Seattle Sailors Share Inspiration and Ambition for the Clipper Race

This race changes you.

With the Clipper Race stopover in Seattle coming to an end, two local Seattleite sailors have been reflecting on their journeys with the race - one looking back on a life-changing adventure, the other preparing to take on the challenge of a lifetime.

Image: Clipper 2025-26 Race fleet departing Seattle

Brian Arnold from Madrona in Seattle raced Leg 8 of the last edition and is back at the marina. This time as a visitor, not crew. Standing beside his old yacht, CV29, now racing as Team Warrant, the memories came flooding back.

It's giving me chills to be back and seeing my team yacht CV29, which was called PSP Logistics last time. So excited to be around the boats again and I am looking forward to climbing on board and finding my old bunk!

Image: Brian Arnold pictured back row, fourth from the right

As many former Race Crew will concur, the friendships forged at sea have proved enduring; Brian has teamed up with five fellow Clipper Race veterans for a race to Alaska in June. He explained:

A lot of your crew become like family, it's the kinship that never ends. We are always connected.

Renee Hediger has made multiple visits to the yachts in Bell Harbor Marina, to soak in as much of the Clipper Race energy as possible having already signed up for the full circumnavigation during next edition of the race which starts in August 2027. Each visit has only deepened his excitement. Speaking during a visit, he says:

It's so special to live in a host city. I've met some crew members and some of the Race Skippers. It's really exciting and makes me even more excited to be a part of it.

The journey to signing up began with a call from his brother two years ago. After watching the YouTube channel and the My Story series, Renee was all in. He heads to the UK at the end of May for the first two levels of compulsory race training and in the meantime, is hitting the gym, studying navigation theory and reading up on sail trim.

On his time spent with the race during the stopover in Seattle, he added:

Being here has just confirmed I have no regrets about signing up at all.

The Clipper Race has just completed its fifth consecutive stopover in Seattle, making it the most frequented US city in Clipper Race history. It also marked ten years of partnership and four editions with a Clipper Race team representing city.

The teams are now gearing up for the next challenge, Stage 10: Warrant’s West Coast Challenge to Panama.

To find out more about the Clipper Race and how to apply, head to the Application Overview page.