clipperroundtheworld.com
THE HISTORY OF THE CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE.
When I first had the idea of organising a non-professional around the world yacht race, more than 20 years ago, I couldn’t possibly have imagined just how big this event would become. Or indeed how many lives it would change and how many opportunities it would present to those brave enough to rise to the challenge.
Sir Robin and William Ward form Clipper Ventures. New Clipper 60 Fleet (x8)
The Clipper Race has changed immeasurably but its core values remain. It is still a truly unique yacht race, open to anyone no matter how experienced or inexperienced, no matter how old, no matter what background. The beauty of the ocean is that it doesn’t care if you are a seasoned ocean racer or a nurse on your first crossing; it still serves up the same challenges at the same intensity. People take on the Clipper Race because they have a desire that sets them apart. They want to live life to the full.
The easy choices in life often offer no pleasure; it is the hard and difficult challenges that bring the satisfaction of real achievement. I remember my first circumnavigation, the challenges I faced in 1968 to raise the money I needed to get my campaign up and running. The sacrifices I had to make, that my family had to make. My dream was always to make the globe’s oceans more accessible and to give people the opportunity to do what I had done, with far less of a sacrifice but with the same weather - gales, the Doldrums, trade winds, freezing cold and blistering heat.
Clipper 1998 Race
Clipper 2002 Race
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
Ariel / Alex Thomson
Jersey / Simon Rowell
PLYMOUTH · MADEIRA · SALVADOR ·
LIVERPOOL · CASCAIS · HAVANA · PANAMA · GALAPAGOS · HAWAII · YOKOHAMA ·
NASSAU · HAVANA · PANAMA · GALAPAGOS · HAWAII · YOKOHAMA · SHANGHAI · HONG KONG ·
SHANGHAI · HONG KONG · BATAM · MAURITIUS · CAPE TOWN · SALVADOR · NEW YORK · HALIFAX ·
SINGAPORE · SEYCHELLES · DURBAN · CAPE TOWN · SALVADOR · AZORES · PLYMOUTH
1969
1996
1998
JERSEY · HOLYHEAD · LIVERPOOL
2000
2002
2004
1995
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston becomes the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, when he won The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race.
Clipper 1996 Race
Times Clipper 2000 Race
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
Arial / Ras Turner
Bristol / Bob Beggs
PLYMOUTH · FORT LAUDERDALE · PANAMA · GALAPAGOS · HAWAII · YOKOHAMA · SHANGHAI ·
PORTSMOUTH · VILAMOURA · HAVANA · PANAMA · GALAPAGOS · HAWAII · YOKOHAMA · NAHA · HONG
HONG KONG · SINGAPORE · SEYCHELLES · DURBAN · CAPE TOWN · SALVADOR · AZORES · PLYMOUTH
KONG · SAN FERNANDO · SINGAPORE · MAURITIUS · CAPE TOWN · SALVADOR · NEW YORK · JERSEY · PORTSMOUTH
New Clipper 68 Fleet (x10)
2005
MY CHALLENGE TO YOU IS SIMPLE DARE TO DREAM Because something as huge as this starts with just that. If you follow that dream, who knows where you will end up. I promise you one thing, you will enjoy the journey.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE RD* Chairman Clipper Ventures
Clipper 05–06 Race
Clipper 09-10 Race
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
Clipper 13-14 Race New Clipper 70 Fleet (x12)
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
Henri Lloyd / Eric Holden
WesternAustralia.com / Mark Preedy
Spirit of Australia / Brendan Hall
LIVERPOOL · CASCAIS · SALVADOR · DURBAN · FREMANTLE · SINGAPORE · SUBIC BAY ·
HULL · LA ROCHELLE · RIO DE JANEIRO · CAPE TOWN · GERALDTON · SINGAPORE · QINGDAO ·
LONDON · BREST · RIO DE JANEIRO · CAPE TOWN · ALBANY · SYDNEY · HOBART · BRISBANE · SINGAPORE
QINGDAO · VICTORIA · PANAMA · JAMAICA · NEW YORK · JERSEY · HOLYHEAD · LIVERPOOL
SAN FRANCISCO · PANAMA · JAMAICA · NEW YORK · CAPE BRETON ISLAND · CORK · LJMUIDEN · HULL
QINGDAO · SAN FRANCISCO · PANAMA · JAMAICA · NEW YORK · DERRY-LONDONDERRY · DEN HELDER · LONDON
2007
2009
Clipper Race 20th anniversary
2011 2013
Clipper 07-08 Race
Clipper 11-12 Race
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
WINNING BOAT / SKIPPER
New York / Duggie Gillespie
Gold Coast Australia / Richard Hewson
LIVERPOOL · LA ROCHELLE · SALVADOR · DURBAN · FREMANTLE · SINGAPORE · QINGDAO · HAWAII ·
SOUTHAMPTON · MADEIRA · RIO DE JANEIRO · CAPE TOWN · GERALDTON · TAURANGA ·
SANTA CRUZ · PANAMA · JAMAICA · NEW YORK · HALIFAX · CORK · LIVERPOOL
GOLD COAST · SINGAPORE · QINGDAO · SAN FRANCISCO · PANAMA · NEW YORK · HALIFAX · DERRY-LONDONDERRY · DEN HELDER · SOUTHAMPTON
2017 Clipper 15-16 Race
Race training hub launched in Sydney, Australia
LONDON · RIO DE JANEIRO · CAPE TOWN · ALBANY · SYDNEY · HOBART · WHITSUNDAYS · DA NANG · QINGDAO · SEATTLE · PANAMA · NEW YORK · DERRY-LONDONDERRY · DEN HELDER · LONDON
Qingdao round the world crew member Vicky Song made history during the Clipper 2013-14 Race when she became the first Chinese woman to complete a circumnavigation. With her mother fighting terminal cancer back home, Vicky vowed she would never give up so long as she promised to keep battling the disease too.
VICKY SONG | 31 Sports Commentator | Qingdao, China Qingdao | Circumnavigator
04
For me, the Clipper Race was a life-changing experience which will never be forgotten. It is never far from my memories and reminds me every day to continue to dream big. Nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself.
MARK PIGRAM | 37
KRISTI WILSON | 27
Management Consultant | Sydney, Australia PSP Logistics | Circumnavigator
Medical equipment sales specialist | Jersey City, USA Derry~Londonderry~Doire | Circumnavigator
Having spent eleven months sailing round the world, achieving something so momentous, I have learnt that you can achieve what you set out to do… I had the confidence to do that and help others.
We’re heading out into the North Pacific Ocean, we were surfing down massive waves and I was on the helm. I hit one surf and the speed read 16 knots, then 17 knots, then 18. Then all of a sudden another surge picked the yacht and we hit 22 knots under spinnaker.
CONOR O’BYRNE | 39
KIM VOTANO | 53
Police Officer | Dublin, Ireland Derry~Londonderry~Doire | Circumnavigator
Self Employed | Sydney, Australia Team Garmin | Leg 4
I will take away many skills, not just on sailing, but cooking for 23 people, how to deal with people in confined space, how to enjoy life without social networking… All I know is that the experience of Clipper Race has not only improved my sailing skills but also who I am.
It’s opened my eyes and made me realise I can do a lot more than I’ve been doing. I’ve probably always been able to do it, but maybe I haven’t had the guts. Now I have, definitely.
SUSAN HUNT | 53
KEES POSTMA | 22
Midwife | Birmingham, UK GREAT Britain | Leg 4
Graduate | Netherlands Old Pulteney | Circumnavigator
I didn’t really believe I could do this, Physically, emotionally. But I’ve come back and I’ve done it. I’m an ordinary woman and I’ve done something extraordinary.
I will never forget the adrenalin rush of battling through huge storms. I can’t imagine any situation where I felt so alive and living life to the fullest.
01 THE COURSE SETS OUT AN INTRIGUING MIX OF SAILING CONDITIONS AND CHALLENGES FOR CREWS.
Furious storms in the South Atlantic, intense tropical cyclones in the North Pacific, the Roaring Forties of the Southern Ocean and of course the biggest dread of all no wind at all.
EVERY LEG MATTERS Each edition of the race is different, typically there are 15 individual races. 12 points are awarded for 1st place and one point for last. This keeps the world’s longest yacht race exciting and competitive with each of the 12 teams lining up at Race Start together.
Disclaimer: The dates and location information provided here are for your guidance, based on previous editions of the race. The Clipper 2017-18 Race route and schedule will become available closer to departure.
01
03
05
07
UNITED KINGDOM // SOUTH AMERICA
02
SOUTH AMERICA // SOUTHERN AFRICA
1 Race
1 Race
5,968mi / 9,605km
3,932mi / 6,328km
Around 33 days
Around 18 days
10 oC to 30 oC
10 oC to 30 oC
August 2017 - September 2017
October 2017 - October 2017
SOUTHERN AFRICA // WESTERN AUSTRALIA
04
WESTERN AUSTRALIA // EASTERN AUSTRALIA
1 Race
2/3 Races
5,575mi / 8,972km
5,015mi / 8,070km
Around 23 days
Around 28 days
8 oC to 28 oC
6 oC to 30 oC
October 2017 - November 2017
November 2017 - January 2018
EASTERN AUSTRALIA // EAST COAST, CHINA
06
EAST COAST, CHINA // WEST COAST, USA
2 Races
2 Races
6,985mi / 11,241km
6,637mi / 10,681km
Around 53 days
Around 33 days
0 oC to 35 oC
0 oC to 15 oC
January 2018 - February 2018
February 2018 - April 2018
WEST COAST, USA // EAST COAST, USA
08
EAST COAST, USA // UNITED KINGDOM
2 Races
2/3 Races
7,115mi / 11,450km
4,894mi / 7,876km
Around 38 days
Around 22 days
15 oC to 32oC
15 oC to 25 oC
April 2018 - June 2018
June 2018 - July 2018
08
CIRCUMNAVIGATION EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING Welcome to one of the biggest challenges you can imagine. To complete the Clipper Race you will need to stay mentally focused and competitive, keep in top physical shape and cope with living on a 70-foot stripped down ocean racing yacht for eleven months. Nothing can fully prepare you for a circumnavigation of the globe; the range of emotions you’ll go through while racing and the sense of achievement when you cross the finish line after 40,000 miles of gut wrenching, energy sapping ocean racing.
You might start as a sailing novice but by the end of eleven months at sea you will have 40,000 racing miles in your log book. You will have sailed in all conditions from warm trade winds, through winter storms and the tropical heat of the Doldrums, crossing the Equator twice. You will have been becalmed, battled through 65-knot gales, struggled through squalls of stinging rain, snow flurries, sleet and fog. You will have experienced the emotions of untying your lines and saying goodbye to loved ones as you head into the drama of your first Race Start in front of the world’s media and tens of thousands of spectators. Typically, you will have visited 13 different countries and been welcomed ashore with all the fervour deserved for long distance sporting champions. You will have celebrated at prize givings, shaken hands with the great and good, made friendships that will last a lifetime and realised you can achieve more than you ever thought possible. You will be fitter, healthier and more alive than you dared to believe. You will have joined an elite club and, as you return to the point of departure and cross your outward track in the world’s longest yacht race, you’ll head home with a set of experiences that will live with you forever. You have just become a circumnavigator.
£49,500 Includes kit and training
ROUND THE WORLD // CIRCUMNAVIGATION 15 Races 40,000 Nautical Miles Around 11 months
The reception so far has been amazing, sending a shiver down your spine as you reflect on what’s been a hugely challenging year, but the biggest challenge now is to remember what ‘normal’ life was like!
0 oC to 35 oC August 2017 - July 2018
Nick Blewer, Age 49 | RTW - Clipper 2013-14 Race
01
LEG 1 THE ATLANTIC TRADE WINDS LEG After experiencing the emotions of saying goodbye to loved ones, there is a huge range of conditions to battle - the Doldrums, Trade Wind spinnaker sailing, the first Atlantic crossing and celebrating South American style.
The first ocean crossing – the Atlantic – sees the crews at sea for four weeks. Skippers will be watching for developing incoming low pressure systems heading across the Atlantic Ocean. The Canary Islands are on the direct route. The decision whether to leave them to the east, sail through the middle or pass on the west delivers a major tactical headache. Get it wrong and you are caught in the wind shadow of the huge mountains that extend for more than 100 miles out to sea. Next up is the dreaded Doldrums (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone), where unpredictable wind holes, squalls and humidity will test patience. A visit to the Court of King Neptune as crews cross the Equator and go from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere is a highlight of the leg. You can look forward to celebrating your achievement in typical South American carnival style after the finish line.
UNITED KINGDOM
£6,500
01
Plus kit and training
UNITED KINGDOM // SOUTH AMERICA 1 Race
10
5,968mi / 9,605km Around 33 days
The exhilaration of surfing down waves that you can’t see going up to 20 knots is spine-tingling. You wrestle with the wheel to check the swing of the bow and keep the spinnaker filled.
10 oC to 30 oC August 2017 - September 2017 SOUTH AMERICA
Graham McMillan, Age 41 | Leg 1 - Clipper 2013-14 Race
02
LEG 2 THE SOUTH ATLANTIC LEG After leaving the South American coastline behind, the fleet heads south east into the infamous South Atlantic. Storms, Albatross and tactical decisions - how far south to go? How big will the first weather system be? Do you race the rhumb line or add miles looking for stronger winds? There are big decisions that can mean the difference between a podium position and a mid-fleet finish.
Upon leaving South America the teams will be straight into the Trade Winds and long, rolling swells of the South Atlantic as you head south towards the infamous Southern Ocean with spinnakers flying. Surfing down the front of swells brings boat speeds well above 20 knots and whoever is on the helm will be guaranteed to be wearing the biggest smile. But this is a marathon not a sprint and looking after kit is essential. One false turn and the spinnaker will be in tatters. After the plunge south, your bows will turn eastward toward the distant shores of Africa, bringing even more exhilarating surfing conditions and some magnificent wildlife. Albatrosses swoop above your head, whales are a common sight and crews will marvel at the clarity of the night sky as they take in the Southern Cross for the first time. As you close in on the point where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean, the race will be almost over. The traditional African welcome, as you finally step ashore, will be a fitting culmination of your efforts.
ÂŁ5,000
02
Plus kit and training
SOUTH AMERICA // SOUTHERN AFRICA 1 Race 3,932mi / 6,328km Around 18 days 10 oC to 30 oC
SOUTH AMERICA
Night watches are what makes this race what it is. The challenge of the 24/7 sailing, the mini adventures, and the time to get to know one another, and develop what will hopefully be long term friendships‌ When the moon is out and the winds are good, there is nothing so beautiful and peaceful.
October 2017 - October 2017 SOUTHERN AFRICA
Julia Ramsay, Age 37 | Leg 2, 7 - Clipper 2013-14 Race
03
LEG 3 THE SOUTHERN OCEAN LEG After a Parade of Sail past waving crowds, it’s out onto the waters of one of the world’s Great Capes – Good Hope – and getting ready to face what, for many sailors, will be their ultimate challenge.
Known as the Southern Ocean Sleigh Ride, the exhilarating conditions will be some of the most testing of the circumnavigation. The fleet encountered two hurricanes and gusting winds of up to 100 knots during the 2013-14 edition. As the Cape of Good Hope falls astern, crew must stay in a channel between the light airs to the north and rapidly-deteriorating weather conditions to the south where the wind comes straight up from Antarctica. Those who get it right will see exactly what the Clipper 70s are made of; surfing downwind at more than 25 knots on swells higher than buildings. Despite the punishing conditions of the Roaring Forties, the Southern Ocean is known amongst sailors as the place to experience Mother Nature at her most raw and beautiful. A warm welcome awaits in Western Australia, known for its hospitality and endless beaches.
£6,500
03
Plus kit and training
SOUTHERN AFRICA // WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1 Races
12
5,575mi / 8,972km Around 23 days 8 oC to 28 oC
We are now in Southern Ocean below 40 degrees South and it is a place of contrasts. Over the last few days we had 70 knot wind gusts, big waves, horizontal rain, and beautiful sunshine, double rainbows, 15 knot breeze in which we surfed our heavyweight kite.
October 2017 - November 2017 WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTHERN AFRICA
Natalia Shoutova, Age 31 | RTW - Clipper 2013-14 Race
04
LEG 4 THE AUSTRALIA LEG
Leg 4 will challenge you in every way. The constant changing conditions, from brutal to mild, mean that there is no relaxing. You will be pushed mentally and physically in one of the most inhospitable parts of the planet.
The vast Australian continent sits above cold Antarctic waters where icebergs flow north. Going further south than on any other leg, Race 4 to Eastern Australia goes through one of the most inhospitable parts of the planet. After an upwind battle against the East Australian Current, you will be rewarded with the beautiful sight of Sydney Harbour. In the last two editions, Race 5 was the famous Australian offshore classic the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, “Southerly buster” storms often make it extremely cold, bumpy and challenging. After a spectacular start in Sydney Harbour with Australia’s pedigree racing yachts and a 150,000-strong crowd, the fleet will sail out into the Tasman Sea. Bass Strait (nicknamed the Paddock) has a dangerous personality. It can be dead calm or spectacularly grand. The water is relatively shallow and the winds can be strong. These two elements combined often create a steep and difficult sea. An upwind race dominated by the East Australian Current, Race 6 completes the All-Australian leg.
£6,500
04
Plus kit and training
WESTERN AUSTRALIA // EASTERN AUSTRALIA 2/3 Races 5,015mi / 8,070km Around 28 days
EASTERN AUSTRALIA
6 oC to 30 oC November 2017 - January 2018
As I write this I can hear the howling of the ocean breeze, roaring and screeching above me up on deck. It is a familiar sound, but nevertheless still one that fills me with nerves and excitement. There is a real sense of the unknown about it and as you make your way up the galley stairs and out in to the big bad world, only then do you find out what little treat nature has in store for you.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Ollie Phillips, Age 32 | RTW - Clipper 2013-14 Race
05
LEG 5 THE ASIA-PACIFIC LEG
This is one of the most testing races of the whole circumnavigation with teams pushed to their mental and physical limits.
The fleet will head north from Australia through “Cyclone Alley” into a mixture of powerful squalls, blistering temperatures and frustrating wind holes and the threat of waterspouts. Once north of the Equator the fleet will leave Papua New Guinea to port and start a light airs battle in high temperatures until they break through into the winds of the North East Monsoon. After a stop soaking up the culture of Asia, the race to China is one of extremes. The heat below decks will be difficult to cope with in the early stages. The fleet will meet challenging headwinds and, as the teams head back into a Northern Hemisphere winter, the temperatures will quickly plummet. A hero’s welcome into China awaits with Qingdao’s famous welcome ceremony attracting big crowds.
£5,800
EAST COAST, CHINA
05
Plus kit and training
EASTERN AUSTRALIA // EAST COAST, CHINA 2 Races
14
6,985mi / 11,241km Around 53 days EASTERN AUSTRALIA
0 oC to 35 oC
An overused phrase, but champagne sailing does describe the conditions we have been sailing in for the last few days. Tropical Cyclone Fina dished up some boisterous conditions for our start and our passage up the east Australian coast, but in many ways it was the best Christmas present we could have.
January 2018 - February 2018
James Clements, Age 36 | Leg 5, 6, 7 - Clipper 2013-14 Race
06
LEG 6 THE MIGHTY PACIFIC LEG Few people dare to cross the Pacific, the world’s largest ocean – and for good reason. Nothing will give you a bigger sense of achievement than overcoming its enormous waves and storms.
At times, the closest humans to you will be those on the International Space Station, giving an even greater sense of team bonding as you work as one unit to endure and overcome Mother Nature. The leg is notorious for the huge Pacific rollers that pick up yachts and allow it to surf at 30 knots down into the trough ahead, making for exhilarating helming conditions. The first key milestone will be off the southern tip of Japan. Then tactics come in to play again as Skippers are faced with the age-old dilemma: take the shortest or great circle route and risk headwinds or take the southern route which is longer, but with following wind. Keeping a competitive focus, preserving kit and looking after crew morale will be a constant challenge. In the closing stages, the variable conditions off the American coast can prove to be frustrating. Whales, sharks and turtles are some of the wildlife that can be seen on this leg, but the sight of landfall after a month at sea will perhaps be the most welcome view.
EAST COAST, CHINA
£5,000 Plus kit and training
WEST COAST, USA
06
EAST COAST, CHINA // WEST COAST, USA 2 Races 6,637mi / 10,681km Around 33 days 0 oC to 15 oC March 2018 - April 2018
Welcome to the most fearsome ocean on the planet! We have officially passed the southern tip of Japan and are heading into the big blue, watching the lights of passing ships go by while we can. We have already started thinking about a sweepstakes as to how many boats we will see during our next 30 days. Apparently they only passed one boat during the Southern Ocean Crossing. It’s going to be lonely. Mathew English, Age 20 | Leg 6 - Clipper 2013-14 Race
07
LEG 7 THE USA COAST-TO-COAST LEG Big tactical decisions, rising temperatures and easing winds characterise the all-American leg. Passing through the Panama Canal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, is also a unique experience, particularly for the engineer crew members .
The first big question is whether to take the inshore or offshore route. The Californian Current flows South, but the helping hand this gives can be counteracted by heating effects from the North American land mass which might change the winds unfavourably. The race down to the coast of Mexico should be a fast one but as the breeze becomes lighter the racing becomes more intense. Conditions near the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone - or Doldrums) could decide the final finishing positions off Panama. Once the fleet has transited the 41 nautical miles of the Panama Canal, the yachts will set off on an upwind battle north. Many sail changes will be required due to lighter winds near the Windward Passage between the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola which mark the exit from the Caribbean Sea into the Atlantic Ocean. And wind will be variable because of the depressions coming from the North American land mass. Thunderstorms are likely to provide some spectacular backdrops with the air alive with static and lightning cracking in to the sea around the finish line in the Ambrose Channel outside the Big Apple.
WEST COAST, USA
ÂŁ5,800 Plus kit and training
EAST COAST, USA
07
WEST COAST, USA // EAST COAST, USA 2 Races
16
7,115mi / 11,450km Around 38 days 15 oC to 32oC
You truly feel like you are on the edge of the world and the mind boggles at what thoughts must have haunted the likes of explorers such as Cook and Columbus. For me, not a day goes by when I don’t think I am the luckiest person alive.
April 2018 - June 2018
Charlotte Wiseman, Age 31 | Leg 7 - Clipper 2013-14 Race
08
LEG 8 THE ATLANTIC HOMECOMING LEG While this might be the homeward bound leg, there is plenty of racing still to be enjoyed. Third place on the overall race has been decided on the last race of Leg 8 on the last two Clipper Race editions. On the classic race route there is the potential for some very fast sailing.
At the Southern tip of Newfoundland are the Grand Banks, an area renowned for thick fog and light winds as the Labrador Current drags down cold water from the Arctic. The fleet will pass close to the wreck of the Titanic before heading up over the Flemish Cap – the setting for The Perfect Storm. The fleet will be on constant iceberg watch as it nears the ice fields. With final points up for grabs, there is still everything to race for as you sail into a port in Northern Europe. The penultimate race will be a short sprint to another European destination, and with your odyssey nearly complete, now is the time to reflect on your achievements. During the final race, you will cross your outward track to complete an amazing journey. Ahead lies the podium and prizegiving reception that confirms the overall winner. It will be then time to say farewell to team members who will have become friends for life.
UNITED KINGDOM
£6,500 Plus kit and training
EAST COAST, USA
08
EAST COAST, USA // UNITED KINGDOM 2/3 Races 4,894mi / 7,876km Around 22 days 15 oC to 25 oC
I signed up to the Clipper Race because I had this dream to cross the ocean for almost 15 years. The thought of being at sea without seeing any land for days in a row attracted me. And now I can say: it’s meeting my expectations.
June 2018 - July 2018
Esther Westerbeek, Age 43 | Leg 8 - Clipper 2013-14 Race
TELL YOUR STORY TO THE WORLD. As you embark on your journey of a lifetime, your family and friends will want to share in the experience with you while you race. Each yacht is equipped with a Crew Communications System on board to allow you to send and receive emails to a personal account and to make satellite telephone calls whilst at sea.
18
RACE VIEWER By checking the Clipper Round the World website regularly, family and friends can access the most up to date information on the boats’ positions via the Race Viewer. It is updated every three hours and will be active as soon as the race starts.
1
8
Designed by renowned naval architect Tony Castro, the 70-foot yachts are faster and more dynamic than before, taking the race to a new level.
9
2 3 5 7
Features include twin helms, twin rudders and a six-foot bowsprit which allows the inclusion of three large asymmetric spinnakers to complement a suite of Yankee headsails all add to increase performance and boat speed.
26
15
6 13
25
19
12
16
4 17
14
24
18
22 23 21
31
20
10
27
30
29
28
CLIPPER 70 THE BIGGEST MATCHED OCEAN RACING FLEET.
20
The tenth edition of the race will see 12 Clipper 70s making up the biggest matched ocean race fleet in the world, and of course it will make history as the biggest ever Clipper Race.
11
The state of the art hull produces better performance and control, especially in the light winds encountered near the Equator or between weather systems when crossing oceans. Crews surfing on big seas can expect to exceed 30 knots when conditions suit.
THE 70 IN DETAIL
THE GUIDED TOUR
32
1
Satellite Communication System
17
Twin Pedestal Grinders
2
Radar Scanner and GPS Antenna
18
Main Cockpit
SPECIFICATIONS
IMPERIAL
METRIC
75’6”
23m
3
A Frame
19
Boom
Length Overall
4
Transom
20
Yankee Headsail Sheet Track and Car
Beam
18’6”
5.65m
5
Pushpit
21
Main Companionway
Draft
9’10”
3m
6
Liferafts
22
Main Hatch
Mainsail Area
1,326 ft sq
123.19 m sq
7
Horshoe Float
23
Vang
Headsail Area
1,812.97 ft sq
168.43 m sq
8
Split Backstay
24
Instrument Repeaters
Asymmetric Spinnaker Area
3,555.75 ft sq
330.34 m sq
95 ft
29 m
9
Running Backstay
25
Mast
Mast Height from waterline
10
Twin Rudder
26
Shrouds
Displacement
31.19 UK long ton
31,700 kg
11
Bulb Keel
27
Stanchion
Bulb Keel
11.81 UK long ton
12,000 kg
12
Twin Helm
28
Guardwire
13
Twin Compass Binnacle
29
Foredeck Hatch
14
Traveller
30
Staysail Sheet Track and Car
15
Main Sheet
31
Inner Forestay
16
Main Sheet Winch
32
Forestay
33
Pulpit
34
Bowsprit
35
Bobstay
33
G
34
35
F
E
BELOW DECK
C
F D
A
Navigation Area
B
Crew Bunk
C
Galley
D
Wet Locker
E
Saloon
F
Heads (Toilet) X2
G
Sail and Rope Storage
A
B
BOWMAN
A CLIPPER 70 IS NOT A PLACE FOR THE FAINT HEARTED OR WORK-SHY.
Runs the foredeck which means being involved in most manoeuvres during racing. They call the distance to the start line and can be seen climbing out on the spinnaker pole looking like Spiderman. The bowman gets colder and wetter more often than anyone else. This is the high adrenaline, all action role on the boat.
There are a lot of roles to play on deck. Your race team will be trained to be a self-sufficient unit, capable of taking care of any situation, no matter what the conditions. As well as the roles listed opposite, you will also learn how to be a plumber, electrician, tactician, navigator, cleaner, IT specialist, baker, sail repairer, weather forecaster and medic.
22
TRIMMERS They are pictures of concentration, watching the sails and commanding the grinders. They keep the boat moving fast, consistently fine tuning the sails to make the most of every change in wind speed and direction. Lose focus and you lose miles.
MID BOWMAN
MASTMAN
PITMAN
GRINDER
Backs up the bowman, prepares the sails in readiness for hoisting and is involved with all sail changes. Imagine being on a roller coaster while icy water is thrown in your face – that’s what mid bow can sometimes feel like! Anticipates what those in the cockpit are doing and what the bowman needs.
Passes communication from the cockpit to the bow, hoists the sails, works the grinder, sweats, lifts, carries, never complains. The hired muscle – with added intellect!
The person that makes everything happen. They control the halyards, anticipate the bowman, mastman and mid bow. The boat psychic. Great organisational skills, always calm under pressure, can do ten things at once.
The power house. The grinders control the sheets, trimming the sails constantly with every wind shift, every course alteration. They work the coffee grinder which turns the primary winches which pull the sheets which alter the shape of the sails. They are the people you see on their knees with bright red faces after every tack!
RUNNING BACKSTAY
HELMSMAN
MOTHER WATCH
WATCH LEADERS
A vital and often under valued job. With wind filling the headsails putting tonnes of forward pressure on the mast, the backstay provides an essential opposite force and this needs to be changed on every tack. It also impacts on sail trim and if the crew member doesn’t time everything right, the mast will come down. So it’s a vital role to get right!
In constant communication with everyone on deck, anticipating boat movement, waves and wind to drive the boat as fast as possible.
As with every role on board, the crews will take turns in fulfilling every task. Cooking and cleaning is no exception and providing tasty, nutritious and hot meals in a galley that is bucking and rolling delivers a real morale booster. A happy crew is a fast crew but if all you can offer is some cold baked beans because you are feeling uncomfortable, don’t be surprised to see heads drop and miles lost.
Chosen by the skipper, who may choose to rotate the position on each race or leg. They ensure that the skipper’s tactics are being followed and that the on-watch is rotated around the roles, all the while ensuring that concentration levels remain high and maximum boat speed is achieved at all times.
They need to be at one with the boat and the ocean and it takes a mixture of strength, delicate touch, concentration and anticipation to do the job well.
AROUND FORTY PERCENT OF CREW HAVE NEVER SAILED BEFORE. A core element of the Clipper Race experience is our pioneering training programme that enables novices and skilled yachts-people to tackle the most challenging situations on the planet.
24
We take the lessons from having raced more than three million miles, and apply them to our global training courses, constantly updating material to ensure our crews are trained to the highest level.
The most important skill you’ll learn is being part of a multi-disciplined high performance team that will function in every condition that Mother Nature can throw.
Working with our professional skippers and mates, you will live onboard 68-foot and 70-foot yachts. From day one you will build teams, learn the ropes, cook, clean and race. On top of that you’ll learn the basics of yacht maintenance and management, racing tactics, survival at sea and weather routing.
There are four levels of compulsory intensive training, delivered at our headquarters in Hampshire, UK and our training hub in Sydney, Australia.
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 1
CREWING SKILLS
To be a great sailor, you first need to be a safe and competent sailor. During week one you will be pushed to your physical limits. You’ll understand just how well you will be able to function while cold, wet and tired.
How to live at a 45-degree angle for prolonged periods while racing. You’ll learn to work in a watch system, race with broken sleep as you sail through the night. You will be amazed at how the skills you learnt on Level 1 come back to you. Not quite like riding a bike, more like riding a bucking bronco – in a washing machine.
As your skill and confidence levels increase so will the demands we place on you so that when you race for real, you will do things right first time and quickly. We will help you build your confidence and stretch your comfort zone. The Clipper 70s fly asymmetric spinnakers, which are great fun, fast, furious and rewarding. The flip side is that it is more technical, more demanding and more physical. Here you will really hone your sailing skills. Everything will be about sail trim, making the boat go faster and understanding the weather systems that you’re racing in.
LEVEL 4
LEVEL 3
As part of the selection process you need to successfully complete Level 1 before you’re guaranteed a place on the Clipper Race.
ASYMMETRIC SPINNAKER TRAINING AND RACING TECHNIQUES
OFFSHORE SAILING AND LIFE ONBOARD
TEAM TACTICS AND OFFSHORE FLEET RACING
You’re almost there; you can feel the Race Start. Now it’s time to put the final touches to your pre-race training. Here you will train with your skipper and team while racing against the rest of the Clipper Race fleet. You will practice Race Starts, build and really get to know your team and importantly start to work on a psychological edge over your rivals. There are no race points at stake during Level 4 – but you’d better believe that the race has started. Imagine the feeling as you win practice race after practice race.
RACING There are as many reasons to participate as there are crew - to learn, to discover, to challenge, to encourage.
PERHAPS THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF ALL IS THE THRILL OF WINNING.
The Clipper 2017-18 Race is the event’s eleventh edition. By the 20th anniversary, over 4,000 race crew will have competed in around 140 races. Whether it marks an ocean crossing or the pace of the iconic Sydney-Hobart, each race is marked in true celebratory style, watched on by the world’s media.
26
RACING As a member of the Clipper Race crew, you’ll be taking on one of the greatest challenges on Earth, testing your wits, skills and courage in an endurance race across the toughest oceans. At the same time, children around the world are experiencing even more dangerous challenges.
TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP BUILD A SAFER WORLD FOR CHILDREN.
Millions of children are facing violence, disease, hunger and the chaos of war and disaster. This is wrong and the Clipper Race is helping Unicef to change it. Unicef is proud to be the first Official Charity for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, bringing together two global brands working in partnership to help keep children around the world safe. You’ll be raising vital funds for Unicef’s work for children and participate in activation opportunities pre-race and at each stop-over port.
We are delighted that the Clipper Race is helping us build a safer world for children.
Catherine Cottrell | Deputy Executive Director at Unicef
CREW FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE OF A LIFETIME.
COULD YOU?
28
01
ABOUT YOU Name
Address Line 1
Gender
Date of Birth D D - M M - Y Y Y
Y
Male
Address Line 2 Female
Dietary Preference (e.g. Vegetarian)
County / State / Province
Country
Nationality
Passport Number
Post Code / Zip Code
Occupation
Company
Telephone (Home/Mobile)
Marital Status
PLEASE ENSURE YOU COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS IN BLOCK CAPITALS
Town
Children
Single
Married
Divorced
Widowed
Civil Partnership
Telephone (Work)
Yes No
I am happy for you to contact me at work
Any existing medical conditions? (e.g. Diabetes)
Please only contact me at work in an emergency Email
02
YOUR EXPERIENCE Have you sailed before? Yes
Where did you first hear about the Clipper Race?
No
Please give a brief description of any sailing experience and any relevant qualifications (e.g. RYA Coastal Skipper) Please attach a passport photo here
Do you have any additional qualifications or skills that you feel would be beneficial to your application - such as medical, mechanical, electrical, computing, electronics, sail making?
If you are only interested in applying for Clipper 2019-20 Race please tick here
(sign this 2017-18 edition form and we’ll get the ball rolling)
02
I'M
YOUR EXPERIENCE - CONTINUED Describe the biggest challenge that you have faced?
Please accept my application for a selection interview for a crew place in the Clipper 17-18 Round the World Yacht Race. I enclose a cheque for £100 made payable to Clipper Ventures Plc and understand that the following will apply: What are you looking to get out of taking part in the Clipper Race?
1. That in the event of my application being successful the £100 will be credited to my final invoice. 2. That in the event of my application being unsuccessful, the company will refund £75 with £25 being retained to cover administration costs.
03
3. That in the event of my being offered a place as a crew member on the race which I subsequently do not take up for whatever reason, I will forfeit the £100 registration fee.
CLIPPER 17-18 RACE FEES Please tick to indicate which part of the race you would like to be considered for. Individual legs and compulsory training package:
TRAINING PACKAGE
I accept that I will be responsible for covering all travel, accommodation and other costs incurred in attending the selection interview. Signed
£5,500 (Compulsory)
26 days of pre race race training and branded crew clothing package
LEG 1
£6,500
UK – Western European Port – South America
LEG 2
£5,000
South America – South Africa
LEG 3
£6,500
South Africa – West Coast of Australia
LEG 4
£6,500
West Coast of Australia – Australia – East Coast of Australia
LEG 5
£5,800
East Coast of Australia – Asia
LEG 6
£5,000
Asia – West Coast of North America
LEG 7
£5,800
West Coast of North America – Panama – East Coast of North America
LEG 8
£6,500
East Coast of North America – Canada – Ireland – European Port – UK
Name (block capitals)
Date
Send your completed application and interview payment to:
OR
Clipper Race HQ, Granary & Bakery Building, Royal Clarence Yard, Weevil Lane, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1FX United Kingdom. +44 (0) 2392 526 000 or info@clipper-ventures.com
The full circumnavigation:
AROUND THE WORLD
£49,500
Includes pre-race training package and branded crew clothing
Total cost of berth (training package plus cost of legs)
£
I’d like to receive more information about Unicef’s work for children in danger around the world.
Unless you live in Australia or New Zealand, then please send it to: Clipper Ventures Australia, Suite 546, Level 5, 203-233 New South Head Road, Edgecliff, NSW 2027, Australia +61 (0) 2 9363 2020 or Australia@clipper-ventures.com
SPEAK TO THE TEAM If you want to know anything else about the race speak to the recruitment team, made up of adventurous types who have already done the race. Email: oceanracer@clipperroundtheworld.com Call: +44 (0)2392 526000 Email: australia@clipper-ventures.com Call: +61 (0) 2 9363 2020
WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THE RACE OF YOUR LIFE.
Q
What are you looking for in a crew member? There is no ideal person or typical crew member. We have had every age between 18 and 73 on the race and more than 40 nationalities and experiences ranging from complete novice through to Yachtmaster. What is crucial is your level of desire, determination and enthusiasm. You need to be a team player and someone who is tolerant, forgiving, understanding and supportive. If you have these soft skills we can turn you into an accomplished ocean racer.
Q
Does it matter that I’m not a sailor, doctor or engineer? Not at all. Being good with people and being self-aware is far more important. We get lots of doctors, nurses, vets, engineers and experienced sailors. Having unique and interesting life experiences and stories to share is just as important.
Q
How fit do I need to be?
Q
Everyone coming to the Clipper Race has a different level of fitness and different idea of what fit means. Training will show you what areas you need to work on. Everything on the Clipper Race yacht is big and heavy and so teamwork and technique are just as important as brute strength. You will get fit on the race – burning 5,000 calories a day.
Q
How are people allocated to teams? Not only are the yachts identical we also make sure that the crew is matched so it is still an even and competitive race. We spread the ages, experiences, vocations and nationalities across the fleet. Of course if you have a particular yacht that you would like to represent please tell us. But we cannot guarantee being able to grant your request.
How do people deal with seasickness?
Q
Trial and error. Everyone finds a different remedy that works for them. This might be as basic as over the counter medicine. If you take this route, then take a tablet before you sail and during the first 24 hours so it’s in your system while you’re gaining your sea legs. You can then stop. Other people go for herbal remedies like ginger, wrist bands that apply pressure to key points and even cotton wool in the ears. When you find a solution that works – stop experimenting. The worst case scenario is you feel terrible for 48 hours and then your body adjusts and you’re ok again.
What happens in port? You take care of your boat. If you’re not ready to race when you cross the start line, you’ve already lost. You need to take care of cleaning, maintenance, re-provisioning and race planning. You can then get some down time, see the sights and catch your breath.
Q
How much personal kit can I take? As a team you will make that decision. Everything you do is a fine balance between having enough and having too much. Too much adds weight and slows the boat down. Not enough means you are cold, wet and demoralised. Somewhere between 20 and 30kgs of kit is typical.
Q
How flexible is the training? Very. We run course most weeks of the year and you can plan well ahead of time. You will soon find training dates online so can plan around your own projects, holidays, family and other commitments.
Q
Can family and friends get involved? Your team can set up a ‘supporters’ page to share stories and information, or organise in port get togethers if they are travelling to meet you in any of the stopover destinations. Onboard there is a telephone system to allow you to send/ receive emails at sea and make outgoing telephone calls.
AROUND THE WORLD Our website features an interactive race viewer tracking the latest positions and news from onboard each yacht. Our social channels, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are continually updated with the latest race news, positions and videos from onboard the Clipper Race fleet.
For further information please contact Tel: +44 (0) 2392 526000 Fax: +44 (0) 2392 526252 E mail: hq@clipper-ventures.com
clipperroundtheworld.com
Facebook/clipperroundtheworld Twitter/clipperrace YouTube/clipperrtw linkedin.com/company/clipper-ventures