The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was established by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world, completing his historic circumnavigation on 22 April 1970. He wanted ordinary people to be able to experience the exhilaration of ocean racing – until then the preserve of the rich or professional sailors.
Since Clipper 09-10, over 3,000 people from around the world have taken part in the event. This year on the eight edition of the race, Clipper 11-12, the matched fleet of ten sleek stripped down 68-foot yachts embarked on their full circumnavigation of the globe, setting off from the Solent in July 2011.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only place you’ll find vicars and stockbrokers racing against taxi drivers, engineers, students and chief execs. The team's occupations may be different and their ages span generations, but the adventure in their hearts and steely determination in their eyes identifies them proudly as Clipper crew. It will take the teams twelve months to complete the 40,000-miles of ocean racing, and their jubilant arrival back to the south coast of England will mark the end of an epic challenge, as they become one of the world's elite - a global ocean racer.