On The Wind with Richard Clarke
Published on May 7th, 2025
The On The Wind podcast (formerly ’59 Degrees North’) features guests from throughout the world of sailing, and this episode features renowned Canadian competitor Richard Clarke. Raised on Toronto Island, went on to compete in the Finn at four consecutive Olympic Games (1992-2004). Clarke later made his fifth Olympic appearance at the London 2012 Games in the Star with Tyler Bjorn.
Olympic campaigning introduced him to a professional sailing career, leading to winning the 2001–02 Volvo Ocean Race, breaking the 24-hour sailing distance record four times, holding both the Transatlantic and the Transpac records – his accolades go on and on.
Clarke was the Canadian Yachting Association Male Athlete of the Year in 1993, and won his nation’s coveted Sailor of the Year Award in 1999. He was also recognized as the British Columbia Sailor of the Year in 2010. More so, he is a great storyteller, with this episode full to the brim with memories, both insightful and entertaining.