Clipper Ventures // Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

A Historic Swim. An Unforgiving Ocean. A Mission with Purpose. 🌊 In summer 2025, ultra-endurance athlete Ross Edgley will attempt a world-first: swimming over 1,000 miles around the entire coastline of Iceland in just 100 days. This extraordinary feat will push the limits of human endurance and contribute to vital ocean conservation research. SKIRR Adventures x Clipper Race will serve as the official Challenge Support Yacht for this bold expedition. From 60ft waves to killer whale territory, Iceland’s coastline presents one of the harshest environments on Earth. Our 68-foot expedition yacht will be Ross’s base throughout the challenge, providing professional sailing expertise, safe navigation, and a crucial support system at sea. This partnership reflects the shared spirit of adventure, resilience, and environmental purpose. As Ross swims, our crew will assist in the collection of eDNA samples, support international research teams, and ensure that science moves forward with every nautical mile. https://bit.ly/3Rxn8WY   #adventuresport #oceanconservation #adventureforgood

Welcome aboard to the Clipper 2025-26 Race First Mates!   As preparations ramp up for the upcoming edition of the Clipper Race, we’re proud to announce the incredible First Mates who will be supporting our Race Skippers in leading crews around the globe.   Becoming a Clipper Race First Mate is no small feat. This demanding yet rewarding role offers a springboard for professional sailing careers, and our newly appointed First Mates bring with them an impressive list of credentials: multiple Atlantic crossings, offshore race experience, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications - and teaching them - plus much more.   🧭 These highly skilled sailors are more than just second-in-command. They are leaders, mentors, and educators, working side-by-side with their Skippers to build competent, safe, and competitive teams capable of facing the toughest ocean challenges.   Some familiar faces return, including Ben Birley (Washington, DC, Leg 3, 2023-24) and Race Crew Alumni Lorraine O'Hanlon and Jade Golder, now stepping up to First Mate roles after completing their own circumnavigations last summer, and following the Clipper Ventures sailing pathway.   🎙 Max Rivers, Deputy Race Director, said it best: “Their primary role throughout the race is to support the team skipper in all aspects of boat management. Our First Mates are not only great sailors but also teachers, leaders and mentors for the Race Crew.”   We’re excited to welcome this exceptional team to Clipper HQ and can’t wait to see them in action as the countdown to Race Start continues! ⛵ More about them 👇 https://lnkd.in/eDQRzk4A #leadershipatsea #leadershiproles #oceanracing #sailingadventure

Every edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a test of endurance. Not just for the sailors, but for the yachts as well. After 40,000 nautical miles of battling the most fierce oceans on the planet, the fleet returns home, and much like its sailors, in need of TLC. Once the yachts are back in their Gosport HQ, our expert team of Maintenance staff strips each yacht down to its bare bones and rebuilds it back to race-ready condition, ensuring safety, reliability, and performance for the next crew of adventurers. It’s not just tools, parts, and time. It’s sourcing bespoke components from manufacturers worldwide while juggling inspections, certifications, and compliance. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. And the reason for that, says Greg North, Head of Fleet Maintenance: "We’re not just colleagues; we’re friends. Everyone on this team has a huge work ethic and a real passion for what we do." Go behind the scenes in our latest article: https://lnkd.in/eaXsuHtd 

Seattle is confirmed as a Host Port and Team Partner for the Clipper 2025-26 Race! We’re proud to continue the strategic partnership between the Clipper Race and Seattle Sports Commission, Visit Seattle, and Port of Seattle, marking ten years since Seattle first hosted the race. In spring 2026, the Clipper Race fleet will return to Bell Harbor Marina for the fifth time, solidifying Seattle as the most featured U.S. city in Clipper Race history. A dedicated Seattle team will once again compete in the 11-month circumnavigation, flying the city’s flag across six continents. 🌎 🔗 More on our website - https://bit.ly/44iiMu6 #oceanracing #sailingadventure #EmeraldCity 

📍 Race Route Announcement 📍 The Clipper 2025-26 Race fleet is heading to Oban! Following a hugely successful debut last year, North Pier, Oban will once again welcome Race Crew on this edition. Nestled on the stunning West Coast of Scotland, Oban promises dramatic scenery, warm hospitality, and a cultural showcase. From whisky tastings to Gaelic lessons and local seafood feasts, this Scottish gem will be a truly memorable stop on the circumnavigation. Clipper Ventures Head of Partnerships, Kate Ashley, said: “This partnership with Oban means we will once again see this Scottish ‘Town of the Year’ sit alongside major international cities on our race route. Oban, with its rich maritime history and warm hospitality, is the perfect destination to welcome our adventurous crew after a tough ocean crossing.  “Our event brings with it a global audience and in the 30 years since the Clipper Race launched its first circumnavigation, we’ve seen many collaborations develop into broader partnerships which can include a team entry. A Scottish named yacht in our event would give brands an international platform as our fleet sails to 14 destinations around the world and we are currently working to make this a possibility.” More on our website: https://lnkd.in/e7Md-4n4 #HostPort #Stopover #RaceOfYourLife #OceanRacing

"Sailing is a level playing field – with the ocean an equaliser." 🌊   The eleven Skippers who will take on one of the toughest jobs in sailing, leading non-professional crews on a 40,000-nautical-mile, 11-month endurance challenge across the globe, have been announced!   The Clipper Race pathway has long been a launchpad for passionate sailors to turn their dreams into reality. With many previous Skippers and some of those selected on this edition, having followed this route, progressing from Race Crew to First Mate, and now to the helm of the Clipper 70 yacht. Leadership at sea demands more than sailing ability. It requires resilience, decision-making under pressure, and the ability to inspire their diverse teams of Race Crew. Many of our Skippers have honed these skills through the Clipper Race's sister company, Hamble School of Yachting, gaining qualifications in Yachtmaster Offshore, Cruising Instruction, Sea Survival, ISAF training, and advanced medical care. These courses, combined with their extensive offshore experience, have prepared them for the responsibility of leading crews across some of the planet’s most unforgiving oceans. Representing six nations - England, Wales, Ireland, France, South Africa, and the Netherlands, each Skipper brings a unique background and a wealth of experience to the race.   Congratulations to all our 2025-26 Race Skippers! We can’t wait to see them lead, inspire, and take on this epic lap of the globe. 🔗 More about each of our Race Skippers on our website - https://bit.ly/3QQ0ZCL #leadership #oceanracing #sailingpathway #sailingcareers

Leadership at sea is about more than just experience. It’s about adaptability, resilience, and teamwork under pressure. Grahame Robb Associates Ltd (GRA), a global experiential learning and development programmes provider, is returning as our Official Learning and Development Supplier for the Clipper 2025-26 Race!   For the third consecutive edition, GRA will deliver a bespoke leadership and team development programme designed to hone the existing skills of our Race Skippers and First Mates. The programme provides:   🔹 Expert-led leadership development 🔹 Advanced training in conflict resolution, communication and resilience 🔹 Stronger collaboration between Skippers and First Mates for peak performance   Max Rivers, Deputy Race Director, shared: "Our time at GRA is invaluable. The team truly understands the race and the unique challenges of leading a crew on board a Clipper 70 in a demanding offshore environment. Their tailored training covers situational leadership, presentation skills, and self and team awareness, all of which are essential for success at sea. GRA’s ability to adapt their training to the realities of an ocean environment made a real difference, it helped me hone skills that were invaluable as a Race Skipper."   #LeadershipDevelopment #Teamwork #OffshoreSailing

This summer, the Clipper Race fleet will set sail once again using the same Coppercoat treatment first applied in 2017, proving its durability over 120,000+ nautical miles and three circumnavigations. Coppercoat returns as the Official Anti-Foul Supplier for the fourth consecutive edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Its award-winning, eco-conscious antifouling solution not only keeps our fleet race-ready but also aligns with our commitment to sustainability. 🔹 Long-lasting hull protection 🔹 More time racing, less need for mid-race antifoul reapplication. 🔹 Sustainable innovation – A non-leaching formula that reduces biocide pollution. As our teams race 40,000 nautical miles around the globe, they face extreme conditions. Thanks to Coppercoat, hull maintenance won’t be one of their challenges. 🔗More on our partnership - https://bit.ly/4hEtL47 #ClipperRace #OceanRacing #Innovation

Welcome back, Marlow Ropes Ltd! Returning as the Official Running Rigging Supplier for the Clipper 2025-26 Race, this marks Marlow's 11th edition supplying our yachts with high-performance lines capable of withstanding the extreme offshore conditions. 💪 Marlow’s commitment to innovation and sustainability continues to set industry standards. The running rigging made from 75% recycled plastic bottles has proven its durability in previous races, and its focus on reducing waste through reusable packaging is a significant step forward for sustainable sailing. 🌊 🔗More on our partnership - https://bit.ly/3R7Mme3 #ClipperRace #OceanRacing #Innovation

Spinlock Ltd returns as the Official Lifejacket Supplier for the Clipper 2025-26 Race! 🚨 A world leader in personal protective equipment, Spinlock will equip our fleet with cutting-edge Deckvest VITO lifejackets, Performance Safety Lines, and personal AIS devices.   With real-world feedback from Clipper Race crews, Spinlock continuously innovates to enhance durability, comfort, and ease of maintenance, ensuring our Race Crew stay safe on their sailing adventure.   We’re proud to have Spinlock’s expertise and commitment to safety on board once again! 🔗More on our partnership - https://bit.ly/3FiBcAG #ClipperRace #Spinlock #SafetyAtSea #OceanRacing #Innovation