Southern right whale dolphin leaps from the ocean spotted during the Clipper 2023-24 Race.

Leg 3: The Roaring Forties

After passing one of the world’s Great Capes - Good Hope - this stage gets well under way. Sometimes referred to as a 'sleigh ride', the Roaring Forties leg offers some of the most exhilarating and testing conditions of the entire circumnavigation. Teams dip into the notoriously strong winds of the Roaring Forties which lie between 40 and 50 degrees latitude. Spinnakers are likely to reappear as ocean racing tactics will be in full flow. Race Crew get to discover exactly what the Clipper 70s are made of as they surf downwind at more than 25 knots on 15 metre waves.

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Achieve Something Remarkable

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only event of its type. Anyone, even if they have never stepped on a boat before, can join the adventure.

Start
South Africa
Finish
West Australia
Stages
1
Distance
4800mi/8,900km
Days at sea
23
Temp
10°C - 26°C
Sailing across the Roaring Forties | Leg 3 of the Clipper Race

Previously Visited

New ports are coming soon for the 2025-26 edition! Stay tuned for updates as we announce both legacy and new destinations that Race Crew will discover on the global route.

2023-2024 edition

Fremantle

Australia

Fremantle’s history with the Clipper Race goes back to 2005, with the city the site of the first ever Australian stopover. The fleet's visit on the 2023-24 edition was the fifth time the Clipper Race has sailed into this Western Australian port.

Prices starting from £8,000

Build your race

Clipper 2025-26 Race: £8,000 // Clipper 2027-28 Race: £8,595

Race Legs

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Leg 1

The Atlantic Trade Winds

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Leg 2

The South Atlantic Challenge

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Leg 3

The Roaring Forties

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Leg 4

Australian Coast-to-Coast

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Leg 5

The Asia-Pacific Challenge

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Leg 6

The Mighty Pacific

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Leg 7

USA Coast-to-coast

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Leg 8

The Atlantic Homecoming

Clipper 2023-24 Race Crew member standing on deck during night with one hand on winch and the other on her hip.Link arrow

Full Circumnavigation

FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions...

The time you will need varies from leg to leg. The durations quoted on our “Build Your Race” section of the website and in our brochure, are for the approximate number of sailing days, so you will need to factor in additional time at each end of your leg and also any Host Port stopovers within the leg itself. Legs 2, 3 and 4 were the shortest in the 2023-24 edition at approximately four to five weeks and most of the other legs are between six to eight weeks.

Around 30% of crew members on each team will have done little or no sailing before they train with us. Others will have a range of sailing experience which might be dinghy sailing, flotilla holidays or crew with further advanced RYA qualifications and possibly experience of looking after their own boat. The one thing you will all have in common is that you’re looking to take part in a unique challenge, test your limits and find out if you have what it takes to traverse the oceans of the world.