5 Sep 2022

Q&A: Former Clipper Race Skipper takes on Golden Globe Race

Former Clipper Race Skipper Guy Waites is taking on one of the most remarkable sailing challenges on the planet - the Golden Globe Race. It’s a challenge that is close to the heart of the Clipper Race. Its first edition propelled Founder and Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to fame when he was the only entrant to complete it in 1969.…

15 Sep 2019

Skipper thoughts ahead of Race 2: The Commordore’s Cup

After an extremely tough first race, it is time to focus on Race 2: The Commodore’s Cup and the first ocean crossing of the 2019-20 circumnavigation. GoToBermuda Skipper David ‘Wavy’…

14 Sep 2019

Uruguayan Ambassador visits Punta del Este Team in Portimão

There may be 5,185 nautical miles between Clipper Race Host Ports Portimão and Punta del Este, but the two cities have been brought closer than ever after the Uruguayan Ambassador…

31 Aug 2019

Skipper Thoughts ahead of Race 1

The Clipper 2019-20 Race Skippers have had their penultimate meeting ahead of the Race Departure ceremony from St. Katharine Docks, London tomorrow afternoon. After a busy week of naming ceremonies,…

18 Apr 2019

Meet the Clipper 2019-20 Race Skipper: Mark Burkes

With all eleven Clipper 2019-20 Race Skippers now revealed, we are bringing you a closer introduction into their background and personalities, and what they might be like to race under on board. Here’s what you need to know about Mark Burkes. Throughout his 17-year professional sailing career, Mark Burkes has already ticked off many bucket list items in sailing. His…

17 Apr 2019

MEET THE CLIPPER 2019-20 RACE SKIPPER: Seumas Kellock

With all eleven Clipper 2019-20 Race Skippers now revealed, it’s time to find out more about them as individuals. Here’s what you need to know about Seumas Kellock. Becoming a…

26 Dec 2017

Skipper Thoughts ahead of Race 5: The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Since arriving in Sydney following an intense and thrilling first stage of All-Australian Leg preparations have been building for Race 5: The Rolex Sydney Hobart. Before the teams slipped lines we caught up with Skippers to get their thoughts ahead of the iconic race. With Sanya Serenity Coast Skipper, Wendy Tuck, claiming hometown line honours in Race 4 and about…

13 Sep 2017

Andy Woodruff Named as Interim Greenings Skipper

Following the medevac of Greenings’ Skipper David Hartshorn early in Race 1, we can today announce that Andy Woodruff will be taking over leadership of the team until David is…

6 Jul 2017

HotelPlanner.com Skipper Announced

"It’s really exciting to be named as the Skipper for the HotelPlanner.com team,” says Conall Morrison, who has today been announced as the HotelPlanner.com Skipper for the Clipper 2017-18 Race.…

3 Jul 2017

Clipper Race Skipper Replacement

In an unscheduled change to the Skipper line up for the upcoming Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race, British sailor Dale Smyth will take over as Skipper of the…

18 May 2017

Visit Seattle skipper revealed

“I'm thrilled to be appointed as the Visit Seattle Skipper for the 2017-18 race edition,” says Nikki Henderson after being confirmed as the leader of the Seattle entry in the…

9 May 2017

Qingdao Skipper Revealed

With less than four months to go before race start, it’s time for the first team Skipper to be revealed. And first off the block is German yachtsman Chris Kobusch,…

4 Apr 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Rob Graham

Already a familiar face to many, Rob Graham first became involved in the Clipper Race when his partner completed the full circumnavigation in the 2009-10 edition. Eight years on, it’s…

3 Apr 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper David Hartshorn

Looking at his qualifications and experience, many would be surprised to learn sailing is a second career for David Hartshorn. David, 52, was born and raised in Wales and spent…

31 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Nikki Henderson

At 23, Nicola ‘Nikki’ Henderson, from Guildford is set to be the Clipper Race’s youngest ever skipper, by over a year, meaning she will take over the title from Alex…

30 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Conall Morrison

After years of dreaming about it, Conall Morrison is finally about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime as a Clipper Race Skipper. The 35-year-old from Derry-Londonderry, in Northern…

29 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Rick Powell

Rick Powell spent much of his childhood fiddling with broken motorbikes and garden machinery but the qualified engineer has turned his back on a career as a mechanic in favour…

28 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Chris Kobusch

Chris Kobusch, 32, from Herford, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, started sailing a decade ago when he left school and moved to Cape Town, South Africa to work as a volunteer in…

24 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Gaëtan Thomas

This summer Gaëtan Thomas will make history as the first Belgian Skipper to lead a team around the world in the Clipper Race. The 29 year old from Brussels, Belgium,…

23 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Wendy Tuck

For Wendy ‘Wendo’ Tuck, one race around the world was never going to be enough. And as a result, she’s set to make history in the Clipper 2017-18 Race as…

22 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Lance Shepherd

Lance Shepherd began sailing on Lake Windermere at the age of 14 with his local Scout group and has never looked back. For Lance, who has followed the Clipper Round…

21 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Andy Burns

Andy Burns began sailing Toppers as a schoolboy on Covenham Reservoir in Lincolnshire. By the age of twelve, his passion for water sports and drive to succeed saw him set…

17 Mar 2017

Meet Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper Roy Taylor

When it comes to offering original words of wisdom for the Clipper Race crew ahead of their ocean odyssey, Roy Taylor might just take first prize for his favourite saying:…

19 Dec 2016

Dan Smith shortlisted for Scottish Performance Award

Daniel Smith, Derry~Londonderry~Doire Skipper, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Performance of the Year award at the RYA Scotland Annual Awards following his team’s second place finish. On his nomination,…

6 Dec 2016

Olivier Cardin given special honour at French Sailing Awards

Clipper 2015-16 Race winning skipper Olivier Cardin was recognised with a special award at last night’s French Sailing Federation’s flagship award ceremony, the Soiree des Champions. The awards, held in…

10 Mar 2016

China Calls for Qingdao Skipper

Every race edition, sailing into Qingdao has proven a memorable experience for the Clipper Race fleet. Each team takes to the stage for an individual Welcome Ceremony and are treated…

17 Jan 2016

Skipper Change for Unicef

Jim Prendergast is to stand down as skipper of Unicef. Although he had reported to Airlie Beach following treatment for kidney stones, he subsequently felt he couldn’t continue and has…

27 Jul 2015

Da Nang-Vietnam Team Skipper Revealed

A special contract signing ceremony today in Vietnam has finalised the agreement for Da Nang to be a Team Sponsor and the official South East Asia Host Port of the…

14 Jul 2015

Help us support children in danger

Unicef is the official Clipper 2015-16 Race Charity and also has a team entry which will highlight its projects on our race route around the world. There are many ways…

3 Jul 2015

​IchorCoal to sponsor team led by Skipper Darren Ladd

South African mining company IchorCoal is the latest Team Sponsor to come aboard the Clipper 2015-16 Race and their team will be led by Somerset Skipper Darren Ladd. It is…

22 Jun 2015

Team Building Weekend - Skipper Blogs

Team Ash After battling through terrible traffic for hours, 18 members of Team Ash arrived in the middle of the New Forest just in time to get stuck into some…

18 Jun 2015

Unicef Revealed as Latest Clipper 2015-16 Race Team Entry

Today we can confirm that Unicef, the world’s leading children’s organisation, will have a yacht entry in the tenth edition of the world’s longest ocean race. The distinctive blue branded…

30 Apr 2015

Scottish skipper Daniel Smith to lead Derry~Londonderry~Doire team

At the official Derry~Londonderry~Doire yacht naming ceremony today, attended by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Elisha McCallion, Sir Robin revealed Daniel Smith, the 31 year old…

29 Apr 2015

Mission Performance back on board for tenth race edition

Our Official Learning and Development Partner Mission Performance Limited is returning as a Team Sponsor in the tenth edition of the race which starts in London on August 30, 2015.…

25 Apr 2015

Hundreds of Crew Allocated to International Teams

HUNDREDS OF CREW ALLOCATED TO INTERNATIONAL TEAMS More than 500 of our 2015-16 crew assembled in Portsmouth Guildhall today with their family and friends to discover which team and professional…

10 Apr 2015

Meet Race Skipper Jim Prendergast

Jim Prendergast has spent the last decade working as a professional sailor, instructor and racer. The 40 year old was born in Sheffield and travelled extensively before settling in Gosport…

9 Apr 2015

Meet Race Skipper Diane Reid

Diane Reid, 42, is the first Canadian woman to be appointed as skipper in the world’s longest ocean race and is hoping to emulate the success of her compatriot Eric…

8 Apr 2015

Meet Race Skipper Igor Gotlibovych

Igor Gotlibovych was born in Kharkov, Ukraine before moving to Germany as a teenager. His dual nationality means he is both our first Ukrainian and first German race skipper in…

7 Apr 2015

Meet Race Skipper Darren Ladd

Somerset sailor Darren Ladd got into sailing thanks to his grandfather who would take him out on his converted lifeboat in Weymouth as a child. The 49 year old has…

2 Apr 2015

Meet Race Skipper Ashley Skett

Growing up in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, there was not much opportunity for Ashley Skett to get into sailing, but as a child he learned how to sail dinghies on holidays in…

1 Apr 2015

Meet Race Skipper Max Stunell

Max Stunell will be a familiar face to many former crew as he has been working as a Clipper Race training mate and skipper ahead of the last two races.…

31 Mar 2015

Meet Race Skipper Greg Miller

Greg Miller’s sailing career began as a sea scout in Gosport. Between leaving secondary school and joining the British Army, where he served for 24 years, Greg has worked as…

27 Mar 2015

Skippers Scale Mountains for Leadership Lessons

SKIPPERS SCALE MOUNTAINS FOR LEADERSHIP LESSONS Just 24 hours into their new roles, with the exciting reality of the next 18 months still sinking in, the Clipper 2015-16 Race skippers…

27 Mar 2015

Meet Race Skipper Wendy Tuck

After two Australian race victories, Wendy Tuck is hoping to add to her nations accolades by becoming Australia’s first female Clipper Race winner. The fifty year old from Sydney is…

26 Mar 2015

Meet Race Skipper Olivier Cardin

Olivier Cardin will make history on August 30, 2015, when the tenth edition of the Clipper Race gets underway because he is the first French skipper in our nineteen year…

24 Mar 2015

Meet Race Skipper Daniel Smith

Daniel Smith has been sailing since he was a little boy on family holidays in the Scottish Islands. So for the Senior Yachting and Watersports Instructor to be appointed as…

24 Mar 2015

Meet Race Skipper Peter Thornton

Peter Thornton’s sailing career has seen him progress from the Gorran and Mevagissey Sea Scouts in Cornwall, to being awarded an MBE at the age of twenty-five. Presented with the…

23 Mar 2015

Meet Race Skipper Huw Fernie

Huw Fernie turned his back on a career in aeronautical engineering for his real passion of sailing, which began as a child while holidaying with his grandparents. 31-year-old Huw from…

21 Mar 2015

Former Clipper Race Skippers send a warm welcome to their successors

Following the announcement of our Clipper 2015-16 Race skippers, warm wishes and congratulations have flooded in from their predecessors. For the first time in our 19-year history, two of the…

18 Mar 2015

Meet the Clipper 2015-16 Skippers

With less than six months to go until the start of the Clipper 2015-16 Race, we can now reveal our most diverse ever line up of professional skippers. For the…

29 Oct 2014

Sir Robin seeks French entry in next race edition

As he prepares for his departure from St Malo this weekend for the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, Sir Robin has called for more French people to take on…

27 Oct 2014

Is this the toughest job on the ocean?

Recruitment is well underway for what could be the toughest job on the ocean: A Clipper Race skipper. We are currently searching for twelve highly skilled sailors for this challenging…

23 Sep 2014

Sean McCarter: From local sailor to local hero

“From the moment I met the crew I knew we had a great bunch of people,” smiles Sean McCarter, skipper of Derry~Londonderry~Doire . Sean and his team narrowly missed out…