Clipper fleet begin round the world race

Published on September 3rd, 2023

Portsmouth, UK (September 3, 2023) – The eleven-strong fleet got underway to start the Clipper 2023-24 Race, with the 13th edition beginning in light conditions and the Solent’s strong tidal flow offering a challenging first day for this round the world race.

“After a short course in the Solent, the fleet headed east around the Isle of Wight and into the English Channel where they will find stronger south easterly breezes to carry them through towards the north west tip of France and down across Biscay,” noted Clipper Race Director Mark Light.

Whilst today made for a light start to the first race of the circumnavigation, the fleet can expect a real mix of conditions for the next 1,200nm to Puerto Sherry in Spain.

“As the fleet heads south into the English Channel, they can expect the easterlies to build giving some fantastic spinnaker runs down to Ushant,” noted Dale Smyth, Deputy Race Director. “From there things will get a little more complicated with a low pressure approaching from the South, causing a big transition into more upwind sailing for the fleet.

“How the fleet change gears into this new weather could determine the leaderboard. As it stands, the Bay of Biscay looks to offer some light easterly winds and depending on how fast the fleet cross this area, will determine how far south they get before the headwinds arrive.”

Race details – Team list – Race route – Tracker – Facebook

About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race:
The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors.

Held biennially, the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race got underway September 3 for the fleet of eleven identical Tony Castro designed Clipper 70s. This 13th edition has 24 crew aboard each yacht, coming from 63 different nationalities (105 sailors from the USA) for the 40,000 mile circumnavigation of the world.

The course is divided into 8 legs divided into individual races, with some of the crew in for the entire circumnavigation while others will do individual legs. The team having the best cumulative score over the entire course will win the Clipper Race Trophy.

Following the start, teams will sail to Cadiz in Spain and on to Punta del Este in Uruguay on the first leg, with the course then extending to South Africa, Australia, Viet Nam, China, USA, and Scotland before finishing back in Portsmouth on July 2024.