Recap from Leg 1 of the 2017-2018 Clipper Race from Liverpool to Punta del Este. Leg 1 of the 2019-2020 Clipper Race will consist of 2 races: a sprint from London to Portimao, Portugal and a 30 day tactical marathon from Portugal to Punta del Este, Uruguay.
I was on the delivery team sailing Visit Sanya, China up to London from Gosport. Hearing our team song and seeing friends cheering as we entered St. Katharine’s Dock was unreal. Let’s get this race started!!
About the Race
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a bi-annual sailing competition founded in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, the first person to solo circumnavigate the globe.
There are 11 sponsored teams competing on identical 70’ ocean racing yachts crewed by a professional skipper, first mate and 18-20 amateur crew.
The race is broken up into 8 Legs with 700+ crew members completing either the full circumnavigation (approximately 11 months) or individual Legs.
Each Leg consists of 1-3 individual races as well as additional scoring gates and opportunities to win points. I will be racing Leg 1, the Atlantic Trade Winds Leg, sailing 7,250 miles over 33+ days at sea with team Visit Sanya, China.
No prior sailing experience is required, but all crew members must pass four weeks of rigorous training in Gosport, UK or Sydney, Australia.
Learning to helm on the low side! The Clipper 70s’ heel over to what feels like 45 degrees.
Grind those headsails!
Chasing down team Bermuda during a practice race!
Rescuing Bob, our Man Overboard Dummy, from the English Channel. We do Man Overboard drills almost daily, both day and night, in different conditions and under different sails.
Ready to tack!
Crossing the English Channel (for the first time).
Race Route
Learn about each Leg of the race
