Ten months, 35,000 miles of ocean racing, and over 400 people face the challenge of a lifetime. When the starting gun goes off for the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race on 16 September 2007, the fleet of ten sleek 68-foot yachts embark on a full circumnavigation of the globe.

Setting off from the UK’s host port Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008, it will be almost a year before they return. Crossing the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans during the race, the lives of the crew revolve around a four-hour watch system.

Each takes their turn with cooking and cleaning duties, as well as helming and sail repair, as they strive as a team to win the Clipper Trophy. Their jubilant arrival home on 5 July 2008 marks the end of an epic challenge: taking on the elements and becoming one of the world’s elite – a global sailor

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Sir Robin set off from Falmouth on 14 June 1968 with numerous bottles of whisky and a fruitcake baked by his aunt stowed onboard for a voyage that was to last just over ten months. He arrived back in Falmouth, after 312 days at sea, on 22 April 1969. Sir Robin wanted everyone to have the opportunity to do this – as he says:‘There are fewer people that have raced a yacht around the globe than have climbed Mount Everest.’ In 1995 he set up Clipper Ventures. Providing ocean racing yachts and equipment, qualified skippers and intensive training, Clipper has transformed hundreds of novices into racing sailors, able to achieve the pinnacle of ocean sailing – a full circumnavigation. Clipper Ventures is now in its 12th year and has organised six round the world races for amateur sailors.

Monohull, 31.2 tonnes, 86ft and 89ft mast racing yacht

These state-of-the-art ocean racing yachts have been designed for Clipper Ventures by renowned yacht designer Ed Dubois and built by Shanghai Double Happiness Yacht Co Ltd. At 68ft (20.8m), with an 89ft 7ins mast (27.3m), the yachts are created for speed and safety, giving amateurs an unprecedented racing challenge. With up-to-the-minute navigation centres, the latest sailing equipment and basic, race-friendly accommodation, the identical yachts put winning and losing firmly in the hands of the crew on board. 

From a vicar to a vet, stockbroker to street performer, the Clipper Race really does attract people from all walks of life. Around half of them have no previous sailing ability – but what all of them have in common is they have put their everyday lives on hold to take on this incredible challenge. Around 40 percent of the crew are female and, to date, the oldest competitor has been 70 years old. There is no upper age limit to take part in the race. To compete, crew members must be 18 or over and fit enough to take on the challenge.

Under the unique Clipper sponsorship formula, there is a representation of local crew from each of the nations competing in the race.  There are up to 17 paying crew on each yacht led by one professional skipper. Up to ten of the crew take part in the entire circumnavigation, while the rest of the team is made up of ‘leggers’ who join the yacht for one or more of the legs of the race.

Clipper Ventures, through its Clipper Training division, provides crew with first class training that is both practical and theoretical. Whether crew members are taking part in a single leg or the whole race, they need the same level of mental, physical and technical preparation. Split into three stages, the training culminates in a two or three-day offshore race to allow crew to experience the real pressures of ocean racing before the big race.

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Contact

Tel: +44 (0) 2392 526000

Website: http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com