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Before you make an application to become a Race Crew member we recommend you download the Race Information Pack here. This includes the important information you need as a first step. You can also join a Discovery Webinar where the recruitment team will answer your questions live. You’ll have access to more detailed information about the application process, budgeting, training and more.

A great resource to help you choose the best legs and imagine your adventure is the Clipper Race YouTube channel. Ready to race? If you are ready to apply for the Clipper Race the next step is to book an interview with our Crew Recruitment team. Once you complete the online form you will receive emails from the team with essential reading and an invitation for an appointment, either via video link or face-to-face. This is also an opportunity for you to express interest in the legs you’re aiming for, discuss your personal goals and ask us about anything from logistics to what to expect from life on board. . Successful applicants will be sent a Race Crew contract for their chosen legs. This is a legal document. It is important to read this and seek clarification if you are not clear.When you return your signed contract you will also start your payment plan. This means that the further ahead you plan, the easier it is to spread costs before the race starts. Whether you are adventure ready, and want to start training and racing as soon as possible, or are looking ahead to join the Clipper Race in a year or so, there is an option that will work for you.

The Clipper Race is open to people from all walks of life and nationalities who are aged over 18 years old. Whether you are a sailing novice, hold a Yachtmaster qualification or have sailed all your life. What is crucial is your level of desire, determination and enthusiasm. You will need to be physically fit, be able to communicate proficiently in English and be a team player. If you have the soft skills and the agility we can turn you into an accomplished ocean racer.

The Clipper Race is divided into eight legs. You can choose one or multiple legs, or to complete the full circumnavigation, depending on the time and budget that best suits you. The price of each leg depends on several factors such as the number of days you will be racing.

You can view the berth fees for each of the eight legs by using the Route Builder or in the downloadable Race Information pack. The berth fee includes your food and accommodation on board, support throughout the challenge, and of course the use of the Clipper70 for an exhilarating race around the world.To compete you must first complete all four levels of compulsory Ocean Racer training. Other budget considerations include insurance cover, travel to or from your destination port, and applicable visas. The Clipper Race offers a payment plan as a simple way to spread the cost of payments leading up to your training and race start.

The Clipper Race provides each crew member with a kit package from Technical Clothing Partner, Musto. Including smock and salopettes from Musto’s renowned HPX pro series range. Tried, tested and approved by professional ocean racing sailors who venture to the most extreme places on earth and valued at over £1,500 RRP. This kit package is included in the cost of your compulsory offshore Race Training. You will be issued with Clipper Race branded and team specific kit such as a wind-proof jacket, a light-weight shower proof jacket, sailing shorts and a long-sleeved UV top and a polo top. As Clipper Race crew you will also benefit from discounted rates for additional Musto kit you choose to buy.All Clipper Race crew will wear state-of-the-art safety lifejackets with integrated personal AIS equipment, provided by Official Supplier, Spinlock, for the duration of their race.

You will make that decision within your team. Everything you do is a fine balance between having enough and having too much. Too much adds weight and slows the boat down. Not enough means you are cold, wet and demoralised. Somewhere between 20-30kg of kit is typical.

Everyone coming to the Clipper Race has a different level of fitness and different idea of what fit means. As soon as you decide to participate we encourage you to start working on areas such as core stability, upper body strength and aerobic fitness. Equipment on the Clipper Race yacht is often big and heavy so teamwork, and technique, is just as important as brute strength. As you progress through the training you will gain a greater understanding of areas you need to work on to be prepared for the race. Whilst we don’t test your fitness as part of the crew assessment crew are required to be able to safely move around the yacht, get in and out of a top bunk, sweat up a small sail, get in and out of a hatch for example. You will also become fitter on the race, burning around 5,000 calories a day and using muscles you might not know about, even while you sleep!

Musto is the technical clothing partner of the Clipper Race, and Clipper Race Crew are issued with appropriate technical clothing from the offshore sailing range.

Every crew member needs to be insured for any eventuality during training and the race including medical cover, rescue and repatriation, personal accident and personal liabilities. We have arranged a specific policy for Race Crew which you can decide to use, or you can choose to find your own equivalent option. There is also an option to take out cancellation insurance and increase your personal accident cover if you wish. While we have no upper age limit as such it’s quite hard to obtain insurance after the age of 75.

Not everyone feels seasick, but for those that do try not to worry, it generally passes in the first 24hrs.

There are many remedies you can try to help overcome or even prevent it. Numerous effective over the counter medicines are available, these can be taken before and during your trip to aid you whilst you gain your sea legs. Other people go for herbal remedies like ginger, or wrist bands that apply pressure to key points and even cotton wool in the ears. Simple things like staying hydrated and eating regularly whilst on board will also help.

Not only are the race yachts identical, we also make sure that crew are matched to make the race even more competitive. We spread the ages, experience, vocations and nationalities across the fleet. Of course if you have a particular team that you would like to represent please tell us and we will do our best to grant your request.

Who does what when you are racing is decided in your watches. While on watch you will have the opportunity to hone your sailing skills in some of the most testing conditions. When evolutions and tasks need to be carried out your Skipper, AQP or Watch Leader will generally divide up the work. Every crew member will get the opportunity to helm, be on the foredeck, work in the pit, hoist and trim sails, learn and experience all aspects of sailing and racing a 70ft yacht. Your Skipper will help you get the most from this opportunity while racing. To find out more about these roles such as Helm, Trimmer, and Watch Leader, read on. However, there are many other aspects to offshore racing that need to be taken into consideration in order to make sure the team and yacht runs efficiently.

All Race Crew also play a vital role in maintaining the yachts while racing; another opportunity to develop your sailing skills. Additional training for key roles including Engineer, Bosun, and Sailmaker are provided in the lead up to racing. You can read about these roles in the downloadable Information Pack. Roles are allocated by your Skipper based on factors such as the legs you are racing and any previous experience and knowledge you have. Other key roles include Victualler, Medical Assistant, Media Crew, Team Coordinator, Treasurer and Stopover Manager. You can volunteer for any of these roles before the start of the race edition..

Everyone on board will also take turns in the Galley preparing nourishing meals for the team, taking navigational logs, cleaning, emptying bilges and more to make sure your yacht, your home, and your team is well cared for throughout your race campaign.

The Clipper Race encourages crew from nations around the world, working as a team, often in extremely challenging circumstances. For everyone’s safety it is important that crew can speak and understand instructions from fellow crew and the Skipper in English, the language of the race.The Clipper Race is also a diverse and culturally rich environment. Your team will have people from several nations; an opportunity to learn about their language, humour, favourite food, history, and much more.

As part of the application process for potential crew members of the Clipper Race, a deposit is paid to the organisers, Clipper Ventures plc. In the event of your application being successful this is credited to your final invoice.

In the event of your application being unsuccessful, the company will refund £75 with £25 being retained to cover administration costs. And in the event of your being offered a place as a crew member on the race which you subsequently do not take up for whatever reason, you will forfeit the fee.

If you haven't already done so, download the Race Information Pack here. This includes the important information you need as a first step. You can also join a Discovery Webinar which we recommend before you make an application to become a Race Crew member.

To get regular news from the racing fleet, or other news via email, sign up to the newsletter. The Clipper Race YouTube channel is a great resource. You can also follow the Clipper Race social media feeds - the links are at the bottom of this page.

Clipper Race crew hail from all walks of life, some are sailing novices while others may hold sailing qualifications. It is important that all crew follow the same, safe, practices and drills on board. The Clipper-70 is a lean, mean ocean racing machine - not for the faint-hearted. They are by design stripped of all luxuries so your training will also prepare you for life on board from sleeping in bunks to cooking for your team mates.

Throughout the programme you will constantly progress and strive to ensure that you're trained to the very highest level. Working with professional skippers and mates on board 68-foot and 70-foot yachts to become competent, safe and efficient Race Crew. Crew members will be continually assessed and need to pass each level in order to progress to the next stage.

Also, the Clipper Race fleet is bespoke-designed for the testing conditions encountered on the circumnavigation - from light winds to storm conditions. Race Crew are trained on board these ocean racing yachts to experience their power and potential from day one. Each of the four one-week courses is as much part of your adventure and a relentless challenge in itself.

To find out more about the Clipper Race training program click here.

While training, you will be staying on the training yacht with fellow Race Crew and the professional Training Skippers. All your meals are eaten on board although there are opportunities to socialise in port, usually at the end of each course.

Any local accommodation you might choose ahead of, or after, your training is at your own expense. If needed we can recommend several options to suit your preferences. Your travel to and from the training is also at your own cost.

While training you will have down-time in the evening to review your training together as a team, and catch up with important emails if you need to.

There are four levels of mandatory training which all Clipper Race Crew must complete before their race. Each level takes a week to complete.

We run courses most weeks of the year so you can plan well ahead and choose the times that best suit your schedule. It is possible to complete more than one level of training back-to-back reducing overall travel costs.

The fourth level of training is only available after Race Crew are allocated to their teams, usually about three months before the start of the race edition. You will train with your Skipper and team while racing against the rest of the Clipper Race fleet.

A core element of the Clipper Race experience is our pioneering training programme that enables novices and skilled yachts-people to tackle the most challenging situations on the planet. The most important skill you’ll learn is being part of a multi-discipline high performance team that will function in every condition that Mother Nature can muster. In addition, when you have successfully completed all four levels of the Race Training, you will have a RYA Competent Crew qualification, RYA Sea Survival, and the Clipper Race Advanced Safety Course certificate.

In your starting destination, before joining your leg, you will also complete a short refresher training course with your Race Skipper with your team.

We encourage everyone to take any opportunity they can to sail and gain as much experience of being on the water as possible. Some Race Crew choose to participate in non-compulsory, additional courses, such as those offered by Hamble School of Yachting which provides Race Crew discounted rates.

If you are also electing to participate in one of the key roles on board such as Engineer, Medical Assistant, Sailmaker, Victualler or Media Crew for example, you will benefit from additional guidance and training in the immediate weeks before the start of the race edition.

The Clipper Race has trained more than 6,000 people from all walks of life. Some are unsure whether they will enjoy the Clipper Race experience but are not ready to give up their dream of becoming an ocean racer. If this sounds like you we recommend that you discuss completing the RaceTraining before committing to a race leg with the Crew Recruitment team at your Application Interview.

The Clipper Race training base is in Gosport, Hampshire, U.K. where the training fleet of 68-foot yachts is berthed.

See the full address details on our Training page.

Due to local constraints and conditions it is not always possible to create a standard start line. In order to enable the Clipper Race fleet to begin racing in these circumstances, the ‘Le Mans Start’ was invented and has been successfully used in all previous races.

The aim of all Skippers is to ensure that the Le Mans Start is as fair as practically possible. The procedure does not work if any of the skippers try to jump the gun or gain an unfair advantage during the start sequence. If the Duty Skipper suspects that an unfair advantage is being obtained by any boat they will halt the start process and re-start the sequence.

The procedure uses the standard start countdown of 10 min, 4 min, 1 min, Start.

1. Prior to the 10 minute signal all boats have their mainsails hoisted. Headsails hanked on, halyards and sheets attached, but NOT hoisted.
2. All boats motor slowly (speed set by Duty Skipper), approx 2 to 3 boat lengths apart in a line abreast on a pre-arranged heading. This heading is usually towards the finish.
3. Once the fleet is in a line abreast, the lead skipper signals the 10 minute gun via VHF on a pre-arranged channel. Engines shall be used to ensure that the boats are lined up accordingly (either reverse or forward).
4. At the 4 minute signal, all crew shall be aft of the forward coffee grinder.
5. At the one minute signal, engines are to be turned off.
6. Mainsails are trimmed to ensure the fleet stays in line. If the fleet drift out of line, the Duty Skipper can stop the sequence and start the process again.
7. At the start gun, the crew can move forward and the headsails can be hoisted.
8. All boats must hold the agreed course and separation for the first 10 minutes after the start gun.

Additional points:

-The order of the line up will usually be decided during the Pre-start Skippers Briefing - this is usually pulled out of a hat. (with the exception of the Duty Skipper’s position).

- No spinnakers for the first 10 minutes after the start gun.

- No course changes within the first 10 minutes of start gun.

- No luffing for the first 10 minutes after start gun.

- Boats are allowed to tack away from the line up, but must sail behind the fleet. Any boat that does this has no rights of way over those boats that have not tacked during the 10 minutes after the start gun.

Duty Skipper

- The nominated Duty Skipper will be in the middle of the line up at position 6. This is so that they can judge if the fleet are in a straight line.

- The Duty Skipper has overall control of the start sequence and if required, will halt the start sequence at any time up until the start gun.

- The Duty Skipper will ensure that the boats are lined up as fairly as possible for the start sequence.

- The Duty Skipper shall call out the start sequence on a pre-arranged VHF channel.

- The Duty Skipper shall contact the Race Office to confirm that the start has been successfully completed within 30 minutes of the start. The message shall include the official start time, the weather conditions at the start and any other relevant information (e.g. which boat led, tactics etc).

Stealth Mode is a concept first introduced by the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race to add an extra dose of inter-team competitiveness and a further strategic element to the circumnavigation. Stealth Mode is a tactical card which each team can use to hide their position from the rest of the fleet for a period of 24 hours. Up to two stealth modes may be available depending on the length of the race and they can be used back to back.

The Clipper Race Office team will still track the team's position every hour, but their position is not displayed on the Race Viewer or sent to the fleet for the designated time.

Teams automatically leave Stealth Mode once they are under 250 nautical miles from the finish line and are not allowed to use it within the first 24 hours of the race. Stealth Mode does not have to be used by each team but can definitely give an advantage during a race, especially when the skipper and navigators on board think they have spotted something in the weather reports that other teams may not have seen.

A line between two virtual marks which a team can choose to pass through. The first three teams who cross the gate gain extra race points (three for first, two for second and one for third).

A time trial between two lines of longitude or two lines of latitude. The fastest three teams gain extra race points (three for first, two for second and one for third).

During the overall Clipper Round the World Race each team will have the opportunity once only to play their ‘Joker’.

The ‘Joker’ means that all points gained from the yachts finishing position at the end of the nominated race will be doubled. e.g. if a team finishes 1^st then they will be awarded 24 points and if a team finishes 12^th then they will be awarded two points.

Any points gained from Scoring Gates or Ocean Sprints will be unaffected.

Each team that wants to play their ‘Joker’ must inform the Race Office in writing at the pre-race Skippers briefing on the day before departure of the nominated race. In the event that there is no planned Skippers briefing then a team must inform the Race Office in writing no later than 24 hours before departure of the nominated race.

Once the intention to play the ‘Joker’ has been received in writing by the Race Office this cannot be rescinded.

Each team may only play their ‘Joker’ once during the Clipper Round the World Race.

Teams are not obliged to use their ‘Joker’ at all.

Like all yacht racing there are a series of penalties for infringing the rules. Experience has shown that crews who are successful in the Clipper Race are those that are best able to combine the three elements of boat speed, preservation of equipment and effective repair of breakages.

The Clipper Race Committee’s normal method of penalising a yacht for an infringement of the race rules, or for being found guilty after a protest, is for a time or points penalty to be added to the result of that race. But we go beyond that and apply it to sail and also equipment damage. Thus, a penalty point system has been developed by the Clipper Race to encourage these three elements of good seamanship and safety.

Equipment Damage

The Clipper Race Committee keeps a running total of the costs of lost and damaged equipment and will impose 1 penalty point to the relevant Yacht when the running total reaches £500 and an additional 1 penalty point for every subsequent £500. The following is a list of typical examples, the list is not exhaustive:

i) loss of winch handles;

ii) Halyard jammer handles;

iii) serious damage to equipment, including winch drums and sewing machines requiring a replacement;

iv) loss of any running rigging, snatch blocks or handy billy;

v) serious damage to the deck, hull or rig;

The full circumstances of the particular incident will be considered by the Race Committee on an individual basis taking into account a statement from the Skipper. The replacement of safety related equipment will not incur penalty points.

Sail damage, repair or replacement

Yachts have one wardrobe of 11 sails issued for their use for the entire Race. Historically the teams that have taken best care of their sails have performed very well overall. The Clipper Race is a marathon, not a sprint. This fact is probably more relevant with regard to the attitude Skippers and crew have towards their sails than in any other area.

The general wear on the sails is directly proportional to the use and employment of the sail. When Skippers and crew exceed the prudent limits early in the Race they are weakening their sails, the effect of which may not be apparent until later in the Race. Any sail that has been damaged is never as efficient as one that has not been damaged. By damaging sails, Skippers and crew therefore are not only disadvantaged while the sail is not available but also handicap themselves for the rest of the Race.

Repairs to sails

The Skippers and crews will be responsible for sail repairs and maintenance during the Race and at all the port stops. When a sail is damaged beyond the practical resources of the crew members to repair, consideration will be given to repairing the sail using a local professional sailmaker. In all cases where repairs are required to be made by a professional sailmaker, the Race Committee keeps a running total of sail repair costs.

Two penalty points will be awarded to the relevant Yacht when the running total exceeds £500 (or local equivalent at an agreed exchange rate) and a further two penalty points awarded for every subsequent £500 for the duration of the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race. This applies to all sails and sail bags and is cumulative.

Penalty points will be deducted from the Yacht’s overall points tally and will not affect the published finishing position for any particular race. In making any awards, the Race Committee will take into account all factors including the variance of repair costs in the different ports and the scale of penalties awarded for replacement sails (see below).

The Race Committee will decide on whether badly damaged sails will be repaired or replaced. If it is decided that a sail is to be replaced the penalty points identified below will be awarded immediately. Only in exceptional circumstances will consideration be given to replacing sails.

Replacement of sails

In the event of the loss of a sail, or damage that is uneconomic or impractical to repair, the Race Committee will consider replacing the sail and awarding the Yacht a penalty. The full circumstances of the particular incident will be considered on an individual basis by the Race Committee taking into account the following guidelines:

i) The nature of the loss or the extent of the damage.

ii) The length of time of the whole race remaining, noting that the decision may reflect the need to safeguard the fulfilment of the Race of those crew who are taking part in the later legs of the race.

iii) The financial and practical aspects of local resources against the cost and shipping time for replacement sails. This could result in a decision to replace a badly damaged sail rather than repair it. In this case the replacement sail may have to be shipped to the next practical port.

iv) If the damaged/lost sail can be replaced immediately by one of the sails carried in the fleet support containers. Please note that these sails are old and have been previously used.

The penalty to replace any sail is calculated on a sliding scale with higher penalties incurred as the race progresses, so as to encourage good seamanship right up to the end.

i) 5 Penalty Points – Leg 1 and Leg 2

ii) 6 Penalty Points – Leg 3 and Leg 4

iii) 7 Penalty Points – Leg 5 and Leg 6

iv) 8 Penalty Points – Leg 7 and Leg 8

Penalty points will be deducted from the Yacht’s overall points tally and will not affect the published finishing position for any particular race.

First and foremost, you and your team must take care of your yacht. After a warm welcome, and well deserved beer, you will be responsible for deep-cleaning, maintenance, re-provisioning and race planning. You can then get some down time, see the sights and catch your breath but if you're not ready to race when you cross the start line, you've already lost.

A stopover in port allows time for friends, family and local communities to visit the fleet and learn more about your experiences during the race. Race Partners will often have an active presence during this time and you may be involved with their planned activities. The Clipper Race will also have public facing events such as open boat days which are supported by Clipper Race Crew.

It is more than likely crew will have to go through customs and immigration upon arrival. The Race Office team try and ensure this is completed as quickly as possible and after the official arrival procedures, Crew are free to meet friends and family.

Corporate events in port are a great opportunity for crew to share their stories with partners and members of the public, create new experiences, and form new contacts and friendships. The Clipper Race has two main revenue streams; the Clipper Race Crew fees and the rights our partners pay to be associated with the race. Without one, the other becomes more expensive. Each Clipper Race Crew member’s contract explains that they will be expected to help with corporate days and open boats for two days per leg, or six days if they are completing the full circumnavigation.

Photos of yacht arrivals and departures will be posted on the Clipper Race website and Facebook page. Once your loved one has returned from their Clipper Race, they will be sent information on how they can access and download these files.

Skippers value the support family and friends give to their crew members, so if you are visiting a port during the Clipper Race, there should be the opportunity to meet your loved one’s Skipper. Skippers’ schedules in port can be demanding however, as they are required to attend meetings, fulfil sponsorship requirements, and carry out yacht maintenance. Also, keep in mind Skippers need down time too, so that they are fully prepared to lead their team in the next race.

If you are visiting your loved one in a stopover, you should be able to have a look around their yacht, though it’s unlikely to be possible on race arrival or departure days. In most ports there are also public open boat days so you will be able to have a tour of a yacht, even if it’s not the one your loved one is on. Remember they are all identical yachts.

You can sign your children up as Junior Crew Supporters through the website. They will be sent a challenge and activity for each leg of the race by email, which will teach them about life on board the Clipper Race yachts, the countries and cities the race visits, and sailing in general. This mix of arts and crafts, fact finding and games, are aimed at children aged between five to eleven years old, however those outside this age range are also welcome to take part.

The official Clipper 2023-24 Race - Race Crew Supporters Facebook group is a great way to chat to other supporters and find out.

Maybe! By signing up to the official Clipper 2023-24 Race - Race Crew Supporters Facebook group, you will be able to connect to other supporters and find out.

Each of the eleven teams will be given a deadline in order for the Skipper and Crew Blogs to be published on the Clipper Race website. A team may however miss this deadline due to sailing conditions or technical difficulties so don’t panic if the blog is delayed.

The Clipper Race Viewer will be in operation for each race. This will be available via the Clipper Race website and will update the position of each yacht on the route once an hour. It will also update the overall position of each yacht, and let you know when a yacht has crossed the Finish Line.

There will be regular race updates posted on the website and Facebook groups along with Skipper and Crew Blogs from each team. You should also be able to watch the fleet Arrivals and Departures as well as Prizegiving at each stopover (wifi signal dependent).

Yes, it is. We will include a postal address for each port in the Supporter's Stopover Guide information sent out several weeks before the fleet’s arrival into port. Please ensure that you check the regulations for the country you are sending mail to so your package complies with any customs restrictions. The Clipper Race Team will also only arrive a day or so before the fleet, so please try to time your mail as it will not always be possible for all of the locations to receive mail prior to the fleet’s arrival.

We also recommend you liaise with other Race Crew Supporters who might be able to take a letter out for you if they are travelling to the stopover.

Stopovers are busy times for crew due to yacht maintenance, corporate commitments (for example open boats and sail days) and race briefings. These commitments mean your crew member might not be able to spend every day with you. Depending on when they arrive in port, crew should expect to get around two days off, if they are continuing on to the next leg. However, this can vary from port to port depending on when they arrive, and how much maintenance is required to their yacht or sails. You are of course very welcome to help the team out too with for example deep clean or victualling.

In some of the stopover ports, there will be public sail days which you will be able to book a place on. Information about these opportunities will be sent out in the Supporter's Stopover Guide prior to the fleet’s arrival. It is not possible to take family and friends out on the corporate sails in port, as the places are for our corporate partners.

There will be spectator boats to watch the Parade of Sail on the water in some ports, depending on port logistics, demand for tickets and availability of charter vessels. Details of supporter boats, and how to secure tickets, will be conveyed in the Supporter's Stopover Guide issued prior to the fleet’s arrival into port.

We know Clipper Race Crew Supporters want to come and see their loved ones receive awards and take part in the celebrations, but the number of attendees will be limited by the size of the venue provided by the host port. A certain number of tickets will be reserved for supporters and information on how to obtain tickets and costs will be announced eight weeks prior to the fleet’s arrival in port. Tickets will be prioritised for those supporting a crew member who took part in the race to the stopover port. You will not need to obtain a ticket for your crew member as these are allocated separately.

The Marine Travel fares are only available to Clipper Race Crew as you must be registered as a sailor to benefit from these specialist marine fares.

Each stopover will have its own flavour depending on what the port has to offer. We will aim to issue an overview of each port several weeks before the Clipper Race fleet’s arrival, with relevant updates released close to the fleet's arrival.

Where you stay during a stopover is entirely up to you, although it is helpful to be in easy reach of the marina where the yachts will be located. Some people like to stay in hotels, others prefer a self-catered apartment or house. Make sure the latter has a washing machine! We suggest you try to book flexible accommodation in case plans change. Several weeks before the Clipper Race fleet’s arrival, information will be issued regarding any special offers available in that particular stopover port, as well as links to local tourist websites and other useful information.

When a Clipper Race yacht arrives at its destination, there are a number of tasks that need to happen before crew are able to leave their yachts. The time it takes to complete these tasks will vary depending on the requirements of the port and country, and if there are any official welcoming ceremonies planned. Here is an overview of a typical arrival.

Race Finish: When a yacht crosses the Finish Line, the team will need to drop and stow their sails, put up the team branding and battle flags, and motor to port. The length of this motor will depend on the port and can take a number of hours. Some ports also have restrictions on when a yacht can arrive, which could cause further delays. Information on the approximate time it will take to motor from the Finish Line to the marina will be publicised for each port.

Yacht Arrival in Marina: The Clipper Race Team will meet the yacht as soon as it is tied up in the marina and run the crew through the practicalities for that marina and stopover. A team photo will also be taken and the skipper and members of crew will be interviewed by both the Clipper Race Communications Team and media outlets. This should take around 20 minutes.

Customs and Immigration: The customs and immigration process will depend on what country the port is in. It could be either a face-to-face passport check on board the yacht, or a meeting with customs and immigration officers at another location. The yacht may also be searched for restricted items which can add time to the process. This usually takes between 20 and 60 minutes.

Welcome Ceremony: Certain ports will put on a welcome ceremony for each yacht arrival, which could include the crew being paraded and officially welcomed by dignitaries, and / or entertained by local cultural acts. After it concludes, your loved one will be able to join you for the long-awaited hugs and kisses.

While you will be able to greet the yacht from the marina, you won’t be allowed onto the pontoon until the yacht has cleared customs and immigration. This process is dependent on the rules of the country the yacht has entered, but the Clipper Race team will endeavour to make it as quick as possible. Remember, if you were meeting your loved one at an international airport, you wouldn’t be able to see them until they had cleared customs and immigration and collected their bags. The same rules apply when arriving by sea.

The Clipper Race Team will update the estimated times of arrival (ETAs) as the fleet nears the Finish Line. Sometimes, the Finish Line can be a distance away from port, and therefore there will be a delay between the race finishing and when the yacht arrives in port. Some ports also have rules about when a yacht can arrive, so please keep checking the Clipper Race website for up-to-date estimates. Due to the nature of sailing, the ETAs can regularly change depending on the weather, but we will update you of any changes as quickly as possible.