing outright victory by the narrowest of margins, is really remarkable.
“She showed extraordinary skill, seamanship, and race tactics through eleven tough months of competition, where she shouldered the responsibility of keeping her crew safe, while teaching people more than twice her age. It was an outstanding performance, showing tremendous leadership and team-building qualities.”
Across the Atlantic, in Canada, Visit Seattle crew member Simon DuBois was awarded the Québec Sailor of the Year honour for exceptional achievements in sailing after becoming the first Quebecker to race around the globe.
Speaking about the achievement, Simon, who had dreamed of sailing around the world since childhood, said: “When I realised that no Quebecker had completed a sailing race around the world, I decided to share my journey and prove that everyone can accomplish extraordinary things.
“I wanted to inspire people to dare to go after their own dreams, no matter how big they are, and the best way is to lead by example and to write my own story. I learned so much throughout the journey. I am definitely a better sailor, I think I am a better leader and I hope I am a better man as well.”
2017-18 GREAT Britain Campaign / Clipper Race – Best International Sponsorship Campaign finalist, UK Sponsorship Awards 2018.
2017-18 Sanya Serenity Coast / Clipper Race campaign – China’s Best Sports Marketing Case winner 2018.
2018 Prix du Public winner of Waterproof film festival for La Course de Leur Vie (a 20-minute film in French documenting the making of the award-winning TV documentary series The Race of Their Lives, available at www.bookharbour.com)
MAIN Wendy Tuck won the Clipper 2017-18 Race ABOVE Nikki Henderson with Visit Seattle LEFT Simon DuBois was awarded Sailor of the Year
Imagine your Korea makes its debut team appearance in the Clipper Race. The vibrantly branded yacht will represent the charming and intriguing destination and increase sailing participation in the 2019-20 edition of the race.
A mix of ancient history and modern architecture can be found in thriving
ANDREA VASAPOLLI 57, Italian, Chartered Public Accountant, 1 ANNINA ZANCANARO 28, Swiss, Saleswoman, 6 BRIAN ANDERSON 62, Australian, Air Traffic Controller, 3 4
BRIAN MCNEALEY 57, British, Engineer, Circumnavigator
BROOKE FERGUSON 45, Australian, Project Manager and Business Owner , 6
CAROLA GOEHLICH 31, German, PhD Student, 1 CHARLIE DEWHIRST 39, British, Sports Communications, 6
CHERYL MCKAY 50, British, Partner Account Manager, 4 CHRIS JACK 54, British, Computer Consultant, 4 DANIEL JOHNSON 20, British, Student, 8 DAVID RANKIN 55, British, Retired Management Consultant, 5
DAVID WATKIN 55, British, Software Development Manager, 1 DEBORAH DULLEN 46, American, Health Professional, 8 DEBORAH NAGAN 54, British, Landscape Architect, 7 DEREK URE 59, British, Fire Fighter and Medical Technician, 8
DORINE SAENGER 48, French, Customer Service Assistant, 1
ELAINE LEIGH 48, British, Surveyor, 5 6 FRANCESCA KITTO-JONES 48, British, Presentation Editor, Circumnavigator
cities, in contrast to the natural scenery which includes stunning beaches, mountains, national parks, beautiful islands and UNESCO heritage sites.
In addition to highlighting Korea’s tourism credentials, the campaign, supported by the Korea Tourism Organisation, Gin-A Co. Ltd, The Korean Sailing Federation and the
Yeosu Yi Sun Sin Marina, will use the Clipper Race to promote Korea’s sailing opportunities to the world, as well as encourage more people in Korea to take up the sport.
www.imagineyourkorea.com www.ksaf.org
FRANK HOOGLAND 49, Dutch, Doctor, 3 GILLIAN DONALD 50, British, Accountant, Circumnavigator
GREG OLIVER 61, Australian, Development Consultant, 4 5 6
GUOYOU GAO 50, Chinese, Sales Director, 2 8 HADRIAN CORNING 48, Canadian, Investor, 3 HANS-PETER BICHELMEIER 59, Chinese, Company Owner, 5
HELEN VAN DEN BERG 57, South African, Corporate Banker , 7 8
JAMES ANDERSON 49, British, Consultant Radiologist, Circumnavigator
JO WARNE 40, British, Consulting Manager, 7 8
JOANNE COURT 33, British, Doctor, 1 2 3
JOANNE ROONEY 53, British, Nurse Manager, 4 5
JONATHAN WALLINGTON 56, British, Company Director, Circumnavigator
JOSEF FUCHS 52, Austrian, Managing Director, 1 2
JOSH AINSWORTH 20, British, Student, 7 8 KARIM EL KHADEM 39, Egyptian, Banker, 2 KATE HOLLING Australian, Resources Industry Executive, 3
KATJA MRAVLAK Slovenian, Lawyer, 5 KHALED HASHISH 61, Egyptian, Business Consultant, 3 8
KIRSTEN DIETZ 52, German, Designer, 6 7 LES PERRY 60, British, Managing Director, 3
MARTIN HAMELIN 46, Canadian, Server, Circumnavigator
MARTYN DAWES 51, British, Mentor to CEOs, 2 MYSHKIN CLARKE HALL 58, British, Architect, 3 NATASHA O’BRIEN 38, British, Seaman Specialist, 8 NICK HUSSEY 52, British, Publisher, 1 2 3 NICOLAS WHITTLE 65, British, Retired, Circumnavigator
PHILLIP GABRIEL 63, American, Retired, 5 6 RICHARD BURCHELL 61, British, Podiatrist, Circumnavigator
RICHARD HUTCHINGS 54, British, Investor, 1 3 ROB STEWART 62, South African, Farmer, 1 2 7 8
SEAN THOMPSON 56, American, Field Service Engineer, 6 SERGEI FEDOROV 41, Russian, Software Development Engineer, 6 SIMON FLEMING 60, British, Doctor, 1 2 THIERRY MEIER 30, Chinese, Chemical Process Engineer, Circumnavigator
TIM DEVINE 60, British, Management Consultant, 5 TIM LAPAGE 69, British, Safari Consultant, 3 4 8 TIMOTHY SOWERBY 56, American, Gastroenterologist Physician, 6 TOM BEDFORD 32, British, Financial Analyst, 5 6 7
TREVOR ORMAN 60, British, Businessman, 4 VINCE PEARSON 60, British, Director, 7 8
55, originally from Canterbury, England but now living in West Sussex, sailing around the world has been a long-held dream for Mike. Since starting to sail in his early twenties, he has recorded in excess of 100,000NM in his log book and has extensive racing experience, taking part in five Fastnets, 13 Round the Island Races, the ARC and BVI Spring Regatta to name but a few. Away from the water, Mike is a keen motorcyclist and has ambitions to complete the Route 66 ride.
Fly the flag for Korea and highlight its diverse tourism opportunities
Showcase Korea’s unique culture, history, beauty and gastronomy
Help to put Korea’s fastgrowing sailing industry and sailing mecca credentials firmly on the map
Set apart by its location, way of life and mystique, Bermuda is entering its debut team, GoToBermuda, in the Clipper 2019-20 Race.
The North Atlantic Ocean island offers a year-round subtropical sanctuary. Add in Bermuda’s rich maritime legacy and the Great Sound, a large, naturally formed ocean inlet that lends itself as the perfect event space for the premier sailing destination, and
ADAM CUNNINGTON 53, British, Farmer and Company Director, 1 4 8 ADRIAN NAKIC 56, German, Photographer, 1 2
ALASTAIR WATLING 22, British, Student, 4 AMANDA DANIELS 61, British, Psychologist, 8 ANDERS MANGEN 66, Australian, Retired Regional Director, 3 ANDREW COWEN 45, British, Entrepreneur, 5 6 7 8 ANDREW HOWARTH 55, British, Engineering Director, 3 ANDY HARRHY 68, British, Retired, Circumnavigator
ARTHUR VAN BREUKELEN 54, Dutch, Retired Real Estate Owner , 5 CALLUM BROWN 31, British, Assistant Rigging Foreman, Circumnavigator CANDELA GUO 24, American, Student, Circumnavigator
CAROLINE SPEIGHT 53, British, Charity Volunteer and Rowing Coach, 1 2 CHRIS CARROLL 36, Australian, Engineer, 5 7 CHRISTOPHER HOLLEYOAK 56, British, Managing Director, 1 2 3
CRAIG FORSYTH 48, British, Bricklayer, 4 DAVID DERBY 61, British, Structural Engineer, 1 DENNIS WOLSTENHOLME 72, British, Consultant, 7 8 DEREK BOWEN 59, Canadian, Professional Engineer, 1 6
it’s easy to see it’s a perfect fit for the Clipper Race platform.
“Aligning with the Clipper Race as a Team and Host Port Partner makes perfect sense. The partnership will generate brand awareness and economic impact – both are core to our mission,” said Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Kevin Dallas.
The GoToBermuda yacht design evokes the vibrant colour palette
of the island – from its pink sand beaches to its turquoise waters.
After racing through isolated corners of the globe, the GoToBermuda Race Crew will feel at home when they call into the home port in July 2020.
www.gotobermuda.com @Bermuda @Bermuda Bermuda Tourism Authority
ELLEN O’BRIEN 18, British, Student, 4 FRANCISCA WANDERS 65, Australian, Retired Nurse and Teacher, 7
GEOFF GILL 59,British,CivilServant, Circumnavigator
GERRY GLOVER 51, New Zealander, Self-Employed, 1 2
GLEN HOLLOWELL 51,British,SubseaEngineer, 3 6 7 GLENN HAYWARD 50, British, Management Consultant, 2 3
GREG FIELDWICK 46, Australian, Manager, 4 HEATHER BROADBENT 51, British, Personal Assistant and Gardener , Circumnavigator
JACQUI DAVIES 53, British, Property Developer, 7 8
JALNA MACKINTOSH 39, Australian, Programme Manager, 2
JANIS HAYNES 65, Australian, Retired Nurse, 7 JASON MANGAN 40, Irish, Secondary School Principal, 6
JOSHUA SMIT 32, Canadian, Plumber, 5 6 7 KEITH MARSHALL 59, British, Self-Employed, 8 LAURA GILES 32, British, Civil Servant, 3 4 LEE CALLAGHAN 41, British, Energy Sector Operations Manager, 1
MARK GELLAR 72, American, Retired Federal Prosecutor, 1 2
MIA HILLIER 19, British, Student, 7 8 MICHAEL CREAN 61, Canadian, Business Manager, 3
MICHAEL GANNON 63, American, Retired, 6 MICHIEL TIJSSELING 62, Dutch, Process Automation Leader, 5 6 MIKHAIL MABOURAKH 22, American, Student, 6 7
MYLES SUMMERFIELD 48, New Zealander, Property Developer, 3 NEILL MCWILLIAMS 49, British, TV Channels Manager, 5
NNENNAYA OFFOR 40, Nigerian, Entrepreneur, 3 8
PAUL BRIGGS 59, British, Retired, 6 7 PHILIP WAND 59, British, Project Engineer, Circumnavigator
RICHARD WILSON 49, British, Financial Consultancy Leader, 2 3 RONALD JACKSON 52, American, Partially Retired, Circumnavigator
SAUL TOMLIN 23, British, Acceptance and Assurance Engineer, 1 SHEILA LI 31, Australian, Doctor, 6 SIMON HIGH 66, Australian, Company Director, 4 STEPHEN MATANLE 67, British, Retired, 4 5
STEVE KALIN 55, New Zealander, Dairy Farmer, 8
SUSAN PEART 61, British, Farmer, 1 2 7 8 TRACEY THOMAS 56, American, Writer, 1 YVETTE JONES 52, South African, Chartered Accountant, 6
48, from Cape Town, South Africa, has extensive offshore racing experience and since catching the sailing bug at age five, he has recorded more than 350,000 nautical miles in his log book, with over 200,000 as a skipper. For the past three years, David has been working as a yachtmaster instructor in Cape Town, with his role including skippering training runs from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro, Madagascar and back, with ten RYA Yachtmaster Ocean students on board.
The island’s long sailing legacy makes it a perfect fit for the Clipper Race
To the adventure seekers, explorers, romantics and originals among us, Bermuda is set apart by it’s location and way of life; it’s where people, cultures and a certain mystique swirl together connecting you to a place far from your everyday life
Seattle’s maritime history and adventurous spirit go hand in hand with the Clipper Race, and is returning as a Team and Host Port Partner.
Seattle is home to some of the world’s biggest corporations but
ABDELHAMID ABOUYOUSSEF 43, Egyptian, Managing Hotel Director, 2 6 ADELE FORD 44, British, Head of Education Admissions, 5 8
ALEC PICKTHALL 61, British, Registered Nurse, Circumnavigator
ARVIN VULLIET 51, American, Transit Maintenance Technician, 1 2 3 4
BAPTISTE KLITTING 31, French, Osteopath, 3 BERNINE PRYOR 53, British, Architect, 5 BRIAN FIELD 61, Canadian, Business Owner, 123 CARINA SPITZKOPF 35, German, Finance, 8 CARSTEN SAENGER 46, German, IT Consultant, 1 CHRISTOPH TSCHERNISCHEN 36, German, Finance Manager, Circumnavigator
DAITHI MAC GEARAILT 43, Irish, Geologist, 4 DAVID MCDONALD 47, British, Buyer, 3 6 7 DAWN WIDDOWSON 55, New Zealander, Project Manager, Circumnavigator
DOUG WANG 50, American, Technology Consultant, 7 EMMA WINCHESTER 61, British, Therapeutic Counsellor, 1 FRANCESCA FOWLER 58, British, Director of Human Resources, 8 GLENN HEDGES 45, New Zealander, 1 GREGORIO CONCHA-TORO 26, American, Consultant, 5 6 8
is also a gateway to the region’s mountains, waterways and forests.
The Seattle Sports Commission and Port of Seattle, along with Visit Seattle, will once again collaborate on their Clipper Race campaign. Seattle’s focus on ocean health and environmental
JANE LEVER 57, Australian, Paramedic, 4 5
JANE RICHARDS 45, British, Director, 4
JOHN HAWKINS 54, American, Child Psychologist, Circumnavigator
JOHN HOSKYN 58, New Zealand, Software Engineer, 1 2 3 4
JOHN PALMER 52, British, IT Manager, Circumnavigator
JOSE CEDENO 42, American, Media
KIKI KETTUNEN 45, Finnish, Retail Manager, Circumnavigator
KURT HRUBANT 51, American, Aircraft Mechanic, 7
LIZZY GRIM 30, American, Sewist, 7 8 MARC LITTLE 41, British, Property Developer, 2 MARCUS COX 59, American, Teacher, Circumnavigator
MARK EDMONDS 62, Canadian, Retired Health Administrator, 1 2 3
MARY KING 58, British, Event Rider, 3 MAURICIO CONCHA 56, American, Physician, 5 6 8 MELANIE BROOKMAN 59, British, Scientist, 7
MELANIE SMITH 44, British, Operations Manager, 5 6 7 8
MELISSA YEAGER 65, American, Chief Regulatory Officer, 7
MICHAEL COLEMAN 49, American, Director of Design, Circumnavigator
MITCHELL SUNDT 58, American, Retired Software Engineer, 1 2 3
NICOLAS PIERREL 65, French, Retired, 3 NUNO DINIS 47, Portuguese, Supply Chain, 5 6 PAULA JOHNSON 35, South African, Airline Pilot, 3 PETER CAMPBELL 57, British, Surgeon, 1 6 7 QUEENIE WANG 38, British, Broker, 4 5 6 7 8 ROB MORRICE 70, American, Retired, 2 3 4
RYAN DAWSON 34, American, Management Consultant, 3 SARA MCBRIDE 34, British, Hair Stylist, 7 SARAH REES 61, British, Portfolio Manager, 2 SOPHIE QUINTIN ADALI 52, French, PhD Researcher and Project Manager, 6
STEPHEN GRIER 46, British, Scientist, 8 STEPHEN HIGGINS 61, British, Consultant Physician, 8
SUSANNAH VEAL 58, British, Nurse and Purchasing Inventory, 8 TIMOTHY GILLETTE 49, American, Police Sergeant, 6 TIMOTHY MORGAN 19, British, Student, Circumnavigator
TOM HUBBARD 56, American, Graphic Designer, 7 8
42, from Sussex, England, has an impressive 30-year sailing history, which includes racing at a national level, skippering Oxford University’s yacht team and, most recently, leading novice crews on ocean crossings. Ben’s highly diverse career also includes achievements in physics and computing, diving, the British Antarctic Survey, and much more.
The partnership will showcase Seattle as a city to do business with, live in and visit
The global nature of the race offers the ‘Emerald City’ access to an international audience, both while racing and as the teams and supporters arrive into the city
Seattle will focus on engaging young people from the Pacific Northwest on major environmental topics
WTC Logistics is making its debut as a Team Partner in the Clipper 2019-20 Race. WTC is a forward-thinking import and export consolidator and full-load carrier, operating via air, sea and road.
The role of WTC as logistics provider is crucial in keeping all eleven boats
going as they race. WTC Logistics will use its extensive knowledge in project and supply chain management to oversee the movement of the containers so they arrive ahead of the fleet in each stopover.
Through its yacht and Race Crew, WTC Logistics will aim to use the
ALEXIS GRENON 47, French, Engineer, 3
ALICIA KING 33, American, Entrepreneur, 4
ANA QUINTAS 48, Portuguese, Doctor, 1 6 ANDREW MCILWRAITH 31, British, Programme Manager, 1
ANGELA PENSWICK 55, British, Nurse, 1 ARSHIA MAHMOOD 50, British, Social Worker Manager, 1 2 BRAD HOWIE 59, Canadian, Consultant, Circumnavigator
CHARLES GARDINER 30, Australian, Sales Manager, 3
CHARLES ZEMAN 64, American, Surgeon, 3 6 8
CHRIS REID 46, British, Financial Analyst, 2 8 CLIVE DE LA COUR 60, British, Insurance Broker , 7
COLIN TICKELL 66, Australian, Environmental Engineer, 4
DAVID CARROLL 59, British, Childcare, 1 5
DAVID KEELEY 63, British, Social Worker, 3 6 8 DAVID LAUFER 59, American, Public Affairs Executive, 6 7
DAVID PEEBLES 57, British, Company Director, 1 ELIZABETH CAVE 36, British, Marketer, 5 GARETH DUNCAN 47, British, Warehousing and Logistics, 5 8
GIANDOMENICO ZEPPA 40, Italian, Film Restorer, 4 GUIDO RISPOLI 66, Italian, Financial Adviser, 7 8
HANK MORI Lebanese and Japanese, CEO, 2
HICHAM TAHRI HJ 53, Moroccan, Co-Founder, 2
IAN GRIFFITHS 52, British, Consultant Engineer, 3 ILONA VINOGRADOVA 40, Estonian, Journalist,2
INES SOARES 31, Portuguese, Doctor, 1 2 3 4
IONA GRIFFITHS 19, British, Student, 5
JAMES ISRAEL 52, Canadian, Telecom Manager, 3
JASMINE MORRIS 29, British, Designer, 5 8
JODIE ROBINSON 34, British, Group Account Director, 7
JOERG SCHAMUHN 60, German, CEO, 6 JOHN SHEPPARD 67, British, Retired Electrical Engineer, 7
JULIA THANNHEISER 35, German, Stockbroker, 2
JULIAN WOOD 60, British, Leather Merchant, 3
JULIE LINSDELL 53, British, Management Consultant, 7
JUSTIN OUGHTON 51, British, IT Contractor, 3 8
KAREN SMITH 55, British, National Sales Manager, Circumnavigator
KATE LONGBOTTOM 23, British, Sound Technician, 5
LAURENCE VIGNON 53, French, Bar Restaurant Owner, Circumnavigator
LOUISE MCEVELEY 53, British, Head of Ops Audit, 7
LUCIO CORCIULO 58, Italian, Director, 6
MARK SOUTHEY 56, British, Retired, Circumnavigator
MATTHEW THOMAS 54, British, Production Engineer, 1
MELANIE MORRIS 59, British, Doctor, 5 8
race to increase its brand awareness across the global race route, especially in China, where a hub of the WTC offices is located. www.wtclogistics.co.uk wtclogistics
MICHAEL CRANDALL 52, American, Firefighter, 1 6 MICHAEL HOLMES 35, American, Recycling Manager, 5 MICHAEL RICHMAN 59, American, Real Estate Developer, 6 7
NEIL ASHURST 55, British, Anaesthetist, 3 NIGEL JEPSON 59, British, Accountant, 4 5 OLIVER RICH 36, British, Digital Designer, 4 7 PAUL MASCARD 55, British, IT Contractor, Circumnavigator
PAUL WIDDOWSON 60, New Zealander, Construction Supervisor, Circumnavigator
RACHEL BURGESS 32, British, Veterinary Surgeon, 4 5 8
RENATO COELHO 53, Brazilian, Cattle Rancher, 2 SHANE O’NEILL 50, Australian, Accountant, 4 SMITA SINHA 39, British, Doctor, 8
SOPHIE OWLES 21, British, Student, 4 5 6
STEFANO BEN 49, Italian, Freelancer, 1
STEPHEN LAVERY 61, Irish, Consultant, 1 6
STEPHEN POMFRET 62, British, Retired, 6 7 8
SUSIE BLAIR 36, New Zealander, Physiotherapist, Circumnavigator
TOM SLOAN 60,British,Co-Director, Circumnavigator
WAYNE DOMNICK 50, South African, Portfolio Manager, 2 WILL MICHELMORE 60, British, Solicitor and Company Director, 2 3
WOLF BENEFELDT 43, German, Pilot and Aircraft Mechanic, 3
54, from Worcester, England, feels fortunate to have completed many ‘bucket list’ items in sailing, including a circumnavigation (Clipper 2011-12 Race), skippering in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and Fastnet Race, and crossing the world’s oceans more than once, but he is now driven to lead a full Clipper Race campaign.
Yacht Club Punta del Este is making its debut in the Clipper 2019-20 Race. The Punta del Este yacht will be used to promote the resort around the world and support the yacht club’s sailing development goals.
Punta del Este is taking advantage of the Clipper Race’s global reach to promote its exceptional tourism
ALAN LOY 54, British, Project Manager, 3 ALEJANDRA ALVIRA 20, Uruguayan, Student ALOYSIO XAVIER 62, Brazilian, Engineer, 1 ANDRES NARANJO 39, Columbian, Management Consultant, Circumnavigator
ANDREW HENRY 57, British and Argentine, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Circumnavigator
ANGELA DAVIES 55, British, Communications Manager, 5
ANNE HOUGH Guernsey and Australian, Retired, Circumnavigator
ANTONIO PALACIO 58, Argentine, Financial Adviser, Circumnavigator
BEN JONES 43, British, Company Director, 7 8
BENJAMIN STOKES 25, British, Recruitment Consultant, 5
BRENDAN O’TOOLE 55, New Zealander, Company Director, 6
BRUCE ROBERTSON 49, British, Managing Director, 3
CATHERINE JOHNSON (HANNON) 58, British, Consultant and Retired Police Officer , 4 5 6
CHARLES FREEMAN 25, British, Event Coordinator, 8 CHARLES LAFFERTY 64, American, Unemployed Electronics, 7
CLARA CARRINGTON 46, Spanish, Human Resources Manager, Circumnavigator
CRAIG PALMER 54, British, Product Inventor, 7 CRISTINA ALONSO 36, Spanish, Leading People to Excellence, 5
DARÍO VILLALBA 44, Uruguayan, Ph Education Teacher and Sailing Instructor
DARWIN CORREA 46, Brazilian, Lawyer, 3 DAVID HOWE 47, British, IT Consultant, 3 6
qualities and support its trade and investment initiatives.
The Punta del Este team is representing 16 different nationalities. This includes four Ambassador Crew who are representing their hometown, Punta del Este, for a leg of the race.
The bright yellow Clipper 70 yacht is symbolic – the yellow-hued hull
DAVID LEE 55, American, Veterinarian, 2
DAVID PEACOCK 59, British, Electrical Engineer,7 8
DAVID RENNIE 60, British, Teacher, 5
DAVID WATKINS 53, British, Marine Civil Engineer, Circumnavigator
DIEGO PALACIOS 34, Spanish, Business Development, 4
DIEGO RODRIGUEZ 34, Columbian, Artist, 2 3
DONALD MCNICOL 55, British, Dental Surgeon, 8
DORTHE HOVLAND 46, Norwegian, Intensive Care Nurse, 3 6
ESTEBAN MAZZONI 45, Argentine, Professor and Scientist, 2
FIONA MITCHELL 60, Australian, Writer, 5 8 GEORGE STRIETMANN 66, American, Financial Analyst, Circumnavigator
GRAHAM WESTLAKE 70, British, Biologist, 1 2 HANNAH RUMBLE 40, British, Anthropologist, 7 8
HELEN THOMPSON 32, British, 5 6 7 8
HENRY BENNETT-GOUGH 28, British, Barrister, 3 HILARY CORNISH 60, British, Nurse 1 INGO BORMANN 48, German, Project Manager, 3 JAMES THOMAS 36, British, Management Consultant, 6
JASPER VAN DER HOEK 31, New Zealander, Enterprise Architect, 6 7 8
JESUS CABEDO 47, Spanish, Investor, 1 2 3 JIM LEAFE 33, British, Product Owner, 2 JOANNA MANN 38, British, Lighting Designer, 4 JOHANNES WITT-DOERRING 67,Australian,Retired, 4
JOHN BALLANTYNE 53, British, Engineer, 5 6 JOSÉ MURO 62, Spanish, Consultant, 1 KATE CRAUWELS 37, Belgian, Sales Manager, 8
represents its warm, sunny soul and the sun design, inspired by iconic local artist and builder of Casapueblo, Carlos Páez Vilaró, goes hand-in-hand with the lively holiday destination.
www.ycpe.org.uy
@yachtclubpuntadeleste
@yachtclubpdeleste
@yachtclubPE
@Yacht Club Punta del Este
KATI KASKEALA 44, Finnish, Communications Director, 1 2 KORAY OZKAPLAN 47, Turkish, Shipbroker, 8 LINDA PEARCY 67, British, Semi-Retired, 7 LUIS GARELLI 76, Argentine, Project Manager Engineer, 1 LUIS UGUINA 47, Spanish, Banking, 4 MARIA BEGOÑA DE LA SERNA-LOPEZ 51, Spanish, Gas Fitter , 2 MARY VAUGHAN-JONES 24, British, Fitness Coach, Circumnavigator
NANO ANTIA BERNARDEZ 30, Uruguayan, Sailor
NATALY SANDOVAL 39, Chilean, Financial Accountant, 8 NIGEL GALE 57, Guernsey, Property Developer, Circumnavigator
NIGEL GUMLEY 57, Canadian, Veterinarian, 8 PHILIP CLEDWYN 62, British, Company Director, 6 RAJANI KARUTURI 52, American, Software Engineer, 4
RAUL POJER 59, Spanish, Director Project Management, 1
SADIE WHITELOCKS, 32, British, Media, 2 SOPHIA STRASSER INFANTE 27, Uruguayan, Public Accountant
STEPHANIE REEVES 31, British, Art Director, 5 7
STEVEN SMITH 33, British, Commercial Contracts Manager, 6 7
SUSAN WATERS 59, British, Doctor, 5 6 TONO PENA 50, Spanish, Urologist, 1 3 6 VINCENT SOREL 41, French, International Programme Director, 1
Punta del Este is flying the flag for Uruguay with its
are looking forward to using the Clipper Race’s global platform to showcase Punta del Este as a leading tourist destination and cement our position as South America’s leading ocean-racing hub
The Quang Ninh Province is home to UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and playground for tourists Ha Long Bay, and it is this natural wonder that is a team entry, named Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam, in the Clipper 2019-20 Race.
ADAM KLENK 33, American, Real Estate, 3 6
AILEEN CROFT 57, Irish, Operations Director, 8 ALAN RUSHBROOK 58, Australian, Management Consultant, 6
AMIRA LOW 52, Israeli, Interior Designer, 7 AMY DANIELL 31, British, Director of Mission Critical, 8
ANDREW DODD 57, British, Dog Handler, 6 7 ANDREW EDWARDS 41, Canadian, Property Developer, 2 7
ANNE TREMEAU 66, French, Retired Nurse Manager, 4 5 6 7
ANTHONY BORG 58, American, Electrical Technician, 8
ASHLEY MURDOCH 54, Australian, Developer, 3 BJOERN KUHLMANN 27, Dutch , Electrical Engineer, 4 BLAIR GOSSELIN 35,Canadian, Sales Engineer, 3 BRENDAN O’CIOBHAIN 59, Irish, Managing Director, 6
CHARLOTTE KELLY 34, British, Pension Adviser, 5 DANIEL CAIN 58, Canadian, Executive Management, 7
DAVID HOBSON 69, British, Sales Manager, 6
DIANA TURKINGTON 45, British, Self-Employed, 5 8
DOMINIC DOWELL 45, American, IT Consultant, 2 7
DONAL KAVANAGH 56, Irish, Confectionery Managing Director, 3 8
ESTELLE MUTUM 49, British, Business Owner, 7 FRANK CRONIN 66, Irish, Retired, 1 6
GEAROID SMITH 39, Irish, Engineering Manager, 8
This will be the first time the Clipper Race has had a team entry from Ha Long Bay, and the global sailing event will then return as both a Team and Host Port Partner in 2021-22.
“Ha Long” means “descending dragons” and towering limestone
GEORGE BLAKEWAY 51, British, Learning and Development Consultant, 1
GERARD DOHERTY 66, Irish, Company Director, 6 7 8
HEIKKI KAUPPI 64, Finnish, Retired, 3 6
IAN WANG 43, British, Software Architect, 1 2 3
IVAN PALMER 61, Dutch, IT Specialist, 1 4 5
JACQUELINE KAVANAGH 48, Irish, Volunteer, Circumnavigator
JACQUI WEBB 58, Australian, Educational Support Officer, Circumnavigator
JADE HUGHES 29, British, Satellite Communications, 5 6
JAMES CUBITT 59, British, Builder, 7 8
JAMES HETHERTON 61, British, Retired Race Horse Trainer, 2
JAMES WEISS 51, American, Business Developer Manager, 6
JANE ROSS 60, Irish, Laboratory Technician, 5
JEROME RIGA 38, French, IT Engineer, Circumnavigator
JESSIE SZEGO 39, British, Manager, 3 4 JIM DAY 53, British, Business Manager, Circumnavigator
JOHN BORLAND 55, British, Managing Director, 8 JOHN BROOMFIELD 52, British, Business Owner, Circumnavigator
JONATHAN BROOME 57, British, Oil Trader, 1 2 3
JULIENNE KERR 47, Australian, Auditor, 5 7 KRZYSZTOF URBANSKI 47, Polish, Finance, 2
LAURENCE HALL 66, British, Retired Paramedic, 1
LORRAINE MCALEER 38, Irish, Company Director Owner, 2 7 MANUEL YERSIN 31, Chinese, Mechanical Engineer, Circumnavigator
MARK POLLARD 29, Australian, Engineer, 1 3 MARTIN RITCHIE 53, British, Factory Manager, 2 MELANIE CURRY 55, Australian, Artist and Property Investor, 4 5 META HANLON 39, American, Solicitor, 1 MICHAEL FIRBY 73, British, Retired Engineer, Circumnavigator
MURIEL JESTIN 58, Canadian, Engineer, 1 NEIL YOUNG 36, Australian, Engineer, 4 5 NUNO SOUSA 44, Portuguese, Budget Administration Assistant, 6 PHILIP HUGHES 62, Irish, Retired, Circumnavigator
ROBERT HOWARD 51, British, Business Analyst, 8 SAM CARPENTER 27, British, Finance, 2 SAM OSBORN 54, Australian, Brand and Communications Director, 3 SANDRA SHEPPARD 45, German, Project Manager, 8 SIMON BAIGENT 51, British, Solicitor, 8 STEPHEN TAYLOR 55, Australian, Engineer, 1 TERRI FISHER 47, Irish, Manager, 3 TIM BURKE 58, American, Physician, 1 2 3 4 TIMOTHY CHANING-PEARCE 34, New Zealander, Self-Employed, 5 6
31, from Southampton, England, has more than 100,000NM in his log book, having dedicated his career to sailing and instructing all over the globe. He also has an in-depth knowledge of the Clipper 70s, thanks to previous roles as a Clipper Race Training Mate and refit team member.
Visitors can lazily sail the emerald green waters among thousands of rugged islands and islets, stopping at some of the most spectacular caves, viewing impressive and centuries-old formations. Ha Long Bay’s mystical beauty has made it a bucket list attraction
Flying the flag of leadership and teamwork, with a focus on the future
After a successful debut in the Clipper 2017-18 Race, Dare To Lead will be returning as a Team Partner in the 2019-20 edition of the 40,000NM global ocean adventure.
Like the Clipper Race, leadership and inspiration is at the heart of the Dare To Lead ethos. Rather than sail under the banner of an organisation or
location, Dare To Lead will fly the flag of teamwork, determination, innovation, and leadership as its branded 70ft yacht energises crew, family and friends and corporate sponsors alike.
With a continued interest in corporate social responsibility via its Rainbow programme, this Clipper Race campaign will not only consider its heritage, but focus on the future.
AHMED ZORAEEY 42, Egyptian, IT Manager, 4 ALAN BATEMAN 74, Australian, Retired, 4
ALEXANDER ROESKESTAD 37, Norwegian, Manager, 5 6
BETTINA NEID 45, Austrian, Banker, Circumnavigator
BRUCE STEENSON 61, New Zealander, Retired, 5 7 BRUCE WORMALD 43, British, Chartered Accountant, 3 4 5 6
CECILIA HENRY-ROITBERG 33, British, Junior Doctor, Circumnavigator
CESAR MEDINA American, Business Owner, 7 CHARLIE BOUGHTON 45, British, Self-Employed, 5 CHRIS STANISH 47, American, Director, 7 DANIEL COX 48, British, Operations Manager, 8 DARIO MANUEL SCHWENDENER 26, Chinese, Student, Circumnavigator
DAVE BOUTTELL 61, South African, Field Guide, Circumnavigator
DAVID RAYMOND FITZPATRICK 62, American, Technologist, 1 2 3
DAVID COLLINS 55, British, Assembly Fitter –Aerospace, 4
DAVID GATELEY 60, British, Surgeon, 1 DAVID TOHN 53, American, CEO, 4
DAVID WALBANK 55, British, Criminal Barrister, 1 2 3 DOROTHY BELL 58, Canadian, Structural Design Draftsman, 7 8
ELLEN BROWN 44, British, Sales and Marketing Director, 1
GRAEME CLACK 52, British, Retired, 1 2 3
GUY DUGAN 61, American, Physician, 3
IAIN PATFIELD 62, British, Project Manager, 1 2 3 4
IMOGEN HUMPHREY 19, British, Student, 8
JAMES BASHALL 57, British, Retired Soldier, 2 JAMES FELDKAMP 56, American, Instructor, Circumnavigator
JOHN SEARS 56, Australian, Researcher, 1 6
JON EARNSHAW 51, British, Director, 3 6
KATE PEARSE 28, Australian, Exploration Geologist, 5 6
KATIE HUSBAND 18, British, Student, 7 8 KEVIN SMITH 70, British, Retired, Circumnavigator
KIRK WESTERGAARD 63, Canadian, Computer Geek, 2
LAWRENCE TWELE 53, American, CEO, 1 LOUIS ANDORS 58, American, Real Estate Agent, 7 LOUISE ROY 37, British, Occupational Psychologist, 1 7
LUCIA KUFFOVA 46, Slovakian, Doctor, 2 MARIE O’RILEY 54, British, Sales and Marketing Consultant, 8
MARK PORTER 54, British, Management Consultant, 3 MICHELLE NEVEKLOVSKA 40, American, Sport Manager, Circumnavigator
With joint partners Tim and Hailing Harper, Dare To Lead will work with Chinese corporates to promote its themes of leadership and entrepreneurship.
www.daretolead.info
NATHAN HADFIELD 41, British, Data Engineer, 6 7
NETZER MAOZ 58, American, IT Management, 3 8
OLIVER FORD 48, British, Customer Service Manager, 5 8
PATRICIA DALE 57, British, Gallerist, 1 RICK SCHWAB 68, American, Retired, 6 7 8
ROBERT FOURNIER 57, French, Surgeon, 3 8 ROBERT MATTHEWS 68, British, Retired, 3 8 ROD PULBROOK 53, Australian, Business Consultant, 5 SHANELLE DUMMA 59, Australian, Office Manager, 4 SIMON MCPARTLAND 51, Irish, Self-Employed, 2 STEPHANIE CARDWELL 32, South African, Manager, 4 STEPHANIE STEWART 27, British, Doctor, 1 6
STEPHEN BAIGRIE 44, Australian, Flight Paramedic, 5 6
STEPHEN SAMPSON 72, British, Retired Medical Doctor of Engineering, 1 7 STUART MACE 57, British, Company Director, Circumnavigator
THERESIA CADWALLADER 59, British, Jewellery Artist Designer and Maker, 5 THOMAS WERNER LAUTENBACH 44, German, Senior Counsel and Acquisitions, 8 WILL COLISH 37, Canadian, Lawyer, 8
52, from Yorkshire, England, is a highly skilled racer with vast, varied experience gained over his 26-year sailing background. Highlights have included refitting and preparing two yachts to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and completing the second half of the Clipper 2017-18 Race as a Mate.
Zhuhai is making its team debut in the Clipper 201920 Race. This follows the city and the Jiuzhou Holdings Group signing a three-edition deal to be a Host Port and Team Partner for the 2019-20, 2021-22 and 202324 editions of the global event. With its brightly coloured hull featuring
ALEX BIXLEY 32, Australian, Operational Risk Manager, 6 7 8
AN LI 30, Chinese, Manager
ANTHONY WHITE 58, British, Retired Fire Officer, 6 7
BEATRIX GOLTZ 44, Canadian, Dental Technologist, 3
BERNARD TOMMASINI 62, French, Self-Employed, 1 2
CALLUM LEACH 21, British, Delivery Officer and Trainee Skipper , 1
CAO SHIYI 40, Chinese, TV Producer
CHARLES ABBOTT 50, American, Physician, 1
CHEN JIAQI 30, Chinese, Post Graduate Student CHOU MAN 43, Chinese, Housewife
CHRIS BALL 28, Canadian, Film Producer, 3
CHRISTOPHER SERATA 59, American, Nuclear Reactor Manager, Circumnavigator
CHRISTOPHER TRAVIS 45, American, Occupational Therapist, 3 8
DAVID DEISLEY 63, American, Lawyer, 4 5 DAVID DUNCAN 53, American, Automotive Executive, 2
DAVID FORTUNE 31, British, Diver, Circumnavigator
DING KAI 23, Chinese, Sailing Coach
DON MCQUEEN 57, British, Company Director, 3 6 7 DUNCAN PAUL 64, South African, Managing Director, 2 6
its landmarks, this Chinese ‘City of Islands’ is set to show off to the world what it has to offer in terms of tourism and as a sailing destination.
A group of ambassadors, chosen for their sense of adventure, are setting sail to proudly be the voices of Zhuhai as the team races on the oceans of
the world and arrives in cities around the globe. Each will be telling tales of their Clipper Race journey and stories of why Zhuhai is a must-see highlight in China.
clipperracezhuhai.9sailing.com
Wechat: clipperzhuhai
EVE ASHFORTH 29, British, Nurse, 5 6 7 8
GORDON GRAHAM 53, British, Company Director, 2 8
HARRIET MCDONALD 47, British, Public Servant, 1 HE PING 40, Chinese, Sales Manager
IAN ATTWELL 56, British, Surveyor, 7 8
INA BAUM 53, German, Management Consultant, Circumnavigator
JAMES AGATE 62, American, Retired Lawyer, 8 JERRY STOKES 56, British, Leadership and Management Coach, 8
JOHN MAHRDT 54, American, Real Estate Investor Manager, 6 8
KATHRYN HAIG 52, British, School Business Manager, Circumnavigator
LIANG ZHANG 55, Chinese, Media
LIN TANG 50, Chinese, General Manager
LIU MINGHUA 37, Chinese, Engineer
LO CHEOK IN 26, Chinese, IT System Administrator
MAGNUS IRVIN 66, British, Artist 4 5 7 8 MAO YI 27, Chinese, CEO
MELODIE SCHAFFER 51, Canadian, Engineer, 3 5 6
MIREILLE CHARLOT 59, French, Banker, 3 MU XIAOBO 33, Chinese, Government Officer
NASSOR EL MAHRUKI 51, Tanzanian, Hotelier, Circumnavigator
ADDITIONAL QUALIFIED PERSON - JAMES FINNEY, 24, SCOTTISH
NICOLA THOMSON British, Project Manager, 4 PAN YUE 29, Chinese, Human Resource
PAT TURNER 60, British, Human Resources and Retirement Solutions, 6 7 8
PAUL DAVISON 49, British, Service Engineer, 4 5
QI YUNFEI 35, Chinese, Teacher
QU JIAMIN 44, Chinese, Instructor
REBECCA BROUDIE 55, British, Counsellor, 7 REIN DRESCHER 40, South African, Manager, 3 7 ROBERT EAST 58, British, Renewable Energy Developer, 1 2 3 8
ROBERT WORTHINGTON 19, American, Student, Circumnavigator
SOPHIE CROSS 18, British, Student, 1 7
SOUKAINA BEL HADJ SOULAMI 29, French, Finance Associate, 1
STEPHEN NOVIS 67, British, Ops Director, 2 3
STEVE RYMAN 65, British, Retired Chartered Accountant, 2
TRACY CORKETT 38, British, IT Director, 4 5 6
TREVOR THURLOW 65, British, Retired University Facilities Director, Circumnavigator
TRISTRAM ALEXANDER 53, British, Retired IT Consultant, Circumnavigator
WU HONGFA 30, Chinese, Tourism
WU KEFU 22, Chinese, Research Assistant
XIAO YUAN 49, Chinese, Retired Finance
YANG YANG 35, Chinese, Assistant Professor
52 from Cape Town, South Africa, brings a wealth of experience to the role of Skipper. With more than 280,000 nautical miles in his log book, Nick has circumnavigated the globe three times and has set five world speed sailing records, including a round the world record with Steve Fossett’s crew on Cheyenne (Playstation) in 2004.
The ‘City of Islands’ is ready to show the world it’s a serious sailing destination
With the opening of the largest sea-crossing bridge, Zhuhai is easily accessible from Macau and Hong Kong
Come to see the ‘City of a hundred Islands’ and visit the archipelagos of the beautiful Pearl River Delta
See first-hand how Zhuhai has developed into a city with a strong “blue marine” economy
The up-and-coming tropical paradise resort of Sanya is returning to defend its title after storming on to the Clipper Race circuit and claiming victory in the 2017-18 edition.
Formerly China’s best-kept secret, Sanya is fast developing into a culturally rich holiday destination that is quickly becoming famed for its white sandy beaches and sparkling waters.
Sanya will use the Clipper Race’s influential platform to build awareness of its visa-free entry, free trade zone and cement its reputation as an international sailing destination.
The Sanya branded yacht, Visit Sanya, China, which will include carefully selected Sanya Ambassador Crew members, will represent the destination and country on the race route around the world. It will be used as a platform to promote the
AFSHIN AHMADIAN 35, Iranian, Business Analyst, Circumnavigator
ANDERS CERVIN 62, Swedish, Surgeon, 3 BAI WEI 49, Chinese, International Vice Dean Leadership Institute
BARRY WELSFORD 68, British, Management Consultant, Circumnavigator
BRUCE DAVIDSON 58, American, Privacy and Security Trainer, Circumnavigator
CARL FORSANDER 59, American, Software Engineer, Circumnavigator
CHRIS EY 59, Australian, Engineer, 3 4
CHRIS SAUNDERS 60, British, Consultant Engineer, 1 8
CHRISTIAN KINAST 65, German, Orthopedic and Trauma Surgeon, 2 8 CLYDE BENNETT 55, New Zealander, Oil and Gas Business Development, 4 6
COLIN TULLEY 62,British,WarehouseSupervisor, 6 7 8
DAVID PAUL FITZPATRICK 56, Irish, Academic, 4 8
DENIS NIKOLAYTSEV 33, Russian, Reinsurer, 1 ED MCSWEENEY 55, Australian, Consultant and Director, 1 5 7 EVE BLACHFORD 44, British, Horse Riding Instructor, 8
FENG JIASHENG 27, Chinese, Snowboard Instructor
FREDERIC PERDRIX 51, French, Naval Architect,6 FREDRIK WARRINGER 48, Swedish, Director Global Systems and Process, 1 2 3
GUAN JIONG 47, Chinese, Manager
GUAN XI 32,Chinese,FilmDirector, Circumnavigator
HARMON SHRAGGE 61,American,RealEstate, 2 6 8
HUANG LIJUAN 34, Chinese, Graphic Designer
JOHN DONOVAN 46, British, Freelance Software Engineer, 1
JOHN MARTIN 57, British, Engineer, 5 6 7 8
JOHN ROBERTSON 52, British, Investment Manager, 3
KIRSTY BOAZMAN 50, Australian, Comms Professional, 1 6
LIZ COPELAND 58, Australian, Retired Accountant, Circumnavigator
LUKE PATCHING 33, British, Boat Builder, 1 2 LYU YANG 52, Chinese, Engineer
MARY FERRER 38, American, Relationship Manager, 1
MICHELE VIGNAUD-COUTTS 57, French, Self-Employed Property Manager, 5 7
NIKKI SLOAN 53, British, Director of Learning and Development, 7
OLIVER FORT 28, British, Marketing, Circumnavigator
PAUL SPOKES 56, British, Self-Employed, 3 QIAN XUEYAO 33, Chinese, Project Manager
RACHEL LEADER 55, British, Scientific Administrator, 2 3 4
RICHARD CLEMENTS 57, British, Property Developer, 5 6 7
resort and sailing centre in major destinations such as London, Cape Town and New York.
Sanya has focused heavily on the protection of its environment and its water quality is in good condition, particularly in Sanya Bay.
www.visitsanya.com @sanya.china @visit_sanya @visitsanya
RICHARD LAVER 51, British, Insurance, 5 RICK WHITEHOUSE 60, Australian, Medical Practitioner, Circumnavigator
ROBERTO PICCOLO 36, American, Business Manager, 7
SCOTT DRAPER 32, British, Bilingual Event Host
SCOTT WATERS 53, British, Post Office Trainer, 8 STEPHEN WESTON 47, British, Financial Services, 3 SUN JING 28, Chinese, Journalist
SUSAN BALDWIN 57, British, Software Developer, Circumnavigator
TAMMY HIRST 53, British, Physiotherapy, 5
TOMASZ PAWLOWSKI 41, Polish, Chartered Civil Engineer, 3 7 TOMMASO SCARPA 28, Italian, Consultant, 5 6
TRISH LIPPIATT 39, British, Design Manager, 2 VADIMS NAUMECS 38, Latvian, Reinsurance Broker, 1 3 4 8
WANG RONG 34, Chinese, Consultant
WANG WANGGUI 48, Chinese, CEO
XI YUAN 28, Chinese, General Manager
XU SHENGDA 27, Chinese, Student
XU YU 50, Chinese, Restaurant Owner
YE YUN 47, Chinese, Manager
ZHANG MINGHAO 37, Chinese, TV Producer, 2
ZHU QIANG 37, Chinese, Translator
26, from Edinburgh, Scotland, has been working towards the goal of becoming a Skipper for the past three years. Seumas’ natural leadership skills came to the fore while racing almost 50,000 nautical miles aboard yacht Unicef in the 2017-18 edition of the race. He was put forward and excelled at the Clipper Race Coxswain Course and was then appointed as a watch leader for the full circumnavigation.
Visit Sanya visa-free if you are from one of 59 countries
White sandy beaches and an average temperature of 26°c –what’s not to love? Five-star marina facilities – visit Sanya for your next sailing holiday
Qingdao is the longestserving Host Port in the history of the Clipper Race and has big plans for its eighth consecutive campaign.
After finishing third overall in the previous edition, Qingdao will use the Clipper 2019-20 Race to promote
ANDREW LONG 43, British, Company Director, 6 ANTHONY GARCIA 28, American, Attorney, 5 6 BERTRAND HOULD 68, Canadian, Retired, Circumnavigator
BRIDGET PUGH 72, British, Project Manager, 7 DAVID PHELPS 51, British, Accountant, 1 2 3
DAVID ROWORTH 30, British, Financial Regulator, 7
DIANE MORRISON 56, Irish, Dentist and Yoga Teacher, 4 7
DICK CLARK 57, British, Director, 5 DOEKE DIEPENBROEK 55, Dutch, Dairy Farmer, 3 4
DONNA VON TUNK 48, Australian, Chiropractor , Circumnavigator
ED MAYO 54, British, Retired Police Officer, 8 GEOFFREY WOAD 61, Australian, Geologist, 7 GEORGE DAWSON 27, British, Real Estate Investor, Circumnavigator
GILL WICKER 59, British, Insurance Consultant, 7 GRANT MITCHELL 60, British, Dentist, 7 8 GUO YANGZI 28, Chinese, Motorsport Manager
GUY VERSAILLES 67, Canadian, Public Relations Consultant, 5 6
HENNING LIESE 56, German, Instructional Technologist, 8
JAMES LODGE 29, British, Finance, 1 JANINE CORCIULO 51, British, Clinical Aesthetics Company Director, 1
China’s Sailing City around the world, as well as encourage more people in Qingdao to take up sailing.
To help achieve these aims, nine Ambassador Crew members, plus a Media Crew member, have been selected to take part in the race. The Ambassador Crew will share their
culture and knowledge about Qingdao with their teammates and in every stopover on the Clipper Race route.
JARED HART 30, Australian, Electrician, 6 JEFF SHUKIS 52, American, Engineering and Operations, 3
JOANN NUWAR E 58, British, Grandmother, 1 2 JODY SHAW 57,American,Engineer , Circumnavigator
JOEL LAMBERT 48, Canadian, Mechanical Engineer, 6
JOHN LEYDEN 49, Australian, Anaesthetist, 3
JULIE HOOD 48, British, Consultant, 4 8
JUNE TATE-GANS 38, American, Software Engineer, 7
KAROLINA ISBERG 46, Swedish, Film Producer, 7 8
KEITH BAKER 62, British, Retired Company Director, 1 2 3 8
KERRY DEWBERRY 49, British, Clinical Researcher, 5 8
KEVIN BROWN 58, British, Engineer, Circumnavigator
LI BING 32, Chinese, Racing Department Staff
LINA PIO 32, British, Software Designer, 6 LISA SUMPTER 52, British, Head Teacher, 6 7 LIU XIN 30, Chinese, Office Clerk
LUO XIAOYU 33, Chinese, Senior Editor
LYU XIANG 28, Chinese, Sailboat Coach
MAI MINXUAN 36, Chinese, Sailor
MARTIN MILLS 61, British, Doctor, 1 2 MARTIN STAEUBLI 59, Chinese, IT Architect Engineer, 1 2
MATT SPRINGETT 23, British, Sailing Yacht Delivery, 3 4 5 6
MICHAEL MURPHY 60, British, Oral Surgeon, 7 MICHELLE WEISSENBORN 44, British, Head of Property and Facilities, Circumnavigator
PATRICK ONYEYIRI 33, British, Software Engineer, 2 8
PAUL MALTBY 63, British, Retired, 3
PETER GLEAVE 67, British, Retired, 3 4
PHILIP SIDDLE 56, Australian, Electrician, Circumnavigator
RUSSELL THIRSK 50, British, Ops Manager, 8 SARA BJÖRLIN LIDÉN 46, Swedish, Self-Employed Consultant, 2 SEAN RYAN 53, American, Executive in Software Industry , 2 3
SUN SIMOU 34, Chinese, General Manager
SUSAN HOLCOMBE 54, British, Teacher, 1 TONY BROWN 56, Australian, Company
Scaffolding Director, 1 4 8
TRICIA GRANGER 50, British, Dentist, 3
VIVIEN MICO 39, British, Teacher of Psychology, 6 WANG LUKUN 28, Chinese, Sailor Management
YADI GUAN 39, Chinese, Media
ZANG KUN 34, Chinese, Managing Director
ZHANG SHAN 31, Chinese, Teacher
ZHANG YU 44, Chinese, Education Researcher
ZHENG YI 23, Chinese, Qingdao Ambassador
ZHOU DONGNING 31, Chinese, Manager
ADDITIONAL QUALIFIED PERSON – RHIANNON MASSEY, 23, BRITISH 33, from Essex, England, has been a high-performance sailor since leaving school. As a self-described results-oriented skipper, Chris boasts an impressive 95 per cent podium result race from hundreds of regattas. He has also raced in Royal Ocean Racing Club Fastnet campaigns and qualifiers, and co-skippered ARC’s racing division.
Further improve the global influence of China’s Sailing City by promoting Qingdao in major ports around the world
Cultivate more sailing talent through the Clipper Race’s comprehensive training system
Attract visitors to Qingdao, promoting the city’s integration of sports tourism, trade and culture
The Clipper 2019-20 Race will be the third consecutive edition in which a Unicef UK yacht will and fly the flag for the world’s leading organisation working for children in danger.
Unicef relies entirely on voluntary contributions and donations.
ABDEL HAGAR 36, Canadian, Engineer, 7 8 ALEX CASS 29, British, Placement Agent, Circumnavigator
AMICIA HOPKINS 26, British, Design Engineer, 8 ANDREW EELLS 43, British, Self-Employed, Circumnavigator
ANDREW TOMS 50, British, Doctor, 3 ANGIE SIMPSON 64, British, Company Director, Circumnavigator
ANNE ELISABETH SERIGSTAD 41, Norwegian, Senior Consultant, 3 4 5
ANTHONIE BOTHA 68, South African, Doctor, 1 2 3 BEAU BIDWELL 18, British, 4 BRUCE ANDERSON 54, British, Trainee Yacht Master, 5 6
CHRISTIAN ANDREW 49, British, Police Officer, 5 6 CHRISTIAN DAHLSTRÖM 40, Swedish, Sales and Marketing General Manager , 2
CHRISTOPHER MAXWELL 59, British, Partner, 5 DANIEL BODEY 28, British, Civil Engineer, Circumnavigator
DANNY LEE 37, British, Corporate Talent Booker, Circumnavigator
DERMOT O’KEEFFE 57, Australian, Chief Operating Officer, 4
ELISABETH WILSON British, Engineering Consultant, 6 7 8
GARETH DAVIES 60, British, Doctor, 2 GEOFFREY MCGILLIVRAY 66, Australian, Teacher, Circumnavigator
The Clipper Race has once again gifted the team yacht to Unicef UK to help raise awareness of the major issues impacting children’s rights across the globe.
Crew, supporters and race partners have so far raised over £750k for the children’s charity and it is hoped that
during the upcoming Clipper 2019-20 Race, the total amount of money raised will pass the £1m mark.
www.unicef.org.uk
GIACOMO TRAMUTOLI 39, Italian, Business Consultant, 4
GRAHAM SCARBOROUGH 67, British, Retired Garden Machinery Dealer, 7 HOLLY WILLIAMS 55, American, Paediatric Surgeon, Circumnavigator
IAN GILBERT 55, British, Property Refurbishment, 7 8
JAYNE RAFTER 51, British, Publisher, 1 JEREMY WEEDON 59, British, Retired Teacher, Electrician, 2 8
JOANNA CHAUHAN 37, British, Local Government Officer, 7
JOHN DAWSON 70, British, Retired Pharmaceutical Executive, Circumnavigator
JOHN DILLON 58, British, Financier, 3 6 JOSEPH GOVIER 48, British, Managing Director, 1 2 7 8
JUSCINTA GRACE 37, New Zealander, Senior Policy Analyst, 5
KAREN CORLEY 60, British, Company Director, 5 6 KEITH WILLIAMS 63, New Zealander, Self-Employed Event Manger, 1 2 3 KEITH WINSTANLEY 58, British, Director, 2 3 6 8 KEN ANDERSON 55, American, Electrical Engineer, 5
KEVIN GOBLE 54, South African, Senior Project Engineer, 4
KIRSTY MAGUIRE 50, British, Social Worker, 7 LAWRENCE DOWDALL 64, British, Architect and Planner, 7 8
LINDSAY ROWLEY 66, British, Retired, 1
MAITE PLIMMER 53, British, Global Headhunter, 2 MARC OVERMARS 51, Dutch, Chief of Water Sanitation and Hygiene, 5
MARIO RODRIGUEZ 66, Columbian, Engineer and Geoscience, 1
MIKE WILLIS 61, British, Lawyer, 1 2 3
ROBERT DE GIDLOW 53, British, Banker, 3 SANDRA MARICHAL 32, French, Content Strategist, Circumnavigator
SARAH CUBITT 50, British, Corporate Finance Project Manager, 4 SARAH WORBY 26, British, Travel Consultant, 7 8
SEBASTIAN RAMSEY 18, American, Student,3 6 SHANEIL PATEL 27, British, Doctor, 6
SHEILA RICHARDS 64, British, Hospital and Healthcare Manager, 2 SOPHIE VEROW 33, British, Business, 1 3 STEVEN CLARKE 56, British, Retired Commodity Derivative Sales Manager , 7
STEVEN WATSON 52, British, Joiner and Carpenter, 5 6
SUE WOODCOCK 55, British, Senior Nurse and Lecturer, 1 6
THOM FISHER 71, American, Retired Banking, 1 THOMAS HENKELMANN 55, German, Consultant, 3 8
THOMAS OWEN 52, American, Vice President, 7 TIM CHAPPELL 70, British, Self-Employed Medical Insurance Representative, 3 TIM MOODY 52, British, Consultant, 6
URSULA MARREN 38, Swiss, Finance Manager 1 8
30, from Plymouth, England, is a passionate racer and sailing instructor who has been working towards his goal of becoming a Clipper Race Skipper for the past ten years. He has extensive sailing and instruction experience across Europe and the Mediterranean, and recently completed his seventh Atlantic Ocean crossing.
Raising awareness by putting children at the heart of every ocean journey
Crew will have the opportunity to see firsthand where the charity is making a positive impact on the lives of children
Project visits are a way for crew to inspire children with tales of their adventures and learn about the initiatives Unicef UK supports
Support a child now by donating to Unicef UK at www.unicef.org.uk
Each Clipper 70 has a suite of 11 Hyde sails, which together cover 1,548.15m sq.
To rig one yacht, excluding spares, takes 1,439m of Marlow Ropes line, weighing almost 200kg; 2,150m of wire; and more than 450 bespoke Sta-Lok fittings.
The deck boasts eleven winches, twin grinders and a twin helm.
The hull hosts twin rudders and has been treated with Coppercoat antifoul.
Navigation equipment includes two Garmin chartplotters, Dell Nav PC, Timezero by MaxSea software, Garmin 5 navigation instrument displays, AIS transponder and an active radar reflector.
Each yacht hosts a minimum of five communication systems on board. This includes two VHF radios, FleetBroadband, Iridium satellite phone and two Inmarsat-C terminals enabled by voice and data services supplied by AST systems.
When offshore, the Clipper 70s have two ways of providing 240v power – the generator and the inverter. The generator can support large electrical loads, while the inverter should only be used for small 240v requirements, as each yacht’s batteries are used as the energy source.
To charge gadgets, each boat has multiple 12v DC outlets, which are much more efficient than using the inverter or generator for small power demands.
The Clipper 70 has five diesel tanks: two 240-litre; two 370-litre and a 100-litre day tank, giving a total of 1,320 litres.
Fresh water is stored in two 290-litre tanks, roughly 30 litres per Race Crew member. In addition, the Clipper 70 is fitted with a watermaker.
When racing, the average speed of the Clipper 70 is over 10 knots. [nautical miles sailed divided by hours].
Every yacht has a 500-point rig and safety check carried out at the end of each of the 15 individual races.
In the months leading up to each race start, the fleet goes through a rigorous refit, preparing each of the eleven yachts for the next circumnavigation. During the nine-month process, new parts are fitted and slight modifications made to make each yacht’s maintenance easier for the Race Crew.
Designed by renowned naval architect Tony Castro, the Clipper 70 yachts are perfectly adapted to the race’s gruelling challenge
Length overall: 23m
Beam: 5.65m
Draft: 3m
Mainsail area: 123.19m sq
Headsail area: 168.43m sq
Asymmetrical spinnaker area: 330.34m sq
Height from waterline: 29m
Displacement: 31,700kg
Bulb keel: 12,000kg
Bowsprit: 1.82m
From quick-drying deck shoes to a tablet that can withstand the harshest environments, these are the must-have items every crew member will turn to during the most challenging months of their lives at sea
Musto Dynamic Pro II deck shoes are constructed using a thermoplastic polyurethane-welded overlay for lateral support and a shock-absorbing heel cage for a secure and durable dynamic fit. A mono-mesh construction provides ventilation and quick-drying times ensure daylong comfort and freshness when on board. Exceptional XPL drainage prevents water pooling inside the shoe and for stability on wet decks, there is Musto’s proprietary GripDeck rubber and GripFlex tread.
Shop the exclusive Clipper Race range at musto.com/clipper-race
The Dell Latitude 7212 Rugged Extreme Tablet offers optimal performance, reliability and connectivity features in the world’s most extreme environments. Also IP65certified for maximum protection against water ingress and dust, with an operating temperature range of -29°C to 63°C, this bit of kit also has dual RF-passthrough, near-field communication, and wireless LAN options, with optional mobile broadband, for the ultimate outdoor connectivity. With the 11.6in direct-sunlight viewable and glove-touch capable FHD LCD screen, even a storm won't faze you.
Explore all options at www.dell.com/en-uk
A splice is a way of terminating a rope or joining two ends of rope together without using a knot. Keeping lines in tip-top condition means they are always ready and reliable. The Marlow Splicing Kit includes small and large splicing needles, small Swedish fid, whipping twine, Marlow tape and splicing instructions –perfect for the Race Crew learning the ropes. Buy yours at marlowropes.com
Staying hydrated is essential for Race Crew, on and off the deck. Ergonomically designed, the 750ml brushed stainless steel bottle can be used with one hand and with a large opening, it is easy to fill, even at a 40° angle. Visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com
Garmin quatix 5 sapphire-edition multisport marine watch is specifically designed for the water. It connects with compatible Garmin chart-plotters and other devices to stream data, including speed, depth, temperature and wind. Sporting advanced fitness features and a wrist-based heart rate monitor, it is also Wi-Fienabled, allowing automatic activity uploads when connected. Available from buy.garmin.com
You can benefit from Sir Robin’s wealth of sailing experience as he shares his thoughts on seamanship and seafaring in this book, selected from his most provoking, insightful and perceptive writing from the pages of Yachting World magazine. The first half concentrates on seamanship and looks at the skills and gear required. The second half allows Sir Robin to reminisce on memorable boats, races and places he has experienced in his past 50 years of seafaring. Available from www.bookharbour.com
With easy access, thanks to a two-way zip, and a lanyard attachment for added security, the mid-size Spinlock Belt Pack is great for on-watch essentials such as a knife, wet notes, camera, and assortment of calorie-boosting snacks. Self-draining and lightly padded, it clips on to any belt.
Shop the range at spinlock.co.uk
Ideal for warm climates, the Sardinia Jacket is waterproof, windproof and mesh-lined for airy, agile protection. Zipped pockets keep possessions safe and an internal pocket with a headphone exit point allows you to listen to music with ease when on the go.
The Evolution Sunblock Short Sleeve Polo is ideal for long days in the sun or out on the water. The fabric features UPF 40 protection and is light and breathable for flexible comfort.
The Essential Backpack is made from lightweight, durable fabric with soft, padded shoulder straps for additional comfort. The bag features multiple pockets so you can stay organised when on the move, plus external loops for attaching your equipment.
If it’s lightweight, waterproof warmth you need, the bestselling Corsica Gilet is for you. It is lined with Musto’s breakthrough Arctec 160 microfleece, a proprietary featherlight insulator that provides heavy-duty thermal protection, even when wet.
Sailing is unpredictable, but you’re guaranteed to get wet. This Fast-Dry Crew Cap features inbuilt UV protection so you can stay safe and comfortable when out on the waves and in the sun. High winds? Attach the retainer clip so you don’t lose it overboard.
Coming in a variety of colours, show your support for the Clipper Race in this classic soft cotton jersey tee which is breathable and lightweight.
Musto is this year’s Technical Clothing Partner and its waterproof, windproof and breathable products enable you to weather the elements in styleLimited-edition replica kit and Race Crew supporter gear is available from MUSTO and online at www.musto.com/clipper-race
Empowering sailors to push harder, stand taller and go beyond their limits. Trusting in Musto to deliver the inside edge.
www.musto.com
The Clipper Race teams will spend a lot of their time at sea living on an angle. What is life below deck at 40 degrees actually like? Here, two crew members – one preparing for his adventure and one sharing her experiences from the previous edition –give us a glimpse of the realities of life on a Clipper 70
The first thing anyone living on the ocean will say is that even the simplest job below deck requires a huge amount of energy. When the yacht is heeled right over and the walls become floors, tasks that could take a minute on land could take ten times that when below deck and racing upwind.
Les Perry, a 60-year-old from Merseyside in the UK, will be taking on the Southern Ocean in Leg 3 of the Clipper 2019-20
Race. During his preparations to spend over 23 days at sea, he has been getting to grips with life at an angle.
He says: “The deck work was no problem for me as I am a roofer by trade, and so it is like walking on a roof. However, getting about below deck and getting into my top bunk at 3am left me exasperated and educated all at once.”
The Clipper Race Crew will be protected from the elements by industry-leading
Musto technical clothing, but even the best kit is difficult to put on when you are at 40 degrees.
Les explains: “Rolling out of a bunk in the middle of the night to get kitted out is one of the hardest tasks on board. It’s especially tough when the boat is heeled over and even worse when beating against the wind.
“The pressure is on you to be on deck ten minutes before the allotted time to
Life at a 40-degree angle can be very challenging RIGHT
Les Perry knows how difficult life below deck can be BELOW
Bex Sims celebrates with the Visit Seattle Race Crew
keep the off-watch in good spirits, but when you are propped up against the bulkhead or with your back to the bunks and standing on one leg trying to get your mid layer, foulies, boots and life jacket on, it becomes an absolute pantomime.
“The biggest drama of all though is getting into a top bunk while on the high side without treading on your lower bunk mate’s head. As it is very difficult to level your bunk upwards while lying in it using the pulleys alongside, it’s easier to level it off the floor.
“The trouble is this leaves a small letterbox gap to try and get into your bunk, so you have to settle for a happy (uncomfortable) medium. And after finally getting into your sleeping bag, the Skipper nine times out of ten then decides to go on the opposite tack and you find yourself sleeping in the lee cloth.”
Due to the trials down below and the work up on deck, the Race Crew use huge amounts of energy. This means the crew on galley duty are required to serve large amounts of food daily to keep the team fully fuelled. And if you think cooking for 16-plus people on land is hard, imagine draining huge pans of pasta while at 40 degrees without spilling boiling water on yourself or teammates.
Bex Sims knows only too well how difficult it can be to cook on board. The 38-year-old firefighter from Derbyshire, UK, raced across the North Pacific on Visit Seattle after winning an ambassador place for the Clipper 2017-18 Race Official Timekeeper Elliot Brown.
She says sometimes the conditions forced her to improvise when it came to cooking.
“Being a firefighter massively helped me as I was used to working in a team that looked out for each other. My hairiest moment in the race was during a two-day storm, when we had the highest possible sea state. We had phenomenal waves –14m high or the height of a four-storey building – and Force 12 hurricane winds.
“On the first day of the storm I was below deck on galley duty. The boat kept slamming down on waves and the team on deck came down below absolutely shattered and soaking wet. Ordinarily we’d bake bread and cook pasta but during the storm I prepared freeze-dried meals. Even then, a wave would come over and make life difficult.
“Reaching the finishing line after 31 days and 5,900NM was a long time coming, but when we crossed the finish line we all cheered and hugged.”
With extreme weather conditions and so much to think about on board, Race Crew must go through a series of demanding training drills, which are constantly updated
The Clipper Race is no stroll in the park. Before the race begins, its 700 intrepid crew members from all walks of life will have gone through the rigorous training needed to become an ocean racer and face the challenge of a lifetime.
A serious business, all Clipper Race Crew must successfully pass an intensive four-level training programme, despite any previous sailing experience they may have, that has safety firmly embedded at its core.
Heading up the Clipper Race Training department is former Clipper Race Skipper Ben Bowley, who oversees the entire programme.
He says: “On top of the rigorous on-thewater safety training and assessment, there are two main ancillary courses we provide. At the start of Level 2, crew attend the internationally recognised RYA and WS Sea Survival course.
“The practical element of the course is tailored to our requirements and we ensure that the safety equipment used is as close as we can get to the kit used
on Clipper Race yachts. At the start of the Level 3 training, the crew members attend the Clipper Race Advanced Safety Course.
“The syllabus for this is loosely based on the World Sailing Personal Survival Course, but is heavily tailored to make it very Clipper Race-specific and the conditions our crew will face.”
The training is far more than a formality. Skills learned, developed and practised are put to use before each crew member can join their team on board.
Deputy Race Director Dale Smyth, who was a Clipper Race Skipper in the 2017-18 edition, explains: “Once a crew member has arrived ahead of their first Leg, they will take part in mandatory refresher sailing, which includes several key safety tests, and a further Clipper Race Crew Assessment, to ensure that they are all cleared to join their team on the race.”
Once a crew member has passed all the tests, which can include spot checks in port from Sir Robin himself, the safety drills are far from over.
Dale adds: “We do a further two man overboard (MOB) drills before the start of each Leg. A full MOB is where the person is detached, and a tethered MOB is where someone goes over the railings but is still attached via their safety tether.
“We do this to ensure safety drills are being practised time and time again, and to remind crew that these drills are real and the need to be constantly alert.
“The safety culture on board each yacht is such that once racing has commenced, each team will run through safety drills and skills on a regular basis. This could be anything from what to do if there was a fire, or a flood, to the procedures for making a mayday call.”
The safety systems on board are constantly monitored and revised. Mark Light (Clipper Race Director) and Sir Robin constantly look at procedures, receive and listen to feedback, and adapt them if necessary, to ensure that the Clipper Race provides the very best, most up-to-date, advice.
For the 2019-20 edition, one of the major updates is the introduction of Mates, or Additional Qualified Persons, on board each team to support the Skipper as they race 40,000NM around the globe. But that’s not the only change.
Dale explains: “Safety updates for this edition have been as small-scale as moving a cup holder and adding a step to assist with bunk access, to the addition of chartplotters at the helming station, the new downhaul system to assist with lowering headsails, and of course, the big investment in highly skilled professional Mates, which will be a really important addition to the race.”
All Clipper Race Crew are examined at the start of each race
COPPERCOAT is the most long lasting anti-foul coating available, with a treatment commonly remaining effective for a decade or more.
COPPERCOAT are delighted to be partnering with the Clipper Race once again as official supplier of anti-foul and wish all the competitors the best of luck in the forthcoming race.
Clipper Race Director Mark Light outlines what Race Crew can expect as the epic circumnavigation unfolds race by race
2 Races
6,370NM 30-36 days at sea 1 September 2019 –12-16 October 2019
Look out for: Whales off the Portuguese coast, mid-Atlantic flying fish, and a visit from King Neptune.
After kicking off the circumnavigation with an impressive parade of sail along the iconic River Thames, the first challenge will be to negotiate numerous fast-running tides around the UK and Northern France. The Bay of Biscay, notorious for violent storms and heavy seas, could prove challenging and teams will be eager to cross it quickly.
With the adrenaline-filled start over, teams will need to settle into watch systems fast as they look to break ahead of the pack in the five-day sprint to Portimão, Portugal.
After a short stop, the first major tactical decision of the Clipper Race awaits; teams will need to decide whether to sail to the east, west, or straight through the Canary Islands. Pick the wrong route and teams will get stuck in the lee of the land, watching the rest of the fleet accelerate towards the Cape Verde islands.
The Doldrums will be waiting to test the teams mentally and physically with unpredictable conditions, big wind holes, squalls and high temperatures.
Teams will need to decide how best to take advantage of the Doldrums Corridor race rule, which is a tactical mechanism allowing teams to motor-sail through six degrees of latitude (or 360 miles), so long as they are within the set gate and time limit.
The first equator crossing of the race will see King Neptune pay the boats a visit and turn Pollywog crew into Shellbacks –a real 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 to Punta del Este.
1 Race 3,555NM 15-18 days at sea 23 October 2019 –7-11 November 2019
Look out for: Southern right whales, humpbacks, sperm whales, orcas and, the true giant of the ocean, the blue whale.
Upon leaving South America, teams will encounter the trade winds and rolling swells as they head towards the Southern Ocean with spinnakers flying.
Big tactical decisions await; previous editions have seen podium places decided by just 15 minutes. Heading south before turning east will be the longer route, but may offer consistent wind conditions. Heading east shaves off hundreds of miles, but could leave the yachts too close to the windless centre of the St Helena High (South Atlantic High).
As the fleet ducks south, long rolling swells will provide fantastic conditions for surfing down waves. An exhilarating leg, boat speeds will easily be in excess of 20 knots. Previous teams have reported speeds of more than 30 knots as impressive fountains of water emerge over the bow.
The Asymmetric Spinnaker features heavily in this leg, although crews will need to be careful not to overpower it as a blown spinnaker will compromise performance for the rest of their race.
Mighty Table Mountain will be visible from quite some distance away, but the race will not be over yet. The wind shadow of Table Mountain offers one last hurdle in a race that is known to be a closely fought battle right until the very end.
1 Race 4,750NM 22-27 days at sea 17 November 2019 –9-14 December 2019
Look out for: Majestic albatross and other seabirds; being closer to the International Space Station than to land.
Also referred to as the Southern Ocean Sleigh Ride, this leg offers some of the most extreme and testing conditions of the entire circumnavigation, with teams dipping into the notoriously strong winds of the Roaring Forties.
Once clear of Table Bay, which is stunning but well known for its tricky, fickle wind patterns, teams will head for the first Great Cape, The Cape of Good Hope. It’s then on to the Agulhas Bank, where the meeting of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans causes very disturbed seas.
Spinnakers are likely to re-appear and ocean-racing tactics will be in full flow. Teams will discover exactly what the Clipper 70s are made of as they surf downwind on swells higher than buildings.
Despite the gruelling reputation that the Roaring Forties command, this is a place respected by sailors as one of the best places to fully appreciate Mother Nature in her most powerful glory.
1 Race 3,415NM 18-21 days at sea 22 December 2019 –9-12 January 2020
Look out for: Bass Strait and ‘Southerly Buster’ weather systems.
Leg 4 is an action-packed, cold, fast, holdon-to-your-hats type of race. The fleet will leave Fremantle and dip down into
Race Crew will be closer to the International Space Station than to land
the Southern Ocean – the most southerly point of the entire circumnavigation. Vigilance will be key as crew experience some of the most inhospitable parts of the planet where icebergs flow north from Antarctica.
Some teams may choose to head south of the rhumb line to take advantage of stronger winds, though this will add extra miles to their race and teams will need to watch for building low pressure systems heading west. Stay too high and teams risk lengthy wind holes in the Great Australian Bight.
The next stage will see teams race against the dominating East Australian Current (EAC). Speeds in the core of the EAC, the oceanic current that moves warm water down from the tropical Coral Sea, are some of the strongest in the South Pacific.
Each team will need to agree on the best race tactic; stay closer to the current where speeds are stronger or add miles to the race by heading further offshore.
Crews will also encounter parts of the Bass Strait (nicknamed the Paddock). Known for its Jekyll and Hyde personality, the Bass Strait is renowned for its ability to serve up some very challenging conditions referred to locally as ‘Southerly Busters’. Luckily, the stunning surroundings of the Whitsundays, and its 74 Island Wonders, will be the reward.
3 Races 5,550NM 30-35 days at sea 18 January 2020 –2-3 March 2020
Look out for: Sea turtles, tropical storms, starlit nights and, of course, the return of King Neptune.
Leg 5 is the most fast-paced of the entire circumnavigation. Teams will be tested mentally and physically as they are faced with a host of varied conditions in the form of short sprints.
The first Le Mans start of the Clipper Race will set the fleet heading north and as the temperatures begin to soar and Race Crew reach the equator, the breeze may drop. High levels of concentration will be needed as every tweak will affect the boat speed and a team with strong light wind sailing skills will use this to its advantage.
The second equator crossing will see the return of King Neptune for his second visit of the circumnavigation.
As teams cross the equator, they are likely to witness some spectacular lightning storms and passing squalls, which can offer some much-needed relief from the heat, but can bring some heavy conditions with them.
Continuing north, the wind will start to build, and the teams will be looking to pull away as the fleet enters the North East Monsoon. The final rush will be rewarded with a spectacular welcome into the tropical paradise resort of Sanya.
After a tropical stopover in China’s best kept secret of Sanya, teams will kick-start the first in a series of short sprints. A quick 750nm dash to the Philippines will be a close, action-packed few days to keep crews busy and Clipper Race Viewer addicts glued to their screens at home.
The pace switch up will continue as the teams race back to China, this time to a brand new Host Port on the Clipper Race circuit – Zhuhai. The ‘City of Islands’ will welcome the teams after their 650NM dash from the pit stop in the Philippines and after the second back-to-back sprint race, teams will be pleased to recuperate ahead of Leg 6, the Mighty Pacific.
2 Races 6,920NM 34-39 days at sea 9 March 202019-24 April 2020
Look out for: Fishing fleets, fog, The Black Stream, crossing the International Date Line and waves the size of tower blocks.
ZHUHAI
This race is one of extremes. Plummeting temperatures, tough headwinds and choppy seas will be waiting for the fleet as the teams make their way around Taiwan and head up to Qingdao.
With conditions likely to be some of the more extreme of the race, due to the steep seas and headwinds to the east of Taiwan, crews will be working to keep the boat racing as efficiently as possible as they cross the East China Sea.
Weather conditions aside, one of the biggest challenges the teams will face during this leg is the world’s largest fishing fleet. By night, fishing boats can light up the entire horizon like a city and spotting lines or debris will require focus, vigilance and clear communication within the teams.
Finally, heavy fog and commercial shipping will challenge crew as they head across the Yellow Sea and into Qingdao.
This is referred to as ‘The Big One’ and with good reason. The North Pacific is the world’s largest ocean and at times the closest humans to the Clipper Race teams will be those on the International Space Station.
Before teams reach the North Pacific Ocean, they are likely to have to navigate fog as well as fishing boats coming out of Qingdao. It is then a race to the tip of Japan, where the ‘Black Stream’ (Kuroshio Current) runs west to east. This vicious current can help propel boat speeds, but it can also come at the cost of big seas with confused waters.
There are eleven teams competing in the 2019-20 edition of the race, and 15 individual races within eight legs.
Race position points are awarded to each team. The winning team of each individual race is awarded eleven points, second place gets ten points and so on, down to one point for the team in eleventh place.
Race position points are doubled when a team plays its Joker. They must declare their intention before the individual race starts and can only play their Joker once during the circumnavigation.
In addition, teams may gain bonus points at strategically placed Scoring Gates or by winning Ocean Sprints within each individual race. These are not affected by the Joker.
The Ocean Sprint is a time trial between two pre-set lines of longitude or latitude. The fastest three teams are awarded three, two, or one point respectively.
The Scoring Gate is a virtual line between two points some distance from the race rhumb line which teams can choose to cross, or not. The first three teams to cross are awarded three, two, or one point respectively.
Points may also be deducted for infringing the race rules or damaging general equipment or sails. Damage or loss to safety equipment is not affected. Penalty points are calculated and advised following each leg.
At the end of each of the individual races the three podium placed teams are awarded a race pennant, which is displayed in each stopover.
At the end of their circumnavigation the team with the highest number of points overall wins the Clipper Race trophy.
Once clear, the North Pacific Ocean awaits. Race Crew will face some very cold temperatures, huge waves more than 14m high, and dark nights.
This leg is famous for the huge Pacific rollers, which pick up the yachts and allow them to surf at 30 knots down into the trough ahead. Being out here can really help you understand the magnificent scale of our planet and our place within it.
Crossing the International Date Line by sea is a rarely achieved feat and often leads to much debate over what the date is. Once over the line, teams know they are roughly halfway to Seattle, though keeping competitive focus will be key.
SEATTLE, USA // NEW YORK, USA
2 Races 6,200NM 36-44 days at sea 2 May 2020 –16-19 June 2020
Look out for: Whales along the coast, crocodiles in the Panama Canal and the Bermuda Triangle.
As the fleet heads south from Seattle during stage one of the penultimate leg, thermal layers will give way to sunscreen and it will be a tactical light wind game towards the finish in Panama.
The most significant strategic decision teams will face will be whether or not to gain some acceleration from the southflowing California Current. The aid of the California Current may sound tempting, but the heating effects from land may affect winds unfavourably.
As teams head south of California, light wind sailing tactics will be crucial to staying at the front of the pack and temperatures will once again soar, making the racing very intense.
Transiting the Panama Canal marks another highlight of the circumnavigation. After completing the 48NM passage of one of the most impressive engineering feats in the world, watching out for basking American and Caiman Crocodiles as they go, the teams will line up for an upwind battle to New York.
After crossing the Caribbean Sea, teams will take the Windward Passage between Cuba and Hispaniola, which marks the entrance to the North Atlantic. Fickle winds are expected in this area because of depressions coming from the North American land mass.
This warm and windy race will offer dramatic thunderstorms. Though spectacular to watch, these passing depressions will keep Race Crew busy as frequent sail changes will be required. It will be gripping for Race Viewer addicts and intense for those on board as distance can be both made and lost quickly.
The Gulf Stream will add a final challenge as the fleet skims the corner of the Bermuda Triangle. Whatever time of day teams arrive into New York, the Statue of Liberty will be waiting to welcome the weary sailors.
LEG 8
With seven of the eight stages completed, it is important for teams to avoid complacency as they begin the final leg of the circumnavigation.
Leaving the bright lights of New York City behind, the fleet will head down the Hudson River and sprint south towards Bermuda. A highly tactical short race to the brand new Clipper Race stopover port will be tense and pressure will be on to take advantage of any extra race points. Luckily, a warm welcome from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club awaits.
Taking a popular route across the North Atlantic, the fleet will follow the Great Circle on its way back over towards Europe.
Weather in the North Atlantic can be as heavy as the Pacific with swirling depressions causing high winds and big swells. Continuing east back towards Europe, some fun and fast downwind sailing is on offer in prevailing westerlies – so long as spinnakers have held up sufficiently!
Once back on UK soil, the adventure’s conclusion becomes an ever-impending reality but Derry~Londonderry offers the perfect atmosphere for crew and their supporters to start early celebrations.
It’s time! An exhilarating power sprint home to complete the adventure of a lifetime. With podium and final positions likely to be in close contention, and the possibility of some Joker Cards still to play, this will be an intense final fling where anything is possible.
Sailing in conditions most similar to those in training weeks, but now with 40,000NM under their sailing belts, Race Crew and Skippers will need to negotiate heavy volumes of traffic and strong tides in the North Sea and English Channel as they push towards the finish, where glory awaits.
While it may be the end of the adventure, the memories of all that has been endured and celebrated will last forever.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race takes in some of the planet’s most iconic destinations
Often referred to as ‘London’s best kept secret’, St. Katharine Docks provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of the capital city, yet is a stone’s throw from many iconic landmarks.
The docks contain a premium city marina and, thanks to the many restaurants and bars, the area is a destination in its own right for locals and tourists alike.
Being the only marina in central London, St. Katharine Docks is
a thriving waterside community featuring office space, luxury homes and quayside dining.
The docks have a fascinating history and in 2018 they celebrated their 190th anniversary.
At Race Start, the fleet will be berthed in the Centre Basin at St. Katharine Docks. Crew, supporters and fans of the Clipper Race will be able to enjoy this ‘oasis in the city’.
Visitors can dine alfresco at one of the many quayside restaurants
or relax at wine bars which boast waterside views.
Some of London’s most famous places of interest are just minutes away from St. Katharine Docks. Historic landmarks include Tower Bridge and The Tower of London, as well as a modern skyline featuring The Shard and The Gherkin.
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St Katharine Docks
Marina de Portimão, in the beautiful Algarve region of Portugal, will make its debut as a Host Port in the Clipper 2019-20 Race.
The marina, set against the stunning backdrop of the São João do Arade Castle and Santa Catarina Fort, offers one of the best boatyard facilities between Gibraltar and Madeira.
The modern marina will provide the perfect first stopover for the Clipper Race Crew. Chosen as the European
City of Sport for 2019, there is plenty to do in Portimão.
The miles of golden sandy beaches mean surfing, diving – especially in the famous underwater museum –paddleboarding, sailing and all are available.
The BPM Festival, which runs from 12-15 September 2019, will also be very popular, as will the historic fort. And Portugal’s most famous golf courses and the Algarve Motorsports Park are just a short drive away.
The food scene is another reason to visit and traditional dishes such as grilled fish, cataplana or even a simple bifana will give you a chance to discover the flavour of the Algarve.
With its exceptional south-facing location, sunny climate and sandy clay soil and shale, the Algarve is also home to incredible vineyards, and the local wine is not to be missed.
Try your hand at diving and explore beneath the surface of Portimão’s blue water in the stunning underwater museum
Sample traditional dishes such as grilled fish, cataplana and bifana, all washed down with the exceptional local wine Take in the sights of the São João do Arade Castle from the Marina de Portimão and discover the historic Santa Catarina Fort
The modern marina will provide the perfect first stopover for the Clipper Race Crew
Dubbed the ‘St Tropez of South America’, Punta del Este is one of the continent’s most fashionable resorts, enjoying a prime location at the mouth of the River Plate and Atlantic Ocean.
During the peak tourist season, vibrant Punta del Este radiates glitz and glamour, while the quieter season provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the stunning natural beauty.
Miles of sandy beaches offer a mixture of sheltered and exposed bays that are ideal for both water sport beginners and those who are more advanced.
Popular Brava Beach is home to La Mano, a large-scale sculpture of a hand rising out of the sand and one of the most impressive modern landmarks on the Punta del Este peninsula. Casapueblo is well worth the trip, not least for the mesmerising views at sunset.
Explorers should also take a boat ride to the nearby Isla de Lobos to see one of the largest sea lion colonies, and the third tallest lighthouse, in the world.
When it comes to local cuisine, Punta del Este does not disappoint. Asados, Uruguayan meat cooked over a grill, are famed for their exquisite flavour,
and visitors should also try a chivito (sandwich) or sample some of the fantastic fresh fish and shrimp straight from the Atlantic Ocean.
On the drinks side, cocktails like a caipiroska, caipiriña or piña colada should be sampled at one of the bars opposite the port – best served chilled.
The Clipper Race fleet will be hosted by the Yacht Club Punta del Este (YCPE) during the stopover.
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Yacht Club Punta del Este
Take a boat trip to Isla de Lobos to see one of the largest sea lion colonies in the world Visit the Plaza de los Artesanos (artisan’s square), popular with exhibitions and micro-enterprises
Take a stroll along Brava Beach and step inside the La Mano giant hand sculpture
The ‘St Tropez of South America’ is fashionable and radiates glitz and glamour
Known as the ‘Mother City’ among Capetonians, Cape Town’s position underneath Table Mountain, and bordered by sea on both sides, is unrivalled.
With a national park running through the centre and many beaches, mountains and forests nearby, Cape Town is a juxtaposition of hip, urban cool and natural beauty.
The fleet will be berthed at the V&A Waterfront, close to the historic streets of the city centre.
Visitors can drive the coastal roads down to Cape Point, climb or hike at Table Mountain or Lion’s Head and explore Company’s Garden and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in the centre.
Whale-watching trips run along the False Bay coastline from August to November and you can take part in shark cage diving all year round.
Cape Town is a cultural hub that has gained a reputation as having a buzzing design scene and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
The galleries, cafes and design stores around Long Street and the surrounding area range from stylish, quirky to cool.
Locals will tell you how to make a potjie (stew), what constitutes a braai (barbecue) or what Cape Malay riches await you in the brightly coloured Bo-Kaap district.
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@VandAWaterfront
Set your alarm early and climb Table Mountain, Cape Town’s iconic landmark, to catch the sunrise.
Take a ferry to Robben Island in Table Bay and visit the Robben Island Museum to learn more about where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.
Explore the Bo-Kaap, a district that dates back to the 1760s and is known for its iconic coloured buildings and delicious Cape Malay food such as rootis, samosas, curry or Bobotie - the national dish of South Africa.
The Bo-Kaap district has a rich and colourful history
Cape Town is a cultural hub with a reputation for a buzzing design sceneTable Mountain dominates the Cape Town skyline
The historic port of Fremantle in Western Australia is in the mouth of the Swan River, which flows from Perth to the coast. Yet the city, which was included in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016, has a feel and culture completely of its own.
Fremantle – or Freo – as it’s called by locals, is a bustling hub renowned for its eclectic mix of arty and alternative types. A walk along Fremantle’s streets will see you encounter buskers, street art, murals and music-filled cafés and bars.
Largely thanks to the hot, dry climate, tempered by the afternoon sea breeze known as the ‘Fremantle Doctor’, much of life here occurs outdoors.
After a dip at one of Fremantle’s many white sand beaches, the perfect place to indulge in some alfresco dining is on the legendary Cappuccino Strip in the city centre. The cafés and resident baristas will satisfy coffee lovers, or you can opt for an ice-cold glass of Western Australian wine or craft beer.
Australian Rules Football is the religion of Western Australia and you
can always spot a true Fremantle local by their devotion to the Fremantle Dockers.
A visit here is not complete without a trip to the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Fremantle Prison, the Western Australian Maritime Museum or Rottnest Island – the nature reserve is home to the largest population of adorable quokkas.
Located in the heart of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is The Whitsundays, a collection of 74 island paradises.
A visit to The Whitsundays is a feast for the senses, from the azure blue waters to the stunning natural landscapes of coast and islands, dotted with secluded beaches.
It is also the place to see the iconic Heart Reef and one of the world’s most unspoilt beaches, Whitehaven. This beach is made up of 98 per cent
pure silica sand and is an easy day trip from Airlie Beach.
The Whitsundays is increasingly being recognised as a world-class sailing destination and a boat trip is the perfect way to appreciate the natural beauty and diverse marine wildlife.
The fleet will be berthed at the Coral Sea Marina | Resort, voted Australian Marina of the Year for 2019-20.
The stopover in 2020 will coincide with The Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival, an event to showcase the
incredible food and diversity of the region, from the vibrant Airlie Beach to the rolling hills of the Hinterland.
The carnival in 2018 included a luxury long-table white lunch on Whitehaven Beach and a rodeo in Bowen.
The Whitsundays is easily accessed through the Whitsunday Coast Airport and Hamilton Island Airport.
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Tourism Whitsundays
Located on the southern tip of Hainan island, the upscale tropical paradise of Sanya will be the first of three Chinese host ports on the Clipper 2019-20 Race route.
The island boasts more than 25km of picture-perfect sandy beaches lined with coconut palms, pristine sparkling blue waters and a balmy climate with 300 days of sunshine per year.
The culturally rich resort offers something for everyone: watersports enthusiasts can sail and surf on
the South China Sea, adventurers can explore the lush rainforest and foodies can sample Sanya’s local delicacies such as seafood hotpot, Hui sour fish soup, Li Shanlan liquor, and fresh coconut water.
Sanya’s rich heritage will impress visitors. Must-see attractions include the iconic statue of Guanyin in Nanshan Temple, which is 108m tall, Tianya Haijiao (‘edge of the sky’), Luhuitou Park, and Wuzhizhou Island. Modern landmarks include Phoenix Island, dubbed ‘Oriental Dubai’, which
is an artificial archipelago in Sanya’s bustling city centre.
The racing fleet returns to Serenity Marina, a hub of marine activity which regularly hosts major regattas. It is the only Chinese marina to have been awarded the highest Global Gold Anchor award, the Platinum Level 5 Gold Anchor accreditation.
From stunning mountains to cool surfing, there is something for every adventurer
Situated on the west coast of the island of Luzon, some 100km north-west of Manila, Subic Bay in the Philippines will be home to the Clipper Race fleet when it calls in during the Asia-Pacific Leg.
Luzon is the biggest of the 7,641 islands and is famed for its ability to encapsulate the essence of the entire nation, making it the perfect Clipper Race pit-stop location. From its mountains, where pines
stand in place of palms and tribal groups still live in relative isolation, to the beaches at Baler, known as the birthplace of surfing in the country, there is something for every adventurer.
A visit to the Batad Rice Terraces is a must; the 2,000-year-old terraces that run for 20,000km still provide a livelihood for tribal groups that live in the mountains.
But for those looking to stay closer to port, Subic Bay lies within
the Pamulaklakin Nature Park’s expansive 11,000 hectares.
Foodies are also in for a treat; Filipino cuisine is an exciting mixture of the familiar, such as pork and rice, and the exotic – tamarind, screwpine and purple yam.
The main national dishes, adobo and lechon, are based around chicken and pork respectively, but fresh seafood is in abundance. The most popular dish is lapu-lapu, a grouper grilled over fire, flavoured with calamansi (limes).
Founder and Chairman
“Having used TIMEZERO by MaxSea myself, I know how invaluable it is and frankly it is not possible to race effectively these days without it.”
Eyes will be turning to the city of Zhuhai in the spring of 2020, when the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race makes its debut visit. Recently voted one of the happiest places in China, Zhuhai is surrounded by mountains and boasts the longest city coastline in the country.
It’s a 70-minute ferry trip from Hong Kong to Zhuhai or even less time journeying on the newly opened Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the
world’s longest sea-crossing bridge. Zhuhai, nicknamed ‘The City of Islands’, is a city framed with a beautiful backdrop of greenery and is home to diverse pursuits. With its adrenaline-fuelled motor racing track, impressive Zhuhai Opera House and plenty of local dishes to enjoy, Zhuhai is rightly becoming a key holiday destination in Asia.
The Zhuhai Opera House, inspired by a Botticelli painting and shellfish from the waters of the Pearl River, is one of the key attractions, as is a stroll along
Lovers Road, where you can see the stunning statue of the Fisher Girl holding a glistening pearl, one of the most popular symbols of the city.
Visitors also shouldn’t miss a tour of the New Yuanming Palace, with 40 scenic spots to explore. Designed to replicate the exact size of the old Summer Palace in Beijing, the park has a theatre, gardens and Fuhai Lake, the perfect picnic spot.
wechat: clipperzhuhaiPicnic at the New Yuanmng Palace, a replica of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, complete with a central theatre, gardens, and a scenic lake.
Treat yourself to a night at the ballet, symphony orchestra, or opera at the Botticelli shell inspired Zhuhai Opera House.
Enjoy the temperate weather and stunning views of the surrounding islands with a walk along Lovers Road, where you can see the Fisher Girl statue.
‘The City of Islands’ was recently voted one of the happiest places in ChinaThe Fisher Girl statue is a popular tourist sight seen from Lovers Road Zhuhai International Circuit has become a centre for the local racing team
China’s ‘Sailing City’ of Qingdao has been a highlight of the Clipper Race route for the past seven editions. And the crew can once again enjoy its warm welcome when the fleet arrives for an eighth consecutive time in 2020.
Every year, more than 15 million people visit this coastal city located on the Shandong peninsula in Jiaozhou Bay, attracted by its intriguing mix of history and culture. Visitors can enjoy the old city centre Zhongshan Road area, as well as shopping and entertainment
zones Taidong District and Hong Kong Zhong Road. Meanwhile, the Qingdao Culture Market in Changle Road boasts numerous independent small shops selling antiques, second-hand books and artwork.
When it comes to nightlife, there are various bars, restaurants, tea houses, clubs and karaoke bars on offer, with Lennon Bar a big hit with Race Crew.
Qingdao is not only famous for Tsingtao Beer, but also for its seafood. And there are no better places to sample the city’s culinary delights than
in the seafood restaurants along the shorefront, or on Laiyang Road. The city, which hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ sailing events, was one of the first National Scenic Resorts created by the State Council in 1982.
Zhanqiao Pier, Lu Xun Park, Little Qingdao Isle, Xiao Yu Hill, Badaguan, the seashore and May Fourth Square also make up the famous sights.
Visit Old Qingdao in Pichai Yuan and sample the delicious seafood and beer that the city is famous for Laoshan Mountain is one of the birthplaces of ancient philosophy and religion, Taoism. Here you’ll also see incredible views over the city and ocean Take an after-dark walk along the seafront and watch the city and Olympic Sailing Centre sparkle with light
is not only famous for Tsingtao Beer, but also for its seafood
Seattle is a welcoming city that celebrates its diversity and the culture that has shaped some of the world’s most innovative companies. Its music has inspired a generation of fans, its sports culture is rich and supportive, and its food and drink rival any in the world.
Nestled on the shores of the Puget Sound, surrounded by the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, and safeguarded by Mount Rainier, Seattle’s landscape is filled with
natural beauty, earning the city the nickname ‘Emerald City’.
It is home to industry giants, such as Microsoft and Amazon, and is the birthplace of musical icons like Jimi Hendrix. Seattle Center, home to the famous Space Needle, is a must-visit.
Culinary adventures abound in Seattle: Sample the freshest produce from local farms, or select a fish from the morning’s catch at Pike Place Market. Seattle is also becoming famous for its local craft beers, awardwinning wines and spirits.
The region is a world-class destination for sport, and it is worth taking in a match of professional soccer, rugby, baseball, basketball, or American football at one of the many arenas.
A trip would not be complete without a stroll down the historic waterfront where the Clipper Race fleet will be berthed at the Port of Seattle’s Bell Harbor Marina – check out the piers and stop by the Seattle Aquarium.
Take to the stunning hiking trails or hire a kayak to explore the incredible natural scenery and wildlife No visit to Seattle would be complete without a trip to the original Starbucks store in Pike Place Market
Check out Seattle Center, home of the iconic Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, MoPop and more.
Seattle’s landscape is majestic, earning the nickname the ‘Emerald City’
At just under 76,000km sq and with a population of just 3.3 million people, Panama is an important centre for international trade, a major shipping thoroughfare, and a regional economic powerhouse.
The transit of the Panama Canal will be a highlight of the circumnavigation, especially for the engineers among the Race Crew.
The history of the Panama Canal goes back to the earliest explorers, though the dream of the 80km canal – named
one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World – took almost 400 years to be realised. It was opened in 1914 after 23 years of work and continues to be one of the busiest waters in the world, playing a vital role in world trade and transport linking the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.
As well as learning about the remarkable canal, crews will be able to enjoy the Central American country’s natural assets – beaches, rainforests and remote villages, as well as its buzzing cities.
The city that never sleeps will provide the perfect backdrop for the start of the final leg of the Clipper 2019-20 Race.
From the moment the fleet passes by the iconic Statue of Liberty, crew will fall in love with this iconic city.
There is so much to explore, from the traditionally Jewish Lower East Side to Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown, the Upper East Side and the bohemian areas of SoHo and Tribeca. Each neighbourhood has a distinct flavour.
The world’s largest selection of bars, restaurants, galleries, museums and shops are found here and you can be sure they will all be global trendsetters.
The Met, the MoMA and the Guggenheim are New York’s most famous museums, but in Chelsea and the Lower East Side, you will find some of the newest artists exhibiting after their famous Thursday night opening parties.
New York is all about living the high life – with yoga, outdoor cinema
screenings, street food festivals and glamping all taking place in the city.
Buildings such as the Empire State and Rockefella Plaza are open until late into the evening for panoramic vistas. And one of the city’s newest attractions is the High Line, a former rail-track-turned-urban-park, 30ft above street level.
Scale the heights of the Empire State Building and take in the unforgettable 360-degree views of the incredible New York skyline from the 102nd floor observatory Visit the Theatre District in the teeming heart of Midtown and bask in the lights of Times Square Wander through the green oasis of Central Park, the backdrop for countless iconic movies and TV shows
Times Square has a real buzz
So much to explore and each neighbourhood has a distinct flavourA view of Central Park, setting for countless movies
Set apart by its location in the North Atlantic Ocean, way of life and a certain mystique, Bermuda is making its debut on the Clipper 2019-20 Race circuit.
Bermuda is set to become a favourite for those lucky enough to experience its charms when the race calls into Hamilton, the capital city of the island, at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, during the Clipper Race stopover in July 2020. The island has long been a top destination for both sailing and luxury holidays.
It was discovered by mariners and its islanders revolutionised sailing with the invention of the Bermuda sloop. The island offers a year-round subtropical sanctuary, just 90 minutes from New York City and less than seven hours from London by air.
The laid-back rhythm of life blends seamlessly with British influences, and its rich maritime history maintains a strong influence in the country and sailing industry today. But what sets the island apart is the warmth and diversity of Bermudians. Its 65,000 residents are an eclectic blend of
cultures – English, African, Caribbean, Portuguese and Native American.
To make the most of its 21 square miles of natural beauty, visitors should explore the island’s three regions: West End, Central Bermuda and East End. The island boasts 75 miles of dramatic coastline and has a temperate year-round climate.
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Bermuda Tourism Authority
Watch the sunrise at Horseshoe Bay, the most photographed beach in Bermuda Climb the 185-step spiral staircase of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse to enjoy one of the best views on the island
Take a tour of the historic town of St George, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
What sets the island apart is the warmth and diversity of BermudiansThe Gibbs Hill Lighthouse offers the best views of the island
Northern Ireland’s ‘festival city’ is a hub of culture and creativity. The lively pubs and exciting music scene make Derry~Londonderry one of the most anticipated stopovers on the Clipper Race, but what makes a visit special is the Foyle Maritime Festival, which returns in 2020.
Running over nine days, a series of events will transform Foyle Port into an international marina, with a packed programme of water activities, food, music and theatre, and a spectacular showcase event to close the festival.
As Ireland’s only completely walled city, Derry~Londonderry will be celebrating Walls 400, to mark 400 years since their completion, so a walk of the walls is a must-do, or take in a tour to view the historic murals of Bogside and the new artwork paying tribute to hit comedy show Derry Girls.
The North West of Ireland, where the city is situated, is also famous for its dramatic land and seascapes, many of which have been the backdrop to films and TV shows, including Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Game of Thrones. The UNESCO-listed Giant’s
Causeway, with its breathtaking basalt columns, is also a highlight and is just an hour’s drive away.
Voted as one of the best foodie destinations in Ireland, you can also sample local seafood, gastro pub grub, fine dining, as well as craft beers and locally produced whiskey.
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Take a guided walking tour of the historic walls and iconic Peace Bridge Take a selfie in front of the Derry Girls street mural
See why the city has been dubbed ‘destination delicious’ by enjoying a locally crafted beer or dining in one of its award-winning restaurants
The Derry Girls street mural is now an iconic landmark along the historic walls
The nine-day Foyle Maritime Festival will have a wide range of great events
The Foyle Maritime Festival will have a packed programme of events
After an exhilarating power sprint home to complete the adventure of a lifetime, Race Crew will return to London with 40,000NM under their sailing belts and the overall winners will be crowned victorious.
While it may be the end of the adventure, the celebrations will just be getting under way as Royal Albert Dock, London’s vibrant new business district, plays host to the Clipper 2019-20 Race Finish festivities in August 2020.
Situated just over the water from London City Airport, and close to both the ExCeL International Exhibition Centre and the O2 Arena at Greenwich, Royal Albert Dock is nestled in a prime location between the capital’s best business and leisure attractions.
A forward-thinking destination to its core, Royal Albert Dock was the centre for world trade in Victorian times. With more goods in and out than any other port in the world, Royal Albert Dock was the first dock in the world to have electricity,
allowing ships to load and unload day and night with electric winches.
Today, the regenerated international business district boasts some of the capital’s most socially conscious business facilities. Built to BREEAM excellent standard, it provides electric vehicle charging points, dedicated efficient energy centres and has 21 energy-efficient buildings.
Travel on the cable car across the Thames before enjoying a world-class concert with international stars at the O2 music arena
Try your hand at watersports – whether you want to join the outdoor swimming club, or try paddleboarding, the clean water and exceptional watersports centre provides a fun, safe and totally unique way of getting on the water in the capital
Enjoy a champagne breakfast on board the Sunborn superyacht moored in the Royal Docks
Royal Albert Dock is a forwardthinking destination nestled in a prime locationRoyal Albert Dock is located between London’s top business and leisure attractions The dock is home to some of the capital’s biggest businesses
As Race Crew prepare for their adventure across the oceans, they will know how polluted the waters can be, so the Clipper Race has pledged to make its mark on sustainability with a number of initiatives for a greener future
Clipper Race Crew are lucky to experience Mother Nature at her most raw and see parts of the globe that few ever get to encounter. From the extraordinary marine life, including whales, dolphins, and majestic sea birds, to clear ocean waters as far as the eye can see: for eleven months the crew bear witness to the precious beauty of the world’s oceans.
However, the Clipper Race, by its very nature, also sees first-hand the detrimental impact the modern world has on the ocean and marine life. Therefore, as a responsible business, it is committed to treading the globe with a minimal footprint, helping to improve the planet’s health, and investing in a sustainable future.
With the ocean at the heart of its existence, the Clipper Race has vowed to operate with as little impact as possible on the environment. From reducing the consumption of singleuse plastics in each of the sixteen Race Villages on the global Clipper 2019-20 Race route, to responding to environmental learnings and technological advances, and having accountability and ownership at all levels to create change for the good of the company and the environment, the Clipper Race has pledged to continue to evolve and grow to be more earth-friendly.
The Clipper Race also has a commercial responsibility to all stakeholders to operate efficiently, with a shared desire to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals of Responsible Production and Consumption (doing more and better with less), Climate Action (the action needed to combat climate change and its impacts), and Life Below Water (the protection of oceans).
The company also asks the same of its stakeholders. For example, Marlow
Ropes, which has been in partnership with the Clipper Race for the past 16 years, has implemented a number of green initiatives. At the forefront of these measures is the inclusion of its industry-leading Blue Ocean Dockline in the 2019-20 edition of the race. It is the world’s first 100 per cent recycled line, made from plastic bottles, and each mooring line will also able to be recycled at the end of its life.
Dell is another Race Partner that is leading the way when it comes to sustainability. For example, Dell sources plastics from coastal areas to make new packaging in a bid to counter the more than eight million metric tonnes of plastic entering the sea each year. To date, Dell has used approximately 60,000lbs (27 metric tonnes) of ocean-bound plastics in its packaging and continues to explore additional use cases beyond packaging. Dell provides the rugged technology that powers the navigation station on each of the Clipper 70s, as well as the laptops used for media and communications on board.
Each of the Latitude Rugged Laptops are delivered with green packaging and shipping. By using Dell Latitude Ruggeds, the Clipper Race has also dramatically cut waste. The laptops are built to withstand harsh conditions, including salt and water. So unlike previous editions of the race, where non-rugged devices had to be replaced on a regular basis, the Dell Rugged laptops used in the Clipper 2017-18 Race not only lasted the entire circumnavigation, but could also be repurposed to be used by staff off the boats following the completion of the race.
The commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly practices while in port will begin in the very first stopover. The Race Start venue in London, St. Katharine Docks, has sea bins in place to catch rubbish and plastics in the water. The docks, right in the heart of one of the biggest cities in the world, are also home to several
biodiversity projects, such as bee hives to protect and maintain the population of indigenous honeybees, duck houses, insect hotels and bird boxes.
The effort to reduce the footprint the yachts have as they race 40,000 nautical miles across the world’s oceans is never-ending. A recent report from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature identified hull scrapings, marine coatings and antifouling systems as potential sources of microplastics. In a bid to help prevent this harmful pollution, the Clipper Race has partnered with Coppercoat.
Coppercoat is a hard antifoul made from 100 per cent recycled copper (a biocide already naturally found in the sea), and is the world’s only waterbased and VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-free antifoul. Coppercoat also eradicated the need to lift and clean the yachts with harmful chemicals during the Clipper 2017-18 Race and is commonly effective for ten years.
Sustainable future Crew play a crucial part in helping the Clipper Race create a sustainable future. For example, as Seattle circumnavigates the globe, the team will be focusing its attention on ocean health and environmental sustainability, along with promoting the ‘Emerald City’ as an ecotourism destination. All actions will build on the momentum created during the previous race edition, which saw the Visit Seattle yacht fitted with sensors to monitor the effects of ocean acidification around the US Coast as part of a project with the Port of Seattle, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), University of Washington, Sunburst Sensors and Visit Seattle.
By committing to improving its sustainable practices, the Clipper Race is helping to ensure the wonders of the world’s oceans can not only be enjoyed by the men and women competing in the 2019-20 edition of the race, but by people for generations to come.
As the Clipper Race makes contact with global communities on its travels, the event is becoming a platform to connect with customers and strengthen relationships between Race Partners
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is unlike any other and the platform it provides for its partners is just as unique as the event itself. Driven by forward thinking and an understanding that the world is ever-changing, the Clipper Race aims to build networks and strengthen relationships between our partners, destinations, and the global communities that we come across.
One thing is very clear: the Clipper Race delivers incredible results for its partners. The 2017-18 edition had the highest number of partners across all tiers, and introduced dynamic new Host Port Partners, Punta del Este in Uruguay and Sanya, China, as well as creating ties with world-leading brands such as Dell, Microsoft, and Nasdaq.
Relationships with long-standing partners were also reforged, with Qingdao, Marlow Ropes, Derry Londonderry, and Hyde Sails all once again
The Clipper Race is increasing its brand awareness globally BELOW
The race has created major ties with world-leading brands such as Nasdaq
playing a key role in the storytelling process. While part of the fabric of the race, the focus, even for the longest-serving partner, is always to continue to evolve, as shown by Marlow Ropes’ decision to use the Clipper 2019-20 Race as a platform to test its 100% recycled Blue Ocean Dockline.
According to Commercial Director Alex Smith, the reason why the race continually proves to be an effective stage to connect with customers and build brands is simple. “It’s the storytelling and connection to the crew,” says Alex. “The fact they are everyday people, who are looking to challenge themselves, and see what they are capable of.
“Couple this with a successful heritage event and almost a year-long calendar of activations and narrative within global destinations, it provides context for conversations with local and global communities. So many brands focus on authenticity of message and the race has it unequivocally.”
One such brand that has found the event to be a unique storytelling platform is Dell, which is returning as the Rugged Technology Partner in the Clipper 2019-20 Race. It took full advantage of many of the stopovers in the 2017-18 edition to showcase its Dell Latitude Rugged portfolio of laptop computers.
Customer corporate sails and an Ambassador Crew Programme led to successful activations in Cape Town, Qingdao and Derry Londonderry, while in New York, against a backdrop of yachts in a Manhattan marina and a working Rugged tablet frozen inside a yacht-shaped ice sculpture, Dell Rugged Product Marketing Director Craig Brandt commented: “Our Rugged products are designed to deal with the most extreme environments, and being on these Clipper Race ocean-racing yachts is about as harsh as it gets, so it is a perfect test environment.
“It also creates global opportunities to engage with contacts, analysts and journalists in different markets about the Dell Rugged products.”
The Uruguayan city of Punta del Este quickly became a crew favourite after it made its debut on the global Clipper Race circuit in the 2017-18 edition.
Our partnership with the Punta del Este Yacht Club is a prime example of how a partnership with the race can grow and evolve with each edition. Punta del Este will return in the current edition as both a Host Port and Team Partner with the goal to increase destination awareness and global visitors, cultivate its sailing portfolio and attract other sailing events. Becoming a
TOP Brand awareness is having an impact on global communities
Dell Rugged products are designed to deal with the most extreme environments
Team Partner means the opportunity to fly your flag in 16 stopovers around the globe.
The growth of Asia as an economic powerhouse stands out and has been reflected in its healthy share of the market, evident from its increased participation in the Clipper Race which the region has embraced enthusiastically. China specifically has featured on the race route since the inaugural campaign in 1996 and the breadth of access the event provides to this world leader 23 years later is bigger than ever.
The successful development of sailing and associated economic growth in Qingdao has generated interest from other Chinese cities in how they can also work with the Clipper Race.
In the 2017-18 edition, the city of Sanya, a tropical paradise on the island of Hainan, made a debut to remember, with its team, Sanya Serenity Coast, taking the overall win.
Sanya took full advantage of the wide range of opportunities presented by the Clipper Race to increase awareness of the destination, develop its international sailing credentials and attract more visitors from around the world. It hosted tourism conferences, promotions and sailing opportunities in the majority of the host cities.
With the support of Sanya government delegations, great strides were made in creating connections with tourism and travel influencers as well as opening trade and investment discussions.
Watching the success of both Sanya and Qingdao with great interest was the rapidly developing city of Zhuhai. Located in the newly coined ‘Bay Area’, the recent completion of a bridge to Hong Kong and
Macau means Zhuhai is a strategic gateway and another component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative for growing global trade.
At the finish of the Clipper 2017-18 Race in Liverpool, Zhuhai signed a landmark deal which will see the city be a Host Port and Team Partner in the 2019-20, 2021-22 and 2023-24 editions of the race.
Hu Tao, Brand Director of Zhuhai Jiuzhou Holdings Group Ltd, said: “We believe that a partnership with such a noted global event as the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will help speed up our sailing development.”
Alex explains: “The ambition of the Clipper Race is to not only continue to be unique, but to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This is demonstrated by the movement into new markets, such as Punta del Este and new cities in China, which are able to implement trade and investment projects, as the race links new and evolving destinations with iconic ones.
“There is an awareness that the pioneering spirit is part of the DNA of the race and that means pushing boundaries across adventure, the partners we work with and our own business.
“Partnership opportunities are scalable, offering the opportunity to brands big and small, which means we get to work with those that are passionate about the same values as we are and looking to be part of something extraordinary.”
There is opportunity for exposure and context in global markets. The race has developed a substantive business platform over its history by creating connections and providing the environment for big,
small, local and global businesses to take their brand, product or campaign to new audiences.
The transformational nature of the race is something partners quickly realise. The race not only transforms all the crew that take part, but also those that come into contact with it – Supporters, Family, Race Staff, and Race Partners.
Sport, and particularly sailing, is so incredibly important as it is a level playing field. The effect is as dramatic across all ages, races, gender, nationalities and abilities, as they step out into the same conditions as the professionals and take on their adventure, to pursue their dreams.
Partners who have utilised the Clipper Race to engage with their employees have understood that these real-world experiences pay dividends when translated back into the workplace environment through life skills, including teamwork, leadership, confidence, and conflict management.
Alex says: “The pursuit of dreams, hopes, and aspirations is a language that translates across business and is understood by a global community of people who will be our partners’ customers.”
Even as the Clipper 2019-20 Race fleet sets sail on its 40,000NM adventure, arrangements will already be put in place for race editions in 2021-22, 2023-24 and beyond.
Alex adds: “By continuing to work with existing destinations and companies to grow and develop, and looking for new and exciting opportunities, campaigns will continue to develop as new technology has come to light. And we can utilise those advancements to bring people on the adventure through a brand’s connection to the race, authenticity of the messaging, and new and exciting ways to activate.”
She concludes: “As we continue to grow and develop in tune with business needs, the possibilities are quite honestly endless.”
The Clipper Race has developed a firm business platform over its history
will continue to develop as new technology has come to light
Alex Smith, Clipper Ventures Commercial Director
The Clipper Connect Business Series is providing a vital global chain to bring together Race Crew, Partners and Host Port Partners and build a strong community of leaders to showcase the Clipper Race’s identity
The Clipper Connect Business Series was established to act as a catalyst for conversation and collaboration. By connecting diverse and engaged Race Crew, Race Partners and other leading businesses and government bodies, the events aim to inspire courageous leadership and build a global community of like-minded people.
Clipper Connect was carried out on a truly global scale during the Clipper 2017-18 Race. Events were held in eight host cities, across five continents, and hosted in collaboration with Race Partners and other prestigious organisations, such as Liverpool’s Mayoral 100 Club, Wesgro, 2018 Invictus Games, the Qingdao Organising Committee, Seattle Sports Commission, Nasdaq, and Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Laura Ayres says: “The Clipper Connect Business Series during the 2017-18 edition of the race was a great success.
“Over eleven months, our stakeholders were able to connect with like-minded people and engage in thought-provoking and interesting conversation. It provided us with the opportunity to showcase the commercial depth of the Clipper
Race and demonstrate our collaborative approach to partnerships.”
Clipper Connect is an opportunity for Race Partners to invite contacts to network and hear considered content from industry leaders and national government spokespersons.
Each Clipper Connect event had a central theme which focussed on the business strategy important to the Race Partner hosting the evening.
To highlight the connectivity between entrepreneurs and sports success, panel member Tim Hodgson, CEO of the Invictus Games, provided an insight into working with global brands such as Jaguar Land Rover.
A Clipper Connect Business Series was held in Sydney, a collaboration between the Clipper Race and Invictus Games Sydney 2018.
For the event held in Seattle, Visit Seattle Skipper Nikki Henderson was the impetus for the panel on ‘women in leadership’ and was joined by an impressive line-up from the international world of business and sport, including Microsoft’s Kati Quigley and Carrianne Smith at Marriott International, to provide
FAR LEFT Clipper Connect is now a global event which is helping to build communities in the race network
LEFT The business series co-hosted an event with Team Partner Nasdaq BELOW The Seattle Clipper Connect event centred around the theme of women in leadership
a thought-provoking insight into women as leaders.
In New York, the business series had the opportunity to co-host an event with Team Partner Nasdaq at its impressive MarketSite location in Times Square.
Speakers included Antony Phillipson, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America, and the evening explored how data is used in the world of sport, business, financial, and social sectors, and how big data will be utilised to problemsolve, revolutionise, and create a positive impact across the globe.
In the 2019-20 edition of the race, the Clipper Connect series will not only build on the work of the previous race but also cover new and exciting ground.
Laura explains: “The business series will continue to develop as a platform for our stakeholders to engage in international business events during the Clipper 2019-20 Race.
“I am really excited about what we can develop and achieve. We have really interesting topics scheduled, focusing on timely themes such as sustainability, international connectivity, and pioneering technology, which will spark conversation and new ideas to benefit all involved.”
Clipper China aims to become an industry leader in sail training as Clipper Ventures announces biggest expansion in its history
Clipper Ventures recently announced the biggest expansion in its history, with the opening of new Chinese-based division, Clipper China. Responding to the country’s growing participation in sailing, Clipper China aims to become the industry leader in the national development of offshore sail training and sailing events.
In addition to running its own academies, Clipper China is building its own one-design keelboats and offshore racing yacht fleets to be used in training academies and regattas.
William Ward, CEO of Clipper Ventures and Clipper China, explained: “Interest in sailing in China has never been higher. China has featured on the Clipper Race route for the past 14 years and we have signed two additional locations here in as many years.
“Out of over 40 crew nationalities, China is now our fifth-highest represented. Its growth is impressive and the potential for us to lead the development of its sailing industry is huge.”
Clipper Ventures is the biggest single provider of offshore sail training in the world, having developed more than 5,000 people to participate in the Clipper Race over the past two decades. However, the potential for sailing in China means it could take just a couple of years to train the same number there.
Explaining the rise in sailing participation in China, Madam Zhang Xiaodong, President of the China Yachting Association, commented: “The Clipper Race is the most well-known offshore sailing brand in China, with the UK respected for its long-standing sailing heritage. We are in a strong position to help attract and develop our next generation of sailors, and we look forward to working with Clipper China to help achieve this.”
Clipper China will open its first offshore racing academy in 2019, with its first yachts expected to be on the water for testing later in the year.
LEFT Clipper China aims to become a leader in offshore sailing development ABOVE China Yachting Association President Madam Zhang Xiaodong visits the Clipper Race Training Centre RIGHT
The addition of Clipper China is attracting huge interest in sailing
We are in a strong position to help attract and develop our next generation of sailors
Madam Zhang Xiaodong
The twelfth consecutive edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race proves sailing in China is going from strength to strength, with a record number of Chinese crew members and teams taking part in the global ocean adventure of a lifetime.
For the first time in the 23-year history of the Clipper Race, there are three Chinese teams, with the cities of Qingdao, Sanya and Zhuhai to compete against eight other teams.
The previous edition of the Clipper Race was a huge triumph for the Chinese entrants. Sanya Serenity Coast capped off a memorable debut by claiming the overall win, with Skipper Wendy Tuck making history as the first female skipper to ever win a round the world yacht race. Team Qingdao continued the Chinese success by finishing third.
There are a record 48 Ambassador Crew from the three cities taking part in the 2019-20 edition of the race. All spent a month training at the Clipper Race Training Centre in Gosport in the UK to be ocean racers. Just like the wider Clipper Race Crew, the Ambassadors are of all ages and come from all walks of life, and include a graphic designer, engineer, CEO, bilingual event host, snowboard instructor and teacher. What unifies the Ambassadors is their desire to become sailors and promote their cities around the world.
During one of the levels, the President of the China Yachting Association, Zhang Xiaodong, was invited to the Clipper Race Training Centre in order to observe the set-up and training procedures first-hand. She met with almost 20 Ambassadors, as well as Clipper Race CEO William Ward and the Skippers of Qingdao, Visit Sanya, China, and Zhuhai
Following her visit, she said: “I’m pleased to see three Chinese teams taking part in the Clipper 2019-20 Race, which will help Qingdao, Sanya and Zhuhai promote their cities around the world. It’s good to let the world know that sailing in China is developing and more and more Chinese people are beginning to sail.
“The Clipper Race’s two decades of experience in offshore racing allows the everyday person’s ocean-racing dreams to come true. Its training and sailing event management is helping China to develop sailing specialists, which is good for China’s yachting development.”
The Clipper Race’s association with China is long-standing. Qingdao is the longest-serving Host Port and Team Partner in the history of the global event. The Clipper 2019-20 Race will be the eighth consecutive edition to feature the iconic red and gold hull of China’s Sailing City.
This will be the second straight race for the tropical paradise city of Sanya, while Zhuhai will make its debut in the upcoming Clipper Race which will start in the UK this summer. Zhuhai, China’s ‘City of Islands’, is already shaping up as a highlight destination for crew members due to its spectacular coastline and the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge. In fact, the city has signed a three-edition deal to be a Host Port and Team Partner for the 2019-20, 2021-22 and 2023-24 editions of the race.
Beyond the race, its organising company, Clipper Ventures, recently announced a new Chinese division to meet the country’s growing participation in sailing. Named Clipper China, this new division will utilise the world-class sail training expertise of the Clipper Race to develop offshore sail training and regattas in cities across China, and is currently building its own offshore racing yachts for its use.
China is showing strength in depth as more teams start to compete
As Hamble School of Yachting joins Clipper Ventures to enhance its offering, the future of sail tuition looks very bright
In a phase of expansion for Clipper Ventures, the parent company of Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, leading Royal Yachting Association (RYA) sailing school, Hamble School of Yachting, has been added to its portfolio of businesses.
Clipper Ventures Chairman and Founder, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, explained: “The decision to buy Hamble School of Yachting is part of a wider strategy to develop our offering within the offshore sailing industry.
“Clipper Ventures is the world’s leading provider of offshore sail training and Hamble School of Yachting is one of the RYA’s leading sail training schools in the UK, which makes us a strong match. We welcome Chris and his team to the Clipper Ventures family and look forward to an exciting future of maintaining ourselves as the Gold Standard for sail training.”
Hamble School of Yachting, based in Hampshire, UK, has been running for more than 35 years and specialises in providing a full range of RYA sailing courses to cater for beginners through to professionals.
The acquisition comes at a time of rapid growth for Clipper Ventures, which recently announced Clipper China, a sail training division set up in order to meet China’s growing participation in offshore sailing. This expansion in China will benefit significantly from Hamble School of Yachting’s vast expertise in delivering world-leading training.
Chris Rushton, Principal of Hamble School of Yachting, said: “Hamble School of Yachting is well-established in the UK sail training industry.
“Linking up with Clipper Ventures and sharing our commitment to increase sailing participation and top-class standards on a truly global level makes this a very exciting move, especially given the growing opportunities to lead the industry in China.
“There is a huge crossover in what we both do. By working together we are getting more people out on the water and trained to the highest possible standards.”
This acquisition will provide an added opportunity to develop the Clipper Race Additional Qualified Persons and Clipper Race Skipper talent pools.
TOP Hamble School of Yachting is now a part of Clipper Ventures BOTTOM The Hampshire establishment offers a full range of RYA sailing and powerboat coursesWe caught up with some former Clipper Race Crew, who spent a considerable amount of time sailing the world’s oceans, to see how the experience transformed their lives and find out what they are doing now on dry land
What happens to the Clipper Race Crew when their adventure comes to an end? Well, for many, what they experienced at sea will change their life on land forever. Here, we meet some of the crew who continue to achieve the remarkable, inspired by their Clipper Race experience.
When Lebalang was selected from more than 200 applicants to be a part of the Invest Africa team in the Clipper 2013-14 Race, the then 22-year-old from Soweto had a number of hurdles to overcome before the race even began. Not only had she never left South Africa, she had never set foot on a boat or seen the ocean before. She was also scared of water.
However, Lebalang overcame her fears and challenges to race across the Atlantic Ocean, an experience that would change her life. Six years later, after a lot of study, hard work, and perseverance, Lebalang has secured her dream job at the World Health Organisation, a specialist agency of the United Nations.
She says: “It is often difficult to come up with words for the transition that happened in my life after participating in the Clipper Race.
“An amazing gradual transformation took place after the race, from understanding what it means to be human
to the basic concept of sharing. These two for me are everything, as it takes a courageous person to share their space, emotions, and most importantly, the ability to develop humility while doing this.
“Today, I work for the United Nations, which has been a dream and aspiration of mine ever since I was young. The journey has not been easy. I got pregnant and paused my studies and there were moments I wanted to give up but the resilience in me refused.
“Somehow I link my resilience and determination to what the Clipper Race afforded me, which is a rare breed of life skills which equip an individual, young or old, to conquer and unleash their champion within.”
ABOVE Labalang being welcomed by fellow South African Ambassadors LEFT Now Labalang has her dream job at the World Health Organisation.Michael (or Tino as he was christened by his Visit Seattle crew), spent a year exploring the world as a circumnavigator in the Clipper 2015-16 Race, and it was this experience that helped inspire the former Dive Instructor to embark on a new project. Now back home in Barbados, Michael has set his sights on revolutionising food production and farming in the Caribbean.
Together with his family, the 36-year-old is creating a zero carbon footprint farm based on Aquaponics, a soilless form of agriculture that utilises nutrient-rich water from fish in tanks as a natural fertiliser for plants.
Michael explains: “The Caribbean as a whole has very little food security and has to import huge quantities of produce to feed both the local population and the tourist industry year-round. With limited and dwindling fresh water supplies, traditional farming is becoming less efficient and unable to meet the increasing demand.
“Starting in Barbados, the concept is to reduce and, in some cases, eliminate the need to spend millions of dollars in the transportation of produce from around the globe and re-introduce locally grown, farm-to-table fresh produce to the local markets. This will reduce the region’s carbon footprint and contribute to selfsustainable economies.
“After the race, we began clearing 22 acres of land, ten of which will be used for greenhouses and growing produce. The remaining twelve will be turned into a tree farm to offset carbon footprints. We are currently constructing our first 12,000 square foot greenhouse with fish houses and by the beginning of 2020, we should be ready to go.”
After being an A&E Nurse for 13 years in some of London’s busiest hospitals, it takes a lot to ruffle 36-year-old Fiona Robertson. Despite having never sailed before, Fiona completed the full circumnavigation on board PSP Logistics, though at times she found
Robertsonbeing the only female Race Crew member just as challenging as the racing!
Fiona’s calm head and life-saving skills came in handy during the race. While enjoying the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival Rodeo in Bowen in January 2018, Fiona was first on the scene after a crowd member collapsed.
The Londoner says: “A man fell from the bottom step and collapsed on the ground in front of me. I went over to see what was happening and found the man in cardiac arrest, so started CPR.
“With the help of a doctor from the audience, we kept going until the paramedics arrived. They were with a cowboy that had been injured so we were there for a while. By the time the paramedics got to us, the man had a pulse and he was starting to respond. They stopped the Rodeo, got him into the ambulance and he was taken to hospital.
“The next thing I knew I was having a photo with one of the cowboys as a thank you. We were also given boxes of mangoes which got shared around the boats and were very well-received at the start of the next leg.”
Since returning from the race, Fiona has taken up a new position as the Major Trauma Service Lead Nurse at a London hospital.
Of the race, she says: “The race was the hardest but the most rewarding thing that I’ve ever done. It took quite a while for it to sink in what I actually achieved and it was all a bit surreal when the race finished. It was pretty hairy at times but lots of fun, a great adrenaline rush.”
ABOVE AND LEFT Fiona
It’s been 20 years since British sailor Alex Thomson became the youngest skipper to win the Clipper Race when, aged just 25, he led the Ariel team to victory in the 1998-9 edition. It is a title that Alex still holds today and has only been challenged by Skipper Nikki Henderson, who led her Visit Seattle team to second place in the 2017-18 edition, narrowly missing out on the accolade.
Reflecting on his time as a Clipper Race Skipper, Alex says: “To come out on top was phenomenal. It’s an amazing race and it absolutely changed my life. Looking back, I think I was quite fearless. Winning was one of the proudest moments of my life and it wasn’t until then that I realised this was something I could turn into a career. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the Clipper Race.”
Using his Clipper Race triumph as a career springboard, Alex has become one of the world’s most accomplished solo offshore sailors. Competing in the high-speed IMOCA 60 class, the British sailor has broken multiple records and received countless accolades throughout his decorated career.
Alex holds the British solo, unassisted round-the-world monohull record. He set this in 2017 when he finished the gruelling Vendée Globe race – ‘the Everest of sailing’ – in 74 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes. On the career highlight, Alex says: “Finishing second in the 20162017 Vendée Globe has to be at the top. The Vendée is so much more than just 70-plus days at sea; it’s four years of planning and preparation for my team, who do so much behind the scenes. And
so that was a proud moment for all of us when I crossed the finishing line.”
Still, the highly competitive sailor’s career highs span more than race results. Alex adds: “Being named the Yachting Journalists’ Association’s Yachtsman of the Year was something to be proud of too and, most recently, I was honoured to receive a French National Order of Merit. Being presented with the honour in front of my family, friends and team – who have supported me every step of the way –was very special.”
Understanding motivations for racing around the planet through some of the most remote places on Earth, enduring every condition Mother Nature decides to throw at you, can be a challenge for many people to fathom. But Alex explains: “It’s the challenge. More people have been into space and climbed Everest than those to have sailed around the world.
To be part of that group is very special. It’s a challenge and an adventure of epic proportions. It’s a human exercise in selfmanagement and mental strength. For me, it’s still the biggest sporting challenge in the world today.”
Having finished the 2012 and 2016 editions of the Vendée Globe in third and second place respectively, Alex is targeting victory in 2020 on board his brand new Hugo Boss race yacht, which launched this summer. On the upcoming campaign, he says: “For us, there is only one goal and that is to win next time. We are prepared to give everything we have to make sure that, when we line up for the race start in November 2020, we are in the best possible position to do that.
“My life has been about one thing –winning the Vendée Globe. If I were to do that, it would be a lifetime ambition realised.”
Photo: Christophe LaunayClipper Race crew reveal their inspiration for signing up, favourite moments and challenges they overcame during the 2017-18 edition
Circumnavigator, Garmin, 42, Peruvian “Sailing around the world had been my lifelong dream. I initially considered this as a stepping stone, thinking of doing just one leg, but after completing my first two weeks of training, I was hooked.”
1,2,3,7,8, Greenings and Visit Seattle, 66, British
“I wanted to push and challenge myself to the extreme. It was also an opportunity to emulate my father, who travelled from the Bay of Bengal to Trinidad in very tough conditions with his mother in 1900, aged seven.”
Circumnavigator, Hotelplanner.com, 60, British/Jersey
“I’ve had a passion for the sea ever since primary school, when we followed the progress of Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Robin. I sailed the Atlantic as a teen, but the dream of circumnavigation stayed with me, and the Clipper Race gave me the opportunity to achieve this.”
Circumnavigator, Garmin, 60, British
“The training was systematic and thorough. Building up our knowledge and experience has given us the skills and confidence to tackle any situation we might encounter. It was a great opportunity to meet other crew members and to form what would become tight bonds. These were invaluable when times got tough.”
Circumnavigator, Garmin, 37, British
“I had never sailed before. My first two training weeks were done back-to-back. Those weeks showed me how this challenge wasn’t only about the sailing, but about people, too.”
“The first few legs really bonded and tested the crew. Sailing a thoroughbred of a yacht, especially with a spinnaker, in sea conditions that we’d never come across before did throw up many challenges. These hurdles were soon forgotten, however, when we arrived in some amazing places.”
Circumnavigator, PSP Logistics, 35, British “I didn’t tell anybody until I had signed up and paid my deposit. My mum was shocked as it was completely out of character for me. They were understandably worried, but very supportive, even when I was having doubts. Support from friends and family is essential.”
“One doesn’t hear of a 66-year-old Indian woman crossing the oceans in this manner. My friends were supportive and impressed, but thought that I was a bit mad to undertake such a journey. However, my sons and family understand my desire to live my life and were fully behind my decision.”
Circumnavigator, Liverpool 2018, 30, Uruguayan “My loved ones supported me from the very start, because they knew I had been trying to make a living from the sea since before I could remember.”
“Having never sailed before, every single experience was a new one and no matter how you expect it to look, feel, sound, smell and taste beforehand, I think it will always be different. I was overwhelmed at times. I was expecting to be affected mentally, too, but this race has completely changed the way I look at the entire world.”
“For me, it wasn’t just a race, but an extremely eventful year of my life. I did not realise the extent to which lasting friendships could form from this sort of activity. From the start of training to now is only a few years, but the bonds are so strong – we are a family.”
“Amazing – the huge skies, enormous waves, the night skies, seeing the moon rise and set, dolphins and phosphorescent jellyfish, orcas swimming towards us, dawn breaking and so many more memories. A wonderful group of people of all ages and nationalities to sail with and share the magical moments with and the Clipper Race family, who supported us as we sailed round the world. It was a fantastic year.”
“For me, just the fact that we could sail each and every day, learning how to interpret the weather and adapting ourselves to it, was an incredible experience. When I realised that you could surf the waves and reach extremely high speeds, I knew this sport had to be my life.”
“For years, I have been reading books about offshore sailing, so I had a pretty good idea what I was getting into. But no book can tell you how you are going to react. The race was a true test of character and put me out of my comfort zone in so many ways.”
“Yes, it was absolutely more than I expected. It led me to the journey of exploring myself and the entire world. Thanks to Qingdao and the Clipper Race for the whole experience.”
“Helming when surfing down a gigantic wave during a storm in the North Pacific, with the wind roaring and cold, salty spray stinging my cheeks and eyes. It was pitch dark and I couldn’t see where the sky ended and the sea began, but from the instruments I could see that we were going faster and faster as the roar of the breaking seas crescendoed around me. Suddenly the clouds parted briefly and a star shone brightly to starboard.”
“Arriving at Punta del Este at the end of the Atlantic Trade Winds Leg. When we were docking I saw my father waving at me with the Peruvian flag – it was quite a surprise. Sailing is what we do over the weekend, so for him to be there and witness my achievement was a special moment for me.”
5,6,8, Sanya Serenity Coast, 27, American “Regardless of how you do in the race, every crew member deserves to be applauded. But the feeling when you get up on the podium is indescribable. You put in a lot of work for a long time and to have that rewarded feels absolutely amazing.”
“My favourite moment was when we were on our way to Sanya. It was so hot, I think in the high 30s, and there was nowhere to escape it. Suddenly we got hit by a squall and the entire team was on deck dancing in the rain and scrubbing themselves in the clean water and just laughing so much – it was an absolutely magic moment.”
Discover more about the journey of race crew online
Visit clipperroundtheworld.com/ crew/crew-stories Watch #MyStory
The Team Coordinator role, more commonly known as TC, is there to support communication between the whole team, the Skipper and the race manager. The TC helps the Skipper with yacht administration and organisation. The role requires good planning skills, time management, integrity and tact.
Works alongside the Skipper to encourage and organise team fundraising for Charity Partner Unicef UK. Acting as a key point of contact, and as an extended representative of Unicef UK, within their team.
Assists the Skipper with co-ordinating maintenance and servicing of all deck equipment pre-start, at sea and in stopovers. Helps to care for standing and running rigging, winches, halyards, sheets, guys, blocks, whipping, splicing and care of ropes. Good attention to detail, an inventive mind and practical skills are required.
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.
Leads the sail repair team to coordinate maintenance and repair of the team’s sail wardrobe. The condition of the yacht’s sails will be critical to racing success.
Under guidance from the Skipper, helps to keep the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems on board in full working order. Routine maintenance of the engine, generator and watermaker, as well as servicing and repairs en route and at stopovers, is essential.
360° looks at the vital jobs on board that play to the vast experience and strengths each crew member brings with them
Works with the Clipper Race Communications Team to organise media output from the yacht. This includes blogs, photos and videos. Helps organise crew for any media interview requests.
The Skipper and AQP are ultimately responsible for medical care, but the Medical Assistant is trained to support with any injuries or illness on board. Also helps to ensure that medical kits are correctly maintained and resupply requests are made.
LEFT A 500-point rig and safety check is undertaken at every stopover
BELOW Victualling and stowage on board of more than three million calories per leg is a challenge for every team
A vitally important role shared among all crew, those on Galley Duty are responsible for preparing meals and snacks throughout the day. The role includes monitoring food stores, cleaning and restocking the galley, while remaining prepared to be on deck to help if needed.
Responsible, under direction of the Skipper, for organising the yacht and crew stopover programme. This may include ensuring rig and safety checks are completed, organising the deep clean of the yacht, being on hand to supervise the crew to ensure all tasks are done
and overseeing maintenance days. Must have good leadership and organisational skills in order to allow maximum time for rest and recuperation ashore.
Helps to manage the crew fund, acts as a liaison with the families of the team, helps with social events, and team building, manages or curates social media and anything else that will help bring the team together. Once the race is in action, the cohesion of the whole team is maintained by having a strong link between those sailing and ‘leggers’ who are yet to join.
Regarded as one of the toughest jobs in the Clipper Race, Skippers must endure five months of intensive training to hone their leadership and team development skills
The Skippers leading teams in the Clipper 2019-20 Race have a combined total of 1,312,300NM in their log books, and bring a vast range of experience to their role. Skippers are appointed after a gruelling selection process, but the hard work does not end there as an intensive five-month training programme then begins.
Clipper Race Co-Founder and Chairman Sir Robin KnoxJohnston says: “Not many people are capable of racing and leading a team in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. As well as being excellent sailors who are proven in taking on the planet’s most hostile environments, Clipper Race Skippers must also be outstanding instructors, exceptional motivators, and strong role models. They will need to be calm and patient under pressure, and understand all types of personalities.”
Clipper Race Skippers need to display an extraordinary amount of focus and determination over the almost year-long challenge as they lead their everyday crew through some of the planet’s harshest and most hostile conditions.
Sir Robin adds: “The role of Clipper Race Skipper is one of the toughest, but most rewarding jobs that exists anywhere in life. It’s a real test of seamanship, and incredibly challenging but is also probably the best job in the world. Our Skippers will work very hard but the rewards are immeasurable. It will be an experience of a lifetime for them.”
A Skipper’s pre-race schedule involves a wide range of rigorous training. This includes a bespoke advanced medical training programme conducted by Praxes, the Global Medical Support Partner for the Clipper 2019-20 Race. Other areas include specialist training in weather systems, navigational software (from Race Partner Timezero by MaxSea) and onboard sail repairs by Official Supplier Hyde Sails.
Grahame Robb Associates (GRA) is new to the Clipper Race for the 2019-20 edition as Official Learning and Development Supplier. The company has delivered a bespoke leadership development programme, specially designed to hone the skills of its professional Skippers and Mates ahead of the twelfth race edition.
Grahame Robb, Managing Director of GRA, says: “The Clipper Race is a high-profile endurance race which, by its very nature, challenges people to push beyond their comfort zone.
“We have 30 years of experience supporting leaders to develop by pushing the boundaries of their comfort zone and enhancing their awareness of their leadership style. “By partnering with the Clipper Race, we have enabled
FAR LEFT
David ‘Wavy’ Immelman, Skipper, GoToBermuda
TOP Jeronimo SantosGonzalez, Skipper, Punta del Este
This year’s Skippers undergoing leadership and development training with members of Grahame Robb Associates
its Skippers and Mates to enhance their leadership skills through practical, experiential learning. We’ve helped them to be the very best they can be in high-pressure situations, enabling these leaders to get the best out of their teams while racing around the world.”
UK-based GRA are experts in providing people and organisational development training programmes on a global scale. The staff are experienced in supporting top-level sports teams and corporate organisations with practical, results-focused programmes that produce better leaders and more effective teams.
GRA (gra.uk.com) operates a Challenge by Choice ethos, which encourages people to push the boundaries of what they thought they were capable of and uncover new strengths they didn’t realise they had. The bespoke GRA leadership development programme for the Clipper Race is built on the Skippers’ and Mates’ existing leadership capabilities. The results will be to effectively build and lead high-performing teams for the duration of the race around the world.
Sir Robin says: “Continuous learning and development is crucial for any sailor, and for any leader. Our Clipper 2019-20 Race Skippers have been given expert support in their preparations to build effective, cohesive teams from scratch.”
If you think you have what it takes to be a Clipper Race Skipper, visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com/jobs
This will be the second edition as Race Director for Mark Light, who knows the Clipper Race better than most. Mark skippered the inaugural Derry~Londonderry team in the 201112 edition and a day after completing his 40,000 nautical circumnavigation,
he joined the Race Office and spent the next four years as Deputy Race Director, before taking over the top job in 2016.
Mark’s role as Race Director is allencompassing and includes skipper recruitment, route planning, adjudicating on all race matters and, of course, delivering the all-important icebreakers at every crew brief.
Dale Smyth is a new addition to the Race Office team for the Clipper 2019-20 Race, but is a familiar face to those who follow the race. Before taking on the role of Deputy Race Director, Dale gained first-hand experience of the Clipper Race
as Skipper of the Dare To Lead team in the 2017-18 edition. Dale is regarded as one of South Africa’s most respected offshore sailors after racing and instructing there for more than 20 years.
Dale says: “While I was proud enough to skipper a team in this amazing challenge, to directly assist in the success of eleven teams and hundreds of crew will be an unbelievably proud achievement.”
Sarah is the most popular member of the Race Office Team, as her role involves organising and helping crew and skippers with everything they need in port –including delivering the very important arrival beverages! Her other duties include helping with immigration, visas, medical advice, victualling, expenses, prize-giving and corporate commitments.
She also plays a key part in the day-today running of the Race Office, including communicating with the yachts every six hours for their schedules, and ensuring Skipper Blogs are received daily.
Fortunately, Sarah is used to juggling all these tasks, as this will be her fourth race in the role. Before joining the Clipper Race, Sarah could be found in the jungles of Borneo, organising expeditions and charity work.
From rotten fish inside engines, to shark bites damaging rudders, and Australian
cockatoos destructing masthead wind instruments, Clipper Race maintenance manager Justin ‘Jay’ Haller has seen it all.
After completing his national service in South Africa in the medical corps, Jay carried out a college apprenticeship in engineering and spent time in Antarctica as a technician. Following a season with the America’s Cup, Jay joined the Clipper Race in 2002 and quickly became a valued member of the team for his ability to fix and solve almost anything.
Over the past eight editions and 17 years, the South African has worked on some comical mishaps, as well as more serious repairs. ‘The Chief’ can always be seen with his team waiting to leap on board as soon as the boats start arriving in port – always warmly welcomed by the Race Crew.
The logistics involved when organising an event such as the Clipper Race make for a large-scale operation. The core part of Matt’s remit as Race Operations and Logistics Manager is to oversee the movement of the four containers –packed full of replacement parts, tools, and branding – that criss-cross the globe and must arrive in each of the 16 Host Ports ahead of the fleet.
Matt, along with Operations and Logistics Coordinator Justin Howard, also looks after Race Team travel and
accommodation, Host Port branding and Race Village creation, corporate event set-up and Race Viewer development. He is part of the team that runs a constant watch system while the yachts are at sea, ensuring the fleet’s positions and progress are continuously monitored.
There’s not a crew member on the race who hasn’t come into contact with Kirsty at some point. She is Training Office Manager at the Clipper Race Training Centre in Gosport, UK, and the 2019-20 edition will be the third race she has been a part of. This means she has created the training schedules for more than 2,000 crew members over the past five years, so she is certainly kept on her toes.
She says: “I love having the opportunity to meet so many different crew on a daily basis and hearing all the different stories they have to tell. I still find it fascinating that so many different people can come together with the same goal, and form friendships that they probably never thought they would.
“When the crew arrive for Level 1 training, generally they are very nervous and look a bit lost, but by the end of Level 4 training, they are different people. I see the crew turn into a family, which is what the race is really about.
“It’s not just about the eight legs, it’s about everything before, during and after that, and being part of the crew’s training experience is incredible.”
Available throughout the UK sailing season, Clipper Events provides unique and exciting opportunities for team building, racing and the chance to sail on an ocean racer. From fully facilitated learning and development days to industry regattas and iconic yacht races, there is something for everyone on board the Clipper Race fleet, made up of both 68 and 70ft ocean-racing yachts.
No prior sailing experience is necessary – in fact, most participants have never stepped foot on a yacht before.
Clipper Events Manager Emma Eason says: “All the boats are staffed by a fully qualified skipper and mates who train the men and women who sail around the
Clipper Events offers exciting opportunities to join iconic ocean races, tackle problem-solving and develop team-building skills
No one person, however skilled, can sail one of our yachts. It takes a team, working in sync and communicating effectively
world in the Clipper Race. But the lessons learnt aren’t restricted to sailing.
“The yachts provide a unique platform to bring people together; no one person, however skilled, can sail one of our yachts alone. It takes a team, working in sync and communicating effectively. We can offer a single yacht for one day, or multiple yachts, all with professional sailing staff to ensure everyone gets the most out of the experience.”
Fancy something more competitive? Clipper Events runs an annual in-house regatta, Clipper City Challenge, on the Solent in the UK, with a variety of London-based firms. The event has been held since 2007 and is not only an exceptionally fun weekend, it also develops business relationships and provides lasting connections.
With a good balance of sailing, competition, and problem-solving, the benefits of taking part in the regatta can be felt across a business. The social aspect of the weekend can also help to build interdepartmental relationships.
With many firms returning year after year, the competition is very real and the memories will last long after the final finish horn has blown.
To schedule a corporate sailing event for your team, join an iconic race or just to find out more, contact Emma Eason on +44 (0) 2392 601253; email events@clipper-ventures.com or visit www. clipper-events.com
Be a part of something competitive on board a Cllipper Race yacht
ABOVE AND RIGHT Teams develop new business relationships and friendships BELOW
The Clipper City Challenge crews get creative on board
44 corporate sailing days on the Clipper 68 fleet.
32 corporate sailing days on the Clipper 70 fleet.
171 sailing staff looked after 457 guests.
1,250 nautical miles raced by Clipper Events each year.
Charity Partner
Unicef UK is using Clipper Race donations to save the lives of youngsters all over the world
Unicef UK has been the Charity Partner of the Clipper Race since 2015 and a team yacht has once again been gifted to the organisation to help raise awareness of the issues impacting children across the globe.
Race Crew, supporters and Race Partners have so far raised £750k for the children’s charity and it is hoped that during the Clipper 2019-20 Race, the total raised will pass the £1m mark.
Unicef relies entirely on voluntary contributions and donations. Its lifesaving work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of its fundraisers.
Thanks to its supporters, Unicef saves millions of children’s lives every year. The charity ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation.
And Unicef has done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else.
Thousands of children die every day from diseases that are easy to prevent. Deadly diseases like measles, polio, tetanus, tuberculosis, diphtheria and whooping cough are all easily and cheaply preventable by vaccination. Yet every day, 16,000 children under five die, usually because they don’t get the health care and life-saving vaccines they need.
Unicef vaccinates almost half of the world’s children against preventable diseases, and supports immunisation programmes in more than 95 countries.
Today, more children are protected than ever, but there is more work to be done. In Mali, West Africa, for example, one in ten children dies before reaching their fifth birthday.
Many of the diseases that kill children in Mali are entirely preventable. However, only 45% of children receive all of the recommended vaccinations and 14% receive no vaccinations at all, violating their right to protection from common childhood illnesses.
Around 2,000 people, including families with children, live on the gold mining site of Massakama, in western Mali.
The nearest health centre is 50km away. With the help of mobile vaccinators, Unicef and its partners are reaching isolated communities such as those at the Massakama gold mine.
Forty-year-old Adam Traore travels by motorcycle to vaccinate children in the region. Adam has been a vaccinator in this area dominated by informal gold mining for ten years, transporting his vaccine box and other supplies to families living there – such as Ramata’s.
Adam explains: “Many families work and live here, with their children completely isolated and deprived of any care.”
Ramata has panned for gold at the Massakama site for three years. She has five children – her youngest is elevenmonth-old Hachime. Hachime had never been vaccinated before.
The use of mobile vaccinators to reach vulnerable populations living in hard-toreach areas is among the approaches that Unicef and its partners have put in place to help reach every child.
Brighter future: Ramata and her son Hachime
Photo: © Unicef/Keïta
Health on the move: Adam Traore is a mobile vaccinator who works for Unicef
Photo: © Unicef/Keïta
Photo: Bill Rowntree/PPL
An underdog without sponsorship, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston defied the odds to become the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston celebrates his groundbreaking feat on 22 April 1969
It’s been 50 years since a 30-year-old British Merchant Navy officer made history, becoming the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s achievement in 1968-69 changed the world and the sport of sailing forever, and he continues to inspire new generations of sailors.
Among those whose lives were changed by Sir Robin’s monumental sailing feat include some of the sport’s greats. Here, they reveal how the great man left a mark on their lives:
For Sir Ben Ainslie, the most successful sailor in Olympic history, Sir Robin is “an iconic figure and one of the greatest sailors to have ever set foot in a boat”.
He continues: “I think for me and my generation of sailors, Sir Robin really highlighted what’s possible.
“The first time I saw Suhaili, she was displayed at the National Maritime Museum in London and I just couldn’t believe how small that boat is. I think it was one of the smallest boats in the fleet – if not the smallest boat. It’s an unbelievable achievement and I think it’s very hard for modern sailors or mariners to be able to fathom just how difficult it must have been. I am in absolute awe of what he achieved.”
Sir Robin has played a crucial role in the career of record-breaking solo sailor Alex Thomson.
“The first time I met Sir Robin was in Plymouth in 1997,” remembers Alex. “I had just joined Clipper Ventures and my job was to fix the boats. Sir Robin came down to the boatyard one day and suggested I come with him on an expedition to Greenland as his first mate.
“That was my first experience of meeting the great man, so I was very nervous and I told him, ‘I’d be honoured, but I want to be a skipper in your race and so I think I should stay here and train the crew’. I also asked: ‘Sir Robin, you know, I’m 24 years old, am I too young to do your race?’, and he said, ‘I don’t know Thomson. Come to Greenland and we’ll find out.’
“So it was a giant test for me and he gave me very little indication along the way. He marked my celestial navigation.
“We had the most amazing adventure holiday you’d ever have and, at the end of it, he gave me a job. I was only 24, so it was only afterwards I realised what a huge decision that was for Sir Robin.
“Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is probably the most determined, most stubborn, most interesting person I’ve ever met in my entire life. He gave me an opportunity that I don’t think most people would have done. My life would be completely different now if it wasn’t for Sir Robin.”
Dee Caffari, the first woman to have sailed singlehanded and non-stop around the world in both directions, says: “We often talk about the lunar landing, the first man on the Moon, and I think you can make comparisons with Sir Robin for sailing around the world. He created that first non-stop sail around the world that nobody thought was possible. It hadn’t been done until he completed it and he’s laid that pathway for all of us to follow. You know, there might not have ever been the Vendée Globe if he hadn’t done the Golden Globe Race, and the Vendée Globe, for me, is one of the highlights in my sailing career.
“To sail single-handed and non-stop around the world is a huge achievement. There aren’t that many of us that do it and I’m very grateful that he set that pathway up for me to follow.”
Dee Caffari Sir Ben Ainslie Alex Thomson Photo: Jari SaloLike Sir Francis Chichester and the Gipsy Moth IV or Captain Cook and HMS Endeavour, Sir Robin will be forever linked to his 32ft ketch, Suhaili. And the bond they forged during his 312 days at sea half a century ago continues to this day.
“The bond is very difficult to explain,” says Sir Robin.
“She’s an inanimate object, but has her own quirks. Fortunately, I’m usually aware of them, but she can still catch me out.”
London-born Sir Robin first tried his hand at boatbuilding aged four, though the budding sailor had limited success on his maiden voyage.
He recalls: “I built a raft out of an orange box, took it down to the River Dee and launched it. I stood on it and it sank, which was an early introduction to Archimedes’ principle.”
Years later, in India, Sir Robin and two friends began another project – the building of Suhaili. The keel was laid down in the Colaba Workshops, Mumbai, in 1963
He wanted to build a bigger boat and sell Suhaili, but with no backing or buyer, Sir Robin had to stick with his small ketchUnbreakable bond Sir Robin with Suhaili soon after their return
A jubilant Sir Robin waves to crowds aboard Suhaili following his 30,000-mile, epic journey
Suhaili has been part of my life since I was 23 and I couldn’t imagine life without hertest Sir Robin spent more than ten months at sea in the 32ft yacht built by hand in Mumbai Sir Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
and while the Merchant Navy officer had learnt a lot since the orange-box boat of his youth, the building process was anything but plain sailing.
He recalls: “Well, financially it was a bit tricky because the other two decided the boat was late, and they said that was enough. They wanted to go to Australia and marry their girlfriends. I didn’t want to give up, so I basically bought them out.
“We were living on next to nothing at the time; porridge for breakfast, bananas for lunch, and a oneand-six curry.”
It was after building Suhaili that the adventure bug bit Sir Robin. He explains: “I saw [Francis] Chichester come home and thought, he’s gone around the world single-handed with one stop. There’s one thing to be done – a non-stop circumnavigation. The idea just grew on me, to the point where I realised I was going to have to do it.”
It might surprise many to learn that Suhaili wasn’t the boat Sir Robin wanted for the inaugural Golden Globe Race. He says: “I wanted sponsorship so I could build a much bigger, faster boat. I wanted to build a 56-footer which [yacht designer] Colin Mudie designed for me and I needed about £2,500-£3,000 to build her out of steel. The rest of the money would have gone on things like radios and food.
“I wrote to 52 companies saying, ‘you know, I’ve got this great idea, I need £5,000 to do it, will you sponsor
me?’ And they all wrote back saying no. But I did get a £5 voucher from Cadbury, so it wasn’t totally wasted!”
Sir Robin continues: “Anyway, I couldn’t raise the money, so I went with Suhaili. I was trying to sell her, but no one was interested, so that was that. Suhaili wasn’t designed to race around the world, but it was the boat I had. As it happens, she was almost ideal for the job of just getting round – not ideal for racing – but she’s still surviving, so it was probably the best boat out there.”
Suhaili took to the water once again on 22 April 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of Sir Robin’s historic race. More than 100 vessels of all shapes and sizes, including the Royal Navy warship HMS Mersey, joined Sir Robin at Falmouth Harbour, to recreate the moment that changed sailing forever.
It was a very different Suhaili to the one that arrived in Falmouth battered and bruised half a century ago. Sir Robin revealed that many months of hard work went into restoring her. He says: “I thought it was going to be her big moment, I wanted her to look smart for it.”
As all boat owners know, the work will never end, but for Sir Robin, it will always be a labour of love.
“Yes, there is still work to be done, but I am very fond of her. She has been part of my life since I was 23. I couldn’t imagine life without her, and getting her back sailing is when she is looked after best. She doesn’t like going to windward, but then neither do I.”
A flotilla of vessels gathers in Falmouth Harbour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin’s homecoming Photos Bill Rowntree/PPL; Shaun Roster
Getting the Clipper Race up and going, and keeping it running, has been perhaps one of the most satisfying things I’ve donePhoto: Martin Allen Photography
In the summer of 1995, Sir Robin had a meeting with Clipper Race co-founder William Ward. This not only led to a deep friendship, but also an idea that would change the lives of thousands of people all around the world.
William remembers: “At the time it was a two- to three-year project; we finished the first race in 1997 and Robin said, ‘Should we do another one?’ I’d probably had more than one beer and said yes, so off we went again! We are incredibly proud of what we have created and it’s grown to be much bigger than a business partnership.
“We both coach each other, I get loads of energy from him – he’s 80 years young and springing around. He’s made my past 20-odd years in business the most interesting I’ve ever had and I’ve gained a great friend.”
Now 23 years on from that inaugural race, it’s time for a new group of adventurers to set sail in what is the twelfth consecutive edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. And despite the many accomplishments of his life, seeing the crew grow and learn remains one of Sir Robin’s proudest accomplishments.
He says: “I think the Clipper Race has been one of those things that has brought so much benefit to so many people and changed their lives dramatically. So I think getting the Clipper Race up and going, and keeping it running, has been perhaps one of the most satisfying things I’ve done.”
Great Britain eventing medallist Mary King is taking a break from equestrian competition to pursue her sailing dream in the Southern Ocean
British champion, Olympian, and now ocean racer. Mary King, who has represented Great Britain at six Olympic Games, will swap horses for yachts when she races the Southern Ocean Leg of the Clipper 2019-20 Race.
Mary, who won team silver in eventing at the 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games and bronze in 2008, explains the challenge by saying: “I have always had a real love for the sea and my father is a retired Royal Navy officer.
“Horses were my number one aim and dream in my life, but I always thought if horses didn’t work out, I would definitely go and work with boats somehow.”
Because ‘horses did work out’, as Mary modestly describes it, the ocean had to take a back seat for a number of years. But after a friend told her about the Clipper Race,
Mary realised she could actually do both. “Being a competitive person, I would love to sail around the world, but it’s not possible when you are still competing,” she says.
“But somebody then sent me a link to the Clipper Race website, saying ‘this would suit you, Mary’. I thought, yes it would and look, the Southern Ocean is out of eventing season! So it is a good time to get the Southern Ocean ticked off my list.”
While the Southern Ocean will be worlds away from the eventing ring, there will be some similarities for the Olympian, who says: “Eventing is a funny sport. You compete as individuals, but you have a big team behind you, and when you compete for your country at all the major championship events, you are then there as a team.”
She adds: “You’ve gone out as a team and you work together as a team to succeed together.”
Photo: PA ImagesThe teamwork won’t be the only thing that will be familiar to Mary at sea, who adds: “We go away to all these three-day events in the horsebox and you get used to living close to other people in the lorry. The bigger horseboxes often take ideas from boat builders as far as the interiors go, so you become used to sleeping and working closely with others.”
Fellow Olympian Hannah Macleod knows the exciting challenge Mary is taking on. Hannah, who was part of Great Britain’s historic gold medal winning hockey team at the Rio 2016 Olympics, had never sailed before joining the GREAT Britain team to take on the challenge of the Australian Coast-to-Coast Leg in the Clipper 2017-18 Race.
Hannah says: “It’s way harder than winning a gold medal. Way harder. When training and competing for a gold medal, you get to have a warm shower at the end of the day, you get to sleep in a bed and have a chance to reset. In the Clipper Race, there’s no resetting, it’s just go, go, go. But it’s phenomenal.”
Hannah’s place in the GREAT Britain boat was a natural fit, given her accomplishments on the hockey field.
As well as having another chance to represent her country, Hannah also used the race to share her story and expertise. A highlight of her race was getting to spend time with members of Hockey Western Australia’s development squad in Perth
during the Fremantle stopover. Hannah spent half a day with 28 members of the Talent Acceleration Program and after a drills session, the girls, all aged under 16, questioned the Olympian on her career, tactics, and what it takes to be a champion.
Explaining why the visit was important to her, Hannah says: “I remember when GB sprinter Kriss Akabusi came into my school when I was little, and I still have that my photo with him and his signature.
“It was so inspirational so I know just how important it is for events like this. The conversations that you have could inspire someone to change direction or give them the drive and passion to achieve whatever it is they want to achieve.”
LEFT Mary King shows off her Team GB silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics
ABOVE Hannah Macleod with GREAT Britain Skipper Andy Burns on a visit to Downing Street
TOP Mary riding her horse, Imperial Cavalier, in the dressage at London 2012
Photo: PA Images
The Clipper Race is the ultimate challenge, so strong bonds are quickly forged between strangers – yet many family members decide to take part in this amazing adventure at sea together…Melanie and Jasmine Morris are aware how precious life is
In the current race edition, 13 double acts are participating – and it’s a growing trend. They represent ten different nations and combinations of family members, competing on a single leg, combining several, or completing the full circumnavigation.
Over eleven months, husbands and wives, fathers and daughters, fathers and sons and mothers and daughters will share an experience of a lifetime by taking part in the Clipper 2019-20 Race.
This includes mum and daughter Melanie and Jasmine Morris. There were two main reasons why the pair, from Perthshire, Scotland, decided this was the challenge for them. First, they both liked the idea of celebrating major milestone birthdays at sea – Jasmine will be 30 in February 2020, while Melanie will turn 60 in March of the same year. But, most importantly, the pair wanted to celebrate the fact that they could take on an adventure such as the Clipper Race together.
Jasmine explains: “My mum has had breast cancer twice. I was eight years old when she got diagnosed the first time and we almost lost her.
“That she is able to do this – she will be 60 years old, she’s a single mum, got through breast cancer both times and fought hard to be here for me and my brother – I’m just so proud of her.”
The feeling is mutual, with mum Melanie adding: “I’m so proud of Jasmine as well, because it hasn’t been easy for her with all the situations that have been going on and I just think it is an amazing thing.
“We always underestimate our capabilities. My experience is that people think they cannot do things but, for me, I believe that you can. Even if you have difficulties in life, sometimes I think by setting yourself a challenge, to really do something that your heart desires, everything is possible.
“This is a celebration of being 30 and 60 years old respectively, and surviving breast cancer twice over – it’s just saying live your life.”
The chance to experience an adventure together was also the reason why 52-year-old Ian Griffiths, a consultant engineer who lives in Bristol, decided to take part in the Clipper Race with his 18-year-old daughter, Iona.
Ian and Iona will be racing for the same team, but on different legs. Ian will be racing first, embarking on Leg 3 from Cape Town to Fremantle, then the Clipper Race baton will be passed to Iona, who will be taking part in Leg 5, from the Whitsundays to Sanya.
Ian explains: “I was looking for a way to rack up some nautical miles. I saw the [Clipper Race] advert on the London Tube, so I suggested to Iona that we go to an open day in Liverpool to find out more.
“Knowing how capable and ‘up for it’ Iona is (she’s very courageous), it seemed like the perfect fit to expand both of our horizons, go outside our comfort zones and create some memories together in the process.”
LEFT Ian and Iona Griffiths were inspired by the Clipper 2017-18 Race finish in Liverpool BELOW Iona and Ian with their WTC Logistics team mates GriffithsIn addition to the 13 couples taking part in the Clipper 2019-20 Race, Keith Baker will be completing his family relay. Keith will be racing some 20,000NM in Legs 1, 2, 3, and 8 of the race, taking over from daughter Fran, who went from Liverpool to Punta del Este, Uruguay, in the previous edition of the race.
Keith, a 62-year-old retired Company Director from Essex, UK, says: “Watching Fran have this awesome experience made me reflect, so I retired early to do all of those things I always said I’d do and probably wouldn’t ’when I retire’. The first thing on the agenda was to follow in my daughter’s wake and get on the Clipper Race. Every experience I’ve had relating to the Clipper Race has been an absolute blast. I can’t wait for the actual race to start.”
Fran, a 30-year-old business and operations manager, adds: “Being part of the Clipper Race is, hands down, the best thing I have ever done in my life.
“Fortunately for me, I also get to see my dad enjoy the amazing Clipper Race experience in his retirement, something I know he will love and excel at, as he is extremely driven and hard-working – a 110% kind of guy. I am so proud of the adventurer he is and very grateful that this is a shared experience we will always have.”
TOP Keith Baker has been inspired by his daughter Fran BOTTOM Fran took part in the 2017-18 edition of the race
It seemed like the perfect fit to expand both of our horizons, go outside our comfort zones and create memories togetherIan
From award-winning documentaries to TV specials – how the challenges of the Clipper Race adventure are brought to the screen
When it comes to the Clipper Race, the inspirational crew are the story. And to help tell it, the Communications Team work with journalists from all over the world.
In every port, news crews converge to interview crew and cover the journey so far. In Derry~Londonderry, BBC Radio Foyle brought their studio to the fleet and recorded ‘The Mark Patterson Show’ live from the marina for six days. While in the Whitsundays, the crew and inaugural Clipper Race Whitsundays Festival were the feature of a two-part episode on ‘Queensland Weekender’, a programme broadcast to millions of people.
In some cases, the reporters join the crew on board. Daniela Devine from the UK and Maéva Bardy from France spent almost a year at sea to film the Clipper 2017-18 Race documentary, ‘The Race of Your Life’. Shown all around the world, the documentary produced by 1080 Media was a firsthand account of all how the courageous crew weathered the highs and lows of life at sea.
After the 2017-18 race edition ended, Maéva put together an award-winning documentary called ‘La Course de Leur Vie’.
Daniela Devine, onboard reporter, captures the extreme conditions mid-ocean LEFT
Brands are exposed to global media FAR LEFT
Maéva Bardy, onboard reporter, helped to film The Race of Your Life
The highlight of the film was the hurricane winds and towering waves of the North Pacific Ocean, with Sir Robin KnoxJohnston describing it as the best big wave footage he had ever seen.
On the experience, Maeva explained: “It was a big challenge that I rose to because it was the hardest working conditions I had ever had. There are things I miss. The adrenaline of the starts and the elation of the finishes. Also my desk - the ocean."
Another who told the inspirational stories of the Clipper Race crew for the lens was Ming Hao. The Chinese videographer and journalist had previously covered many other major events, including the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, but said of the race: “It’s the best job I’ve ever done. I will never forget the feeling of colour correcting or doing a satellite transfer while at 40 degrees and being hit by 40 knots of wind in the middle of the North Pacific!”
The crew also play a big role in documenting the race. From the thousands of blogs, to the images and vision of everything from whales off the coast of Mexico to lighting storms in Northeast Australia, the crew help bring the race supporters along for the journey, providing an amazing insight into what it is like to take part in the race of your life.
Keep up to date with all the race information on the official race website: www.clipperoundtheworld.com/ latestnews
You can also follow our official social media channels: www.facebook.com/clipperroundtheworld https://twitter.com/ClipperRace www.instagram.com/clipperrace/ www.youtube.com/user/ClipperRTW Share you photos and start the conversation with #ClipperRace
Follow your team in fine detail on the Race Viewer, a 24/7 GPS system
Every tack, gybe and nail-biting strategy call; never miss a beat of the action. With the entire Clipper Race fleet at your fingertips, track the real-time position and course of all eleven racing yachts as the teams battle their way around the world on their eleven-month global adventure.
The Race Viewer system works using an array of cutting-edge, onboard GPS trackers which send periodic position, speed and bearing updates from each yacht, allowing for accurate plotting of each team’s progress.
Bespoke to the Clipper Race, the webbased Race Viewer has been tried and tested in excess of 120,000 nautical miles of ocean racing. Now in its fourth edition, Race Viewer effectively allows Race Crew supporters to track their loved
one’s location 24 hours a day, over the 228 days of racing, on both desktop and mobile devices.
Race Viewer also has a private race management system, paramount for ensuring the safety of the fleet, allowing the Race Team to interpret the data and track each yacht’s progress closely.
For Clipper Race followers interested in the finer detail, a host of tools are available, including new additions for the 2019-20 edition, which further enhance user customisation options.
George Loader, Digital Marketing Officer for the Clipper Race, said: “We’ve developed a range of tools which give greater context to any tactical decisions made by each team. Weather layers can be activated to show current and forecasted wind, swell, air pressure
and temperature and there’s even an enhanced rewind feature so followers can catch up on any racing action.”
Be warned – Race Viewer makes for addictive viewing, with many supporters reporting Race Viewer fever.
A testament to its success, during the 2017-18 edition of the race, the Race Viewer received in excess of 4.35 million page views globally from a total of 162 different countries.
Race Viewer, for the 2019-20 edition, will be active from Sunday, 1 September, attracting a huge global audience, with many arranging their daily routines around the hourly updates.
Track the fleet as they race around the globe at clipperroundtheworld. com/raceviewer
Ruth Charles talks
well-wishers play in boosting morale,
As a circumnavigator in the Clipper 2015-16 Race, Race Crew
Supporters Coordinator Ruth Charles understands how important it is to receive contact from loved ones while at sea. It is now her job to help race supporters feel as close to the experience as possible.
Ruth said: “I was overwhelmed by how many of my friends and family wanted to follow me in my race. It was great to know that I had this home support and although I didn’t have family come and visit me until Derry~Londonderry, I would arrive in port to letters, parcels of home goodies, pictures and emails, which really gave me a lift.”
about the role
and why that makes them an important part of the Clipper Race family
You can track the fleet online at www.clipperroundtheworld.com/ raceviewer and follow every exhilarating moment around the world.
Sign up to receive regular updates, as the teams take on the world’s toughest oceans and extreme conditions.
Read all the daily Race Crew and Skipper blogs online.
Watch the yachts’ arrivals and departures via the Facebook live feed: www.facebook.com/clipperracelive
For more, visit www. clipperroundtheworld.com
Ruth’s role makes her the first point of contact for all Race Crew’s family and friends. She sends out email updates, runs drop-in events in stopovers, as well as being available via email to help answer any questions or concerns that may crop up.
She said: “What is important to remember is our Race Crew members are off on their exciting adventure and their loved ones are left at home, living their normal lives, only with the person sailing being absent.
“My role helps to foster a networking community, both online and in ports, so those remaining on dry land still feel like an active part of the Clipper Race family.”
Norfolk-based Marie Greer’s husband, David, took part in the Clipper 2017-18 Race. Marie said: “Ruth was a vital link for me while David was racing. She not only kept us informed, but was always happy to answer emails and questions throughout his journey.”
Supporters wanting news about their loved ones will be reassured to know that keeping in touch doesn’t mean having to be at every stopover. Every little message and phone call makes a difference and there are plenty of ways for supporters to keep an eye on the Clipper Race progress from anywhere in the world.
Race Crew Supporters can receive updates tailored specifically to them, including information about opportunities to see loved ones during stopovers. To register for these, visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com/ racecrewsupporters
Anyone under the age of 16 with family on board can become a Junior Crew Supporter, which offers them a chance to be involved in a range of challenges and activities. For more information and to register, visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com/ juniorcrewsupporters
Ruth will be available at each stopover and there will also be port get-togethers for the Race Crew Supporters, so they can meet others going through the same experience.
MAIN Celebrations and a warm welcome await the Race Crew in every stopover
LEFT Meeting family and friends around the world is an emotional moment
BELOW Home ports play an important role for the local Race Crew
International artist Howard Flanagan became the Clipper 2019-20 Race fleet artist, having worked extensively with its official charity, Unicef UK, in the 2017-18 edition. Producing a series of original paintings and limited-edition prints to help raise awareness and funds for the children’s charity, Flanagan painstakingly captured the extraordinary challenge of the Clipper Race, while proceeds from his works help to protect the world’s most vulnerable children.
Flanagan said: “The Clipper Race gives me the world to paint. Man and nature working with or against each other, in a race like no other.”
His current series, in pastel, watercolour and ink, vividly captures the unadorned beauty of the world’s oceans, ports visited and the spirit of the teams participating.
Flanagan said he felt very fortunate to meet several crew members and their stories continue to inspire him to try and capture the raw power of the sea and the immense challenge experienced by those on board.
He said: “This is a great honour for me and I hope my paintings will do justice to the magnificent beauty of the eleven oceanracing yachts and the brave, skilled crew that sail them around the world. Perfection of line and form in the yachts and depicting the sea’s moods is challenging for any artist.”
More than £25,000 was raised from sales of his work in aid of Unicef in the Clipper 2017-18 Race, with an ambitious target to better this figure in the 2019-20 edition.
A finalist in the 2017 Sunday Times Watercolour Artist of the Year, Flanagan has also exhibited with the Royal Watercolour Society and the Pastel Society. His work is in private and corporate collections in the UK, Australia, America, Europe, Ukraine, Russia and at the Beijing Yacht Club.
For more information about obtaining limited-edition prints in aid of the Clipper Race charity partner, Unicef, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/howard-flanagan
Howard Flanagan paints in pastel, watercolour and ink Limited-edition prints sold in aid of Unicef Artist Howard Flanagan’s paintings perfectly capture life at seaPerfection of line and form in the yachts and depicting the sea’s moods is challenging for any artist
Business Analyst, 35, Iranian, Circumnavigator, Visit Sanya, China
“Adventure has led us into the unexplored parts of our magnificent planet and universe. Circumnavigating the world will allow me to fully experience what the great explorers felt when they were venturing out into the unknown.”
Retail Manager, 45, Finnish, Circumnavigator, Seattle
“I lost my mother at an early age, which made me realise how limited and precious life is. My motto since has been ‘carpe diem’. As one who is always keen on an adventure, the Clipper Race is the perfect challenge for me to achieve something truly remarkable.”
Content Strategist, 32, French, Circumnavigator, Unicef
“Living on a boat for a full year is a true life dream. I do a lot of sailing, paddling and rowing and am only really happy on the water. But I also want to show my friends, my colleagues, my network and, most importantly, the youth in Singapore and Asia, that it is OK to follow your dream and go on an adventure, because that is what life is all about.”
Student, 19, British, Circumnavigator, Seattle
“By taking part in the Clipper Race, I want to find myself, learn what my limits are and what happens when I push them further. I also want to share the achievement of circumnavigating with a group of people and gain a sense of belonging and understanding that only such a challenge could bring.”
Hotelier, 51, Tanzanian, Circumnavigator, Zhuhai
“Living on the small island of Zanzibar, I never thought I would be able to do such a thing. When I heard about the Clipper Race, I thought this is too great an opportunity to miss and I should do it while I am still in good health.”
Technologist, 62, American, Legs 1, 2, 3 and 4, Dare To Lead
“Our lives fall into ruts. Day after day, year after year, we walk predictable tracks and play familiar roles. The Clipper Race will break the cycle; I will be disconnected from the familiar and the comfortable and become connected to the mysterious rhythms of the sea, connected to my crew mates and, most importantly, connected to myself.”
HR Manager, 46, Spanish, Legs 2, 3 and 4, Punta del Este
“It is my life’s dream to sail around the planet and test myself in the Southern Ocean. I am passionate about seeing other people and myself grow. It will also be a fascinating study in teamwork, leadership and time management, as well as the most difficult challenge of my life so far. I want to live the experience of completing something which is so hard.”
Student, 24, American, Circumnavigator, GoToBermuda
“I found out about the Clipper Race while searching for ocean-crossing trips online, and I immediately decided that this race would be the type of challenge I needed at this point in my life. I will aim to set a higher standard for myself, both physically and mentally. By taking part in such a rigorous journey for an extended period of time, I hope to gain more stamina and be more hard-working.”
Doctor, 31, Portuguese, Legs 1, 2, 3 and 4, WTC Logistics
“I decided to take on the Clipper Race as I wanted a life challenge. After witnessing the start of the 2017-18 edition in Liverpool, I was inspired by the courage and determination that was needed to take part in such an incredible race, so I had to be a part of it. I look forward to having the opportunity to be at one with nature. I have always enjoyed the great outdoors and I feel like this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I want to challenge myself and learn more about who I am and how I cope with adversity.”
Find out more about all the Race Crew taking part online at www.clipperroundtheworld.com/teams
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