​A festive season like no other

Clipper Race crew who are circumnavigating the world or racing on Leg 4 of the adventure get the unique opportunity to spend the festive season, including Christmas Day and the New Year, at sea.

Image: Looking for Santa

On each race edition, 200+ crew swap a traditional Christmas dinner and gatherings with family for a day spent on board a 70-foot yacht. Whilst the world shops for Christmas gifts and decorates the house, Clipper Race crew will be racing over 2,500 nautical miles from Western Australia to the country’s East Coast with their new ‘boat family’ - people from all walks of life and corners of the globe sharing the same adventure. The yachts are completely stripped back with no creature comforts, but teams still manage to get creative and bring the festive spirit, creating a truly unique Christmas that they’ll talk about for years to come.

Image: Cooking up a storm in the galley for Christmas Dinner on board Bekezela

Christmas dinner is cooked in a tiny galley and shared with 20 others, whilst living life at a 40-degree angle, sleeping in bunks, and battling challenging ocean conditions. Below deck is decked out with tinsel and crew exchange Secret Santa presents whilst donning festive costumes, playing Christmas music and carolling as they race through the Roaring Forties.

Communication with back home is very limited on board (no WhatsApp!) so on the last edition, the Clipper Race Communications Team arranged for surprise videos from family and friends to be played to each crew member on Christmas Day, making for an emotional surprise from loved ones from afar.

Laura Hampton, age 22, from Northern Ireland, was the First Mate on board the UNICEF boat said: “Christmas at sea has been special, from seeing a southern right whale surface five metres from our deck, to the joy on each of our crew’s faces as we celebrated was a delight. We are now over a quarter of our way around the globe and loved watching a video sent to us with messages from our loved ones, with many of the crew tearing up. Sailing around the world or taking on a leg is a massive achievement for each of us, we are so thankful to our family and friends who support us, enabling us to leave our homes and be miles offshore at such a special time.

“We are immensely blessed to be here, at 44 degrees south, racing towards Tasmania on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht. Being out here has given each of us a deep appreciation for the joy of people in our lives, and the luxuries of life on land.”

Image: Christmas on board UNICEF

Ryan Gibson, the Skipper of Dare To Lead reported back in a Skipper Blog about the Christmas celebrations on board:

“Even though we are in the Roaring Forties a few days sail south of Australia, we managed a fantastic Christmas on board. Thanks again to Sean, Gary and everyone else that helped. It started at 0300am Christmas morning with Santa placing stockings full of yummy snacks near everyone's bunk, followed by three unbelievable meals throughout the day- including a three-course lunch together in the cockpit - everyone receiving gifts from the Secret Santa we arranged, and a Christmas quiz to finish up the day. We even had a big bonus that the weather was great the entire day, with sunny consistent winds and easy spinnaker helming. I can't say the same for Christmas Eve which turned out to be an extremely difficult and exhausting night so yesterday was just perfect!”

Image: Santa making an appearance

Pippa Jephcott, a crew member from Devon who raced on board Perseverance said: “Christmas on the boat feels special; I like lying in my bunk when I’m off watch and hearing the bustle and noise of on board activities mingling with the Christmas music playing in the background. I have quite a small family, so this feels like a big family get together, but without all the hype and pressure. Well...except to sail well!”

Image: Crew watching video messages from loved ones

Ella Hebron, First Mate on Washington, DC reported from the race: “It was a very special Christmas day and one I won't forget. I would like to thank all the crew for helping to create such a festive and jolly atmosphere on board. For a day that could have been a sad day for some, every crew member had a smile on their face and had a laugh. It's not often that we all spend a few hours together as a crew while sailing and it reminded me of the amazing people that surround me on the journey.”

The next edition of the race is set to begin in the late summer of 2025, with a new crew of circumnavigators and Leg 4 sailors set to experience the festive season with their boat family whilst at sea next year. Fancy joining? Spaces for 2025-26 edition adventurers are available.