Fast conditions, fierce competition: The South Atlantic Challenge

Leg 2 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, The South Atlantic Challenge, is a 3,500 nautical mile (nm) single-race ocean crossing from South America to South Africa. Taking approximately 18 days to complete, it is the leg where Clipper Race teams begin to find their rhythm at sea and where the race can really open up. It is also the shortest leg of the circumnavigation.

After the intensity and achievement of Leg 1, teams head back offshore armed with valuable ocean miles behind them. Watch systems feel more natural, communication on deck sharpens and the experience gained in the opening stages starts to translate into more considered tactical decisions. 

But Leg 2 also brings its own identity; it's a leg known for big energy, tactical racing, and some of the most exhilarating sailing conditions of the entire circumnavigation - without the freezing temperatures associated with the South Indian and North Pacific Oceans. The South Atlantic serves up big swells and features the trade winds, with boat speeds exceeding 20 knots. Spinnakers feature heavily during this race, offering great opportunities for teams to hone their spinnaker handling skills to secure big race points.

In what was described as “a race that was nothing short of phenomenal” by Race Director Dale Smyth during the 2025-26 edition, Leg 2 also brings exhilarating downwind sailing, relentless waves and fast conditions for teams to surf towards Africa.

Speaking in a race report during Leg 2, Power of Seattle Sports Skipper Angela Brandsma said:

It is beautiful sailing. Yesterday we had up to 30 knots. The waves are building, we are expecting up to six metres, and gusts are about 38 knots. We are enjoying the ride!

Taking teams around 18 days to complete, Leg 2 is not a leg for any complacency; despite the shorter distance (compared to other legs) racing is competitive and in previous editions, there have been photo finishes over the line in Cape Town. 

It is also one of the more accessible stages of the race for those balancing adventure with work and personal commitments. It offers a complete offshore racing experience, high-speed sailing, tactical competition, life at sea and an iconic arrival, within a relatively concise timeframe.

“When we finished Leg 2 and saw Table Mountain, we didn’t want to get off,” said Christin Schulz.

For some crew, the allure of Cape Town at the Finish Line ticks off a new destination on the bucket list, “When we finished Leg 2 and saw Table Mountain, we didn’t want to get off,” said Christin Schulz.

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For others, like Marcus Dayton, it presents a rare opportunity to race into their hometown. 

Marcus, a 46-year-old customer relations manager from Cape Town, set sail with Team London Business School from Portsmouth, UK, and raced over 10,000nm to his hometown, spending over 50 days at sea. On arrival in Cape Town, he said:

I’m feeling hella proud! Three months away from home doing the Clipper Race Training and then back-to-back legs, racing, becoming a shellback, arriving in Uruguay and then taking on the South Atlantic and arriving in my hometown and it’s super exciting to be here. This is my home, and I love this country, it’s a beautiful place with incredibly exciting people. This morning, someone came and woke me in my bunk, and I came on deck to a very familiar sight. It felt amazing.

Whether teams are chasing podium positions, testing themselves in powerful South Atlantic conditions or fulfilling a lifelong ambition to sail into Cape Town, Leg 2 offers a unique blend of intensity, adventure and achievement. Fast and tactical, it is a race that gives crew an all-round Clipper Race experience in one leg.