Familiar faces return for Clipper Race adventure round two

More than 3,300 crew members from around the world have taken part in the Clipper Race since the pioneering crew set sail back in 1996. With the 2015-16 race edition setting sail in just 39 days, a record ten former crew members are preparing to make their Clipper Race returns.

Australian Ross Ham, pictured in headline image, will be the first double circumnavigator in the history of the race. Ross, retired from Brisbane, Australia says: “I loved competing in the Clipper 2013-14 Race. I didn’t want it to end. My family tell me that its basic and regimented life with constant activity fits me like a glove, and so it was meant to be.

“You never know what is next on the race – it is so stimulating. There are many ups and downs, mainly dictated by the weather. This time, the basic learning curve of how to race a Clipper 70 will already be known, so I will be able to help others get a feel for the ropes sooner. I get a lot of satisfaction from teaching others on board.”

Patrick ‘Paddy’ Hayes, a 51-year-old Gas Engineer Plumber from Cheshire, UK, completed Legs 2, 3 , 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the last edition of the race, and is returning to take part in Leg 3 and 4 in the 2015-16 race edition.

"I am currently working frantically to keep customers happy so as I can join the next edition of one of the greatest journeys on offer on this planet. I want to relive the greatest adventure I have undertaken so far,” says Paddy, pictured below.

Clipper 2007-08 Race Leg 5 crew member, Adrian Carey says that ever since racing across the Pacific, he has wanted to cross the Atlantic so is returning to take part in Leg 8 of the upcoming edition.

“I knew nothing about sailing before my previous race and learnt the basics, I have completed my training now for the new race and feel that more of the subtle technicalities have been understood. There is so much to learn about navigation, race tactics and engineering and I hope that my knowledge will develop during the course of the actual race,” says Adrian, a 57-year-old Company Director from Oxfordshire, UK.

“By far the most important aspect of the last race for me was my daughter meeting one of my fellow crew mates at a post-race reunion at my house. They fell in love, got married, produced a wonderful grandson and have another baby on the way. I can’t expect such a special result from the next race, but you never know!”

(Adrian and fellow crew member Harry Smith pictured above surfing the Pacific during the 2007-08 edition.)

Sasha Bonus, a 46-year-old Canadian Clipper 2013-14 Race circumnavigator is returning to take part in Legs 1 to 5. She says: “As soon as the race was over I knew I wanted to do it again. I really like the challenges of these particular legs because it embodies great sailing and epic conditions. I really enjoyed them last time.

“Sailing and racing is my passion," continues Sasha. "I want to be out there for as long as I can be. I grew up sailing but took a long break from it. When I heard about this race I knew right away it was for me. I fell in love with offshore sailing.”

When asked what her family thinks about her return to the race, Sasha adds: “They think I'm twice as crazy now! But they are all very supportive and proud of me.”

“I decided to do the race again as this will probably be my last chance of doing a full circumnavigation,” says Mike Morgan from Wiltshire, UK, who took part in the 2009-10 edition of the race.

“Sailing round the world was an objective I set myself on my 50th birthday in 2000. I am now in a different place personally than I was in 2009. I am also approaching this race with a more relaxed frame of mind.”

Mike says that his partner has been bitten by the Clipper Race bug too and hopes to travel to the various ports of call to meet him.

“I am looking forward to the sight of Killer Whales off the South American coast, dolphins like green torpedoes streaking towards the boat at night and the sight of whales keeping formation with the boat.”

(Mike pictured at the helm in the Clipper 2009-10 Race)

Also returning to take part in the race this year are 2009-10 crew member Rob Eley, a 60-year-old retired business director from Derbyshire, UK, and 53-year old American Physician, Dmitri Guvakov from the 2011-12 edition. They will be joined by 2013-14 crew members Clodagh Whelan, a 51-year-old Business Development Director from Dublin, Ireland, 54-year-old Company Director Mark Cooper based in Brisbane, Australia and John Curtis, a 55 year-old MD from Wiltshire, UK.

2007-08 Alumni race crew member Gordon Lawson will also take part again. “I took part in the race intending to circumnavigate the world,” he said.

“Most regrettably my father died during the race and I came home for a period missing the races from Singapore to Qingdao and from there to Santa Cruz. I always planned to go back and complete my circumnavigation when circumstances would permit. The Clipper Race investing in the new Clipper 70s provided me with a reason to think that the ideal time to do this is now.”

Talking about the upcoming race, 58-year-old CFO Gordon from Edinburgh, UK says: “I feel I will be better prepared for the highs and lows of ocean sailing. The lack of sleep, privacy, hygiene, discomfort, variable quality and choice of food all compensated by the great feelings that come from overcoming all of this in the company of people who become life-long friends.

“Driving over 12 tons of boat down waves at 12 knots plus is an exhilarating feeling that you can never get enough of.

“I can’t wait to get to know all of the most recent Clipper Race crew on our own boat and on all of the other boats. It is very competitive on the water but once in port the camaraderie amongst the crews from the different boats is fantastic. The shared challenges that have been overcome with different measures of success brings about a great bond I am looking forward to experiencing again,” he adds.

If you would like to race the world’s oceans, we are now recruiting for the Clipper 2017-18 Race. Please get in touch via the apply section of the website to find out more.