Round the world race returns to Seattle

The 2025-26 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race route will conclude the stage across the North Pacific Ocean in Seattle, WA. The city will also be represented on the eleven-month circumnavigation with a ‘Seattle’ team to compete on one of the toughest endurance challenges.

When the event arrives into Seattle in spring 2026, it will be the fifth time the city has welcomed adventurers which first began for the 2015-16 race. Celebrating ten-years of partnership and five visits, Seattle will have featured on the Clipper Race route more times than any other US city.

The year 2026 will be a huge year of international sport for Seattle – with the city set to host six FIFA World Cup matches just two months after welcoming the Clipper Race. The Clipper Race fleet will be based at Bell Harbor for the duration of its week-long stay.

The Washington State stopover will be the final port of call for crew competing on the ‘Mighty North Pacific Leg (the sixth leg of the 40,000 nautical mile race). Known as ‘The Big One’, this stage of the race tests the participants physical and mental endurance.

When crossing the North Pacific, crew can face up to Hurricane Force winds, towering waves and freezing temperatures. Crew must battle a feeling of true isolation as on this stretch of ocean they will often be closer to astronauts on the International Space Station than other humans on land.

Nine Washington State locals have so far signed up to compete on various legs on the Clipper 2025-26 Race. Two of these are set to complete the full circumnavigation, one further to sail into their home state on Leg 6 – and another waving goodbye as they embark on the Americas Coast to Coast Leg (Leg 7).

Along with Seattle, other ports that have been announced so far for the Clipper 2025-26 Race are Portsmouth (UK – the event’s Race Start and Finish location), Cape Town (South Africa), Qingdao (China), Tongyeong (Korea), and Oban (Scotland). Further port announcements are due in the next month.

Event Details: www.clipperroundtheworld.com

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 Round the World Yacht Race has a fleet of eleven identical Tony Castro designed Clipper 70s that compete on a multi-leg course around the world. The team having the best cumulative score over the entire course wins the Clipper Race Trophy. The 2025-26 race will be the 14th edition.

Source: Clipper Round the World Yacht Race