World Map 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The route shown is indicative. Clipper 2023-24 Race ports, race route, estimated days racing and additional information will be confirmed at a future date.

Leg 3
The Roaring Forties Leg

Route South Africa - West Australia Share LinkedIn Google+ Reddit StumbleUpon

After a parade of sail, and with the coast of Southern Africa dropping below the horizon it time to get ready to face what, for many sailors, will be their ultimate challenge: The Roaring Forties. Now the racing yachts tack down towards the 40th parallel where the Roaring Forties start providing some of the most extreme and exhilarating sailing in the world.

Crew safety and kit preservation are the watchwords. If the cloud is thick, night sailing happens in inky blackness with just the compass and the instruments to help. It’ll be chilly, too, because although it will be a Southern Hemisphere spring, the wind might be coming straight up from the ice of Antarctica.

Leaving the lonely and remote Kerguelen Islands to starboard, the combination of strong winds and large ocean swells that are bigger than buildings will keep crews on their toes. So, too, will the chance of vicious in-coming low pressure systems that can bring with them intense, gale force storms. Expect 80 foot swells, boat speeds of well over 30 knots and wind speeds that can reach up to 70 mph. A downwind run you’ll never forget.

Your reward is the knowledge that you’ve raced in the most remote ocean on the planet, where outside of the Clipper Race fleet your nearest companions are the astronauts on the International Space Station.

The beautiful, sun kissed beaches of Western Australia and a well chilled drink will be a welcome sight.

Stats

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only event of its type. Anyone, even if they have never stepped on a boat before, can join the adventure.

Leg 33
1 Race
5°C - 28°C
5500mi / 8,900km
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Days
at Sea

Whether a marathon tactical battle across the world’s oceans or a drag-race sprint from start to finish, this is the number of days you can expect to be racing.

Cape Town, South Africa
South Africa - West Coast Australia
Fremantle, Australia
Countries Visited

A drag race sprint from start to finish line or a marathon tactical battle across the world’s largest oceans enduring weeks at sea; each of the 14 races provides a unique challenge to each and every crew member.

Compare Legs
Leg 1
7250 miles
33 days at sea
1-2 race
TBC ports
Atlantic Ocean crossed
Sep - Oct 2023
View Leg
Leg 2
4200 miles
18 days at sea
1 race
TBC ports
South Atlantic crossed
Oct - Oct 2023
View Leg
Leg 3
5500 miles
23 days at sea
1 race
TBC ports
Southern Ocean crossed
Nov - Dec 2023
View Leg
Leg 4
4000 miles
20 days at sea
1 race
TBC ports
Dips into the Southern Ocean
Dec 2023 - Jan 2024
View Leg
Leg 5
6300 miles
34 days at sea
2-3 races
TBC ports
Coral Sea and South China Sea
Jan - Feb 2024
View Leg
Leg 6
8000 miles
37 days at sea
2 races
TBC ports
North Pacific crossed
Mar - Apr 2024
View Leg
Leg 7
7200 miles
38 days at sea
2-3 races
TBC ports
No ocean crossing
May - June 2024
View Leg
Leg 8
4400 miles
22 days at sea
2-3 races
TBC ports
North Atlantic crossed
June - July 2024
View Leg
Leg 1
7250 miles
33 days at sea
1-2 race
TBC ports
Atlantic Ocean crossed
Sep - Oct 2023
View Leg
Leg 2
4200 miles
18 days at sea
1 race
TBC ports
South Atlantic crossed
Oct - Oct 2023
View Leg
Leg 3
5500 miles
23 days at sea
1 race
TBC ports
Southern Ocean crossed
Nov - Dec 2023
View Leg
Leg 4
4000 miles
20 days at sea
1 race
TBC ports
Dips into the Southern Ocean
Dec 2023 - Jan 2024
View Leg
Leg 5
6300 miles
34 days at sea
2-3 races
TBC ports
Coral Sea and South China Sea
Jan - Feb 2024
View Leg
Leg 6
8000 miles
37 days at sea
2 races
TBC ports
North Pacific crossed
Mar - Apr 2024
View Leg
Leg 7
7200 miles
38 days at sea
2-3 races
TBC ports
No ocean crossing
May - June 2024
View Leg
Leg 8
4400 miles
22 days at sea
2-3 races
TBC ports
North Atlantic crossed
June - July 2024
View Leg