Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine 2019 728x90
Product Feature
RYA Solent Race Strategy
RYA Solent Race Strategy

Clipper Race announces its new line-up of skippers to lead endurance challenge of a lifetime

by Clipper Race 28 Mar 16:01 GMT
Clipper Round The World Race 2023 / 24 - Fleet Helicopter Shoot from Portsmouth, UK, Tuesday, 29th August 2023 © Brian Carlin

The next roster of eleven Clipper Race Skippers taking on one of the toughest jobs in sailing has been announced. Each will lead teams of non-professionals, making six ocean crossings on the 40,000 nautical mile, eleven-month race around the globe.

The Clipper Race is the only event of its kind which trains people from all walks of life to become ocean racers and take on the endurance challenge of a lifetime.

The sailing professionals hail from six nations - England, Wales, Ireland, France, South Africa and the Netherlands.

Speaking of his selection, French Skipper David Sautret says: "Racing around the world has been the dream of my life ever since I first felt the pull of the sea and the thrill of offshore racing - it's the heartbeat of everything I've worked towards.?To take the helm, and lead a crew through this legendary adventure is the culmination of years of passion and pursuit. I'm counting the days until we set off!"?

The next edition will start from Portsmouth on 31 August and over the course of the almost yearlong event, over 700 participants will face all that Mother Nature can throw at them. From hurricane force winds, to blistering heat, the isolation of the North Pacific Ocean to learning to live aboard a yacht with stripped back facilities with up to 22 others - this event is a true test of mental and physical fortitude.

The Clipper 2025-26 Race Skipper line up:

  • Alistair Dickson, Welsh (Menai Bridge, North Wales)
  • Angela Brandsma, Dutch (Sneek, The Netherlands)
  • David Sautret, French (Bordeaux, France)
  • Dylan Kotze, South African (Cape Town, South Africa)
  • Ella Hebron, British (Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK)
  • Gavin Rees, Welsh (Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK)
  • Guy Waites, British (Leeds?and Catwick, Yorkshire, UK)
  • Heather Thomas, British (Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK)
  • Lowri "Lou" Boorman, Welsh (Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales)
  • Philip Quinn, Irish (County Down, Northern Ireland)
  • Terry Kavanagh, Irish (Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK)

All skippers went through a rigorous selection process led by the Clipper Race Management Team. The team's Race Director, Deputy Race Director and Race Manager have all competed as a Race Skipper on previous editions and therefore understand the unique requirements of this role. Looking ahead to the event's 14th edition, Clipper Race Director, Dale Smyth, says: "Our selection process is tough, and rightly so, as these individuals are taking on one of the toughest jobs in the global sailing industry. They need to not only be incredibly good sailors but able to lead, inspire and look after a big team of diverse individuals across the harshest oceans on the planet."

Sailing is one of the few sports where men and women compete together in mixed teams. On the Clipper Race - each team is led by a professional sailing duo of Skipper and First Mate and has a mixed team of up to 22 Race Crew. On previous editions the male/female percentage split across participants has been 70/30.

Clipper 2025-26 Race Skipper, Ella Hebron, competed on the previous edition of the global event as a First Mate, so has already completed one circumnavigation. "Sailing is a level playing field - with the ocean an equaliser. It's not going to treat male or female, older or younger people any differently to each other. The relentlessness of the ocean - you can't manipulate it, it's there to give everyone the same challenges and everyone the same joys."

The Clipper Race has created a pathway to becoming a sailing professional and on previous editions has supported Race Crew to progress through the ranks including from participant to First Mate to Skipper. Newly appointed Clipper Race Skipper, Heather Thomas has been through this sailing pathway. In 2015, Heather was awarded a bursary place to race across the North Pacific Ocean on the Clipper Race as crew. After that experience, she decided she wanted to work in the sailing industry. Fast forward to 2024, Heather was the skipper of Maiden, the first ever all-women crew to win a round the world yacht race. And now she is returning to the Clipper Race as a Skipper.

Heather says: "When I took part in the Clipper 2015-16 Race, I was lucky enough to have Wendy Tuck* as my skipper. She was a phenomenal inspiration and mentor to me not only on the race, but going forward. She's helped me a lot in my career and has encouraged me to do more racing. I didn't necessarily think I'd get into racing, but Wendy instilled a competitive spirit in me and taught me a lot about sailing. I'm really excited to be following in her footsteps."

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, thirty years ago (March 1995) and trains people from all walks of life to learn seamanship and become ocean racers. Each participant must complete four stages of intensive training before signing up for one or multiple legs or the full 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation. The eleven strong fleet of matched Clipper 70 ocean racing yachts makes six oceans crossings - including the North Pacific - and the Clipper Race is the only round-the-world yacht race to cross this vast and unforgiving ocean.

Says Skipper Guy Waites, who is returning to the challenge after first being a Skipper on the Clipper 2019-20 Race: "It's great to be back again. I never tire of the ocean and the empty horizon; it's a huge privilege to explore our greatest wilderness!"?

The race makes 14 ports of call on its global route and on the upcoming route, Portsmouth (UK), Cape Town (South Africa), Qingdao (China) and Tongyeong City (Korea) have been announced so far, with more port announcements due from next week.

Applications are still open for crew to sign up to participate on the Clipper 2025-26 Race. To find out more visit clipperroundtheworld.com.

Related Articles

Clipper Race celebrates 30 years of adventure
One of the secrets to the success and longevity of biennial event is the highly experienced team This month marks 30 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world, founded the Clipper Race. Posted on 7 Mar
Clipper Race to return to Portsmouth
On the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city When its fleet departs from Gunwharf Quays this August, the event will be celebrating two milestones - the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city and 30 years of training people to cross oceans and sail around the world. Posted on 3 Mar
Clipper Race returns to its roots
To find next batch of ocean adventurers At 58 years old, Plymouth-based Advanced Clinical Practitioner Loveday Fethney is proving that adventure knows no age limit. Posted on 15 Feb
Spotlight on Clipper Race Leg 5
A tactical multi-stage challenge through the tropics Renowned for its challenging conditions and energising close racing, Leg 5 is a multi-stage leg on the Clipper Race circumnavigation. Posted on 1 Feb
Musto partners with three Clipper Ventures brands
This broader partnership with Clipper Ventures will span the next four years Clipper Race crew have worn Musto in training and on their ocean crossings since 2019 and will continue to be kitted out in industry leading technical clothing for the upcoming 2025-26 and 2027-28 editions. Posted on 25 Jan
Switching the Christmas Day barbie for Christmas
The Clipper Race is one of the biggest challenges of the natural world This time next year, everyday people from all over the globe will be taking part in the Australian Coast to Coast leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Posted on 24 Dec 2024
Clipper Race Skipper: The toughest job in sailing
Requiring five months of intensive preparation Tasked with leading a crew of up to 22 adventure-seekers around the world, the role of a Clipper Race Skipper is one of the most demanding leadership positions in the industry. Posted on 21 Nov 2024
Hyde Sails returns as an Official Supplier
For the Clipper 2025-26 Race Hyde Sails is set to supply the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet for an eighth edition, with this partnership adding another chapter to this longstanding collaboration. Posted on 19 Nov 2024
Meet the Clipper 2025-26 Race crew: Sara Brewer
“I think there's an adventurer in all of us.” Bristol born Sara Brewer, 68, has worked in London as a PA for the chairman of an international bank for almost her entire working career. Posted on 2 Nov 2024
Second ever Knox-Johnston Cup a huge success
Over 100 guests take part in a weekend of big-boat racing in the Solent Last weekend saw the second edition of the Knox-Johnston Cup take place, with over 100 guests taking part in a weekend of big-boat racing in the Solent. Posted on 9 Oct 2024