- The Clipper Race is the world’s biggest round-the-world ocean 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.
- At 40,000 nautical miles long and taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of eleven 70-foot ocean racing yachts.
- Over 700 crew, representing more than 40 different nationalities. The crew can choose to take part in either the entire race or one or more of its eight legs.
- So far about 40 % of the crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training program ahead of their adventure. It is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors.
- There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date was 74. The crew must be aged 18 or over before starting the race. This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to taxi drivers, nurses, and firemen, farmers, Olympians, airline pilots, and students.
- It is estimated that the eleven teams will get through 561,000 tea bags whilst at sea over eleven months.
- More than half a million liters of water is filtered through the fleet’s water makers.
- On each yacht, round the world crew members will spend on average a minimum of 504 hours of their life stood at the helm.
- Each crew member will burn around 5,000 calories per day
- The biggest waves reported during the 2017-18 race were over 14m tall, officially classified as a phenomenal sea state, during Leg 6 across the North Pacific
- The highest wind speed recorded was 94 knots during Leg 6 onboard Liverpool 2018, that’s 108mph.
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