Marlow Ropes signs as Clipper Ventures Partner

Marlow Ropes signs four-year deal as Official Rope Supplier across Clipper Ventures, starting with the new Clipper RX fleet 

Marlow Ropes, a global leader in high-performance rope technology, has signed a new four-year agreement to become a Clipper Ventures partner for the first time. The deal takes a relationship of more than two decades with the Clipper Race and extends it across the wider Clipper Ventures umbrella. 

As Official Rope Supplier, Marlow will supply the new Clipper RX fleet for the Clipper 2027-28 and 2029-30 Races, and for the first time the partnership will also supply Hamble School of Yachting, Clipper Events, SKIRR Adventures and Clipper China. 

The new Clipper RX fleet begins with a rigging specification that has already proved itself race after race. Marlow has taken the Clipper 70 spec as its baseline, with the same ropes and the same physical spec. Mast height and length are similar and the boat is only slightly beamier, so nothing needed to change after the first trial sail. What is new is the deck hardware: the RX fleet carries all-new jammers and hardwear across the fleet. Marlow load-tested them at its own facility, cycling lines, taking them to maximum load and pushing them to near-failure. Real conditions cannot be replicated on a test bed, and line lengths may be tweaked as sailing hours build up before the race start. 

The rigging performed incredibly well in practice, standing up to the demands of a tough global race and delivering reliable performance from start to finish,” said Greg North, Head of Fleet Maintenance at Clipper Ventures.

Marlow Ropes being involved with the RX project from the outset has helped us test and refine the new specification, drawing experience from our setups that have already proven themselves race after race.

For the most heavily worn lines, the spec builds on an upgrade made last edition. Marlow has moved the spinnaker sheets and main halyard on the Clipper 70s to a Technora and polyester blended jacket, which gives better grip and greater resistance to abrasion and heat than standard polyester. Elsewhere, the running rigging continues to use recycled polyester (rPET) for its covers over a Dyneema® core made with Bio-circular feed stock. 

“There is nothing like real-world testing,” said Paul Honess, Leisure Marine Sales Director at Marlow Ropes.

The Clipper Race provides an unrivalled environment, allowing our products to perform in some of the most demanding conditions on the planet. Working closely with crews, skippers and technical teams, we can gather valuable feedback and insights that help us continually refine our products and develop the next generation of rope technology.

The new agreement widens Marlow’s role across all pillars of Clipper Ventures: 

Hamble School of Yachting: The school’s fleet is rigged with Marlow ropes. Marlow will also support training with knot-tying boards and display materials, plus presentations on rope materials to help instructors and trainees understand their lines better.

Clipper Events: Clipper yachts competing at events such as the Round the Island Race and the Fastnet will carry Marlow lines under a structured agreement, with branding on the boats. 

Clipper China: The Clipper 7 and Clipper 12 fleets, built and sailed in China, will carry Marlow lines. This supports Marlow’s growth in one of its priority markets and its distributor there. 

"People and knowledge are equally important,” Paul added.

Through crew training, technical support and direct engagement with sailors, Marlow can share its expertise while learning from those who use our products at sea.

SKIRR Adventures: High latitude sailing, with voyages of more than 4,000 nautical miles from Gosport to Iceland and Greenland via Scotland. The Clipper 68 yachts used on these Arctic expeditions are adapted for extreme cold and remote waters, and will carry Marlow lines. These conditions give Marlow another demanding test environment, where reliability matters. 

Sustainability remains a key pillar of the partnership.

“The agreement provides opportunities to work alongside the Clipper Race on sustainability initiatives, events and research and development, creating a platform to explore practical solutions and share knowledge across the sport.” 

“We are proud to continue our partnership with the Clipper Race,” said Paul, “extending a relationship that brings together two organisations united by a passion for performance, innovation, learning and sustainability.” 

More than two decades together means Marlow Ropes understands our operations. Having that expertise across the business brings consistency, simplifies support and carries valuable experience into the RX fleet.