Introducing the Clipper 2025-26 Race Skippers

“Sailing is a level playing field – with the ocean an equaliser”

  • Natalie Hill
  • 26/03/25
  • The Race
  • 4 mins read

A stellar line up of Skippers has been announced for the Clipper 2025-26 Race – bringing with them a wealth of sailing, instructing and ocean racing experience.

The eleven Skippers hail from six nations across the globe, with the sailing professionals flying their flags for England, Wales, Ireland, France, South Africa and The Netherlands.

All skippers went through a rigorous selection process led by the Clipper Race Management Team. The team’s Race Director, Deputy Race Director and Race Manager have all competed as a Race Skipper on previous editions and therefore understand the unique requirements of this role.

Looking ahead to the event’s 14th edition, Clipper Race Director, Dale Smyth, says: "Our selection process is tough, and rightly so, as these individuals are taking on one of the toughest jobs in the global sailing industry. They need to not only be incredibly good sailors but able to lead, inspire and look after a big team of diverse individuals across the harshest oceans on the planet.”

Please welcome the Clipper 2025-26 Race Skippers:

Alistair Dickson

Welsh

A world, European, and triple national champion in dinghy sailing, Alistair has raced worldwide and led sailing expeditions. He looks forward to building a high-performance team, creating unforgettable experiences, and collecting plenty of tales to tell.

Angela Brandsma

Dutch

Angela has a lifetime of sailing experience, growing up dinghy sailing, and winning two World Championships. Since 2015, she has built a career in ocean racing, completing multiple transatlantic crossings. Joining the Clipper Race Training team in 2019, Angela completed two training seasons as professional sailing staff before going on to First Mate for the last three legs of the Clipper 2019-20 Race. She looks forward to leading her team on this incredible adventure.

David Sautret

French

David brings a wealth of racing experience to his role as Clipper 2025-26 Race Skipper. From windsurfing in childhood to racing high-profile sailing events to teaching, he has built a career on the water. He says taking part in the race is a dream come true and looks forward to forging a happy, tight-knit, resilient team.

Dylan Kotze

South African

Inspired by fellow Capetonians and former Clipper Race Skippers Dale Smyth and David ‘Wavy’ Immelman, Dylan looks forward to flying the flag for his hometown as a Race Skipper. With 20 years of sailing experience, he has since built a career focused on instructing, from RYA Competent Crew through to Yachtmaster Ocean level. He is eager to shape his team and lead them into his hometown of Cape Town at the end of Leg 2.

Ella Hebron

British

Ella’s first sailing memories were on a flotilla holiday with her grandad and family. She progressed from dinghy sailing to yachting, building a career in racing, deliveries, and instructing. Having circumnavigated on the Clipper 2023-24 Race as a First Mate, she now returns as Skipper and looks forward to creating a competitive team with kindness, respect, and unity.

Gavin Rees

Welsh

For Gavin, becoming a Clipper Race Skipper fulfils a childhood dream. Inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Golden Globe Race achievements, Gav is now preparing to lead his own team in the Clipper Race. Sailing at every opportunity, Gav has experience in competitive sailing as well as longer offshore passages. He looks forward to coaching his team and inspiring his daughters.

Guy Waites

British

Guy, an experienced skipper, returns to the Clipper Race having been a First Mate on the 2017-18 edition and then leading a team as Skipper in the Clipper 2019-20 Race. Waites also sailed solo around the world in the Golden Globe Race 2022. A regular Clipper Race Training Skipper, Guy looks forward to leading a team on the upcoming edition, honing his sailing skills and focusing on tactics.

Heather Thomas

British

Heather began her sailing career in 2015 when she was awarded a bursary to join the Clipper 2015-16 Race, going on to compete on Legs 6, 7 and 8. Fast forward to over 100,000 miles sailed, and twelve ocean crossings, including skippering Maiden to victory in the McIntyre Ocean Globe Race, she’s back to lead her team on the Clipper 2025-26 Race as Skipper.

Lowri “Lou” Boorman

Welsh

Competitive sailing is in Lou’s blood. By 16, she was British, Ireland, and Welsh Female Champion. After becoming the youngest skipper of the Round Britain and Ireland Race, Lou’s career has taken her worldwide. She’s looking forward to sharing her knowledge and empowering her crew in her role as a Clipper Race Skipper.

Philip Quinn

Irish

Philip returns as a Clipper Race Skipper for the second consecutive edition after leading Qingdao in the 2023-24 edition. With over 40 years of experience and numerous sailing accolades, he is eager to complete his circumnavigation goal, lead his own team from the start, and help them achieve their goals.

Terry Kavanagh

Irish

Terry caught the sailing bug after a sailing trip in the Caribbean. Soon after he qualified as an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean, lived on board a yacht with his wife, and completed his first circumnavigation as First Mate on the Ocean Globe Race. Terry now looks forward to leading a tight-knit team on his Clipper Race.

Now recruited, the eleven Skippers undergo five months of intensive preparation to hone their skills across a range of areas, from on the water drills, to studying SOPs (standard operating procedures) and leading Clipper Race Training courses. They will also undergo training with Race Partner Grahame Robb Associates designed to hone pre-existing leadership skills, focusing on resilience, teamwork, and decision-making in high-pressure environments, critical for successfully navigating a 40,000-nautical-mile circumnavigation.

Many of the Skippers recruited for this edition have worked their way through the Clipper Race sailing pathway, starting out as a Race Crew, First Mates or Training Skipper or Mate and progressing to the much sought after role of Skipper.

Clipper 2025-26 Race Skipper, Ella Hebron, says: “Sailing is a level playing field – with the ocean an equaliser. It’s not going to treat male or female, older or younger people any differently to each other. The relentlessness of the ocean can’t be manipulated, it’s there to give everyone the same challenges and everyone the same joys.”

The Skippers will be joined by the eleven First Mates who will be leading with them from early April.