“A UNIQUE WAY TO SEE THE POWER OF NATURE”
After battling extreme conditions, the ten teams competing in the Clipper 2025-26 Race have arrived in Fremantle, Australia. The journey from Cape Town involved significant challenges, including wind speeds of up to 50 knots and sea states classified as ‘phenomenal’. This leg is one of the most demanding sections of the Clipper Race circumnavigation, traversing the remote Roaring Forties, where few sailors venture.
This incredible challenge is even more impressive given that the crew comprises non-professional sailors, trained to navigate the ocean and adapt to life aboard a yacht, often deprived of many comforts. The conditions faced during this leg test both physical and mental endurance.
Lucy Stocks, a 22-year-old chef and participant in four legs of the race, described her experience: “It’s relentless, cold and wet but it’s been the best time of my life. I have loved every single moment of it.” Stocks reminisced about her earlier family sailing holidays before realising her passion for ocean sailing at age 15.
The Clipper Race is renowned for being one of the toughest endurance tests in the nautical world, with no prior sailing experience required. Crew members undergo four stages of mandatory training, preparing them for the reality of crossing oceans and living with up to 22 other crew members in often challenging conditions.
Throughout the eleven-month adventure, the Race Crew faces extreme weather typically reserved for professional sailors, including storm force winds, towering waves, and dramatic temperature swings, all while racing around the clock.
Race Manager, Hannah Brewis, commented on the overwhelming weather encountered during the fleet’s racing journey across the South Indian Ocean: “Over nearly 5,000 nm of racing, the fleet has certainly seen its fair share of weather. The Roaring Forties is unforgiving between professional and novice sailors alike.” Brewis noted that the fleet faced consistent high winds and rough seas, reporting wind strengths over 30 knots and challenging sailing conditions.
“This type of weather is typical of the Roaring Forties, known for potent low-pressure systems which sweep across the South Indian and Southern Oceans,” she added. “When a front passes, it brings intense squalls and dramatic wind shifts that complicate straight-line sailing, even in strong winds.”
A UNIQUE WAY TO SEE THE POWER OF NATURE
Reaching port after enduring weeks at sea is a point of immense pride for the crews. Abigail Shanahan, a multi-leg Race Crew member, articulated the profound experience, saying, “it’s really hard to describe if you haven’t experienced it. The Roaring Forties were definitely as expected! They were really challenging, but this crew is amazing. We rely on each other during tough times, creating unforgettable memories. The hardest part was the relentless cold and dampness, but it was overall a rewarding experience.”
Moreover, the crew shared their awe at the untouched beauty of the marine environment, recounting nearly three weeks of solitude at sea with no sight of other vessels or aircraft.
THE CLIPPER 2025-26 RACE SO FAR
Beginning on 31 August from Portsmouth, UK, the Clipper Race fleet will make 14 stops as it navigates around the globe, crossing the Atlantic twice and experiencing the extremes of the Roaring Forties and the challenging North Pacific—the only round-the-world race to undertake this route.
With nearly 15,000 nautical miles completed, Deputy Race Director Max Rivers summarised the adventure thus far: “The Clipper 2025-26 Race has been a fast and wild ride. The initial stormy crossing of the Bay of Biscay presented harsh conditions, which set a strong foundation for the race ahead. There have been brilliant tactical moments and a variety of conditions, from downwind sailing to complex weather management strategies following five low-pressure systems across the fleet.”
As the fleet arrived in Fremantle, they focused on leveraging local weather patterns, such as the regular afternoon breeze known as the Fremantle Doctor, to navigate the final stretch into port successfully.
Applications are now open for the 2027-28 edition, with opportunities to join training sessions to participate later in the ongoing Clipper 2025-26 Race via a Fast-Track Training programme. Further information is available at clipperoundtheworld.com/apply.
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