THE RACE OF THEIR LIVES

It’s a month since the Clipper 2013-14 Race finished in London.  680 crew challenged the world’s oceans on board the newly designed fleet of twelve Clipper 70 ocean racers, visiting 16 ports in eleven countries on six continents.

Each biennial edition of the Clipper Race we create an exclusive facebook group for crew to share their experiences and reflect on their achievements. As the crew settle back into life on dry land they have been sharing some final thoughts of which we’ve selected a few highlights here:

Michelle Porter, a round the world crew member from London on board Derry~Londonderry~Doire said:

“Clipper Ventures you have been awesome! As for everyone I sailed with or met along the way - You Rock...absolute legends!”

Hong Kong resident and Leg 6 and 8 crew member on board PSP Logistics, Doug Bellingham added:

“I have met people who have touched my soul and through their courage got the power to keep going when I never thought I could. What a ride.”

Deborah O'Neill, a Leg 7 crew member on board Old Pulteney from Cheshire said:  

“Words don't describe what this has meant to me.  Thank you to Crew Recruitment Manager David Cusworth and all of the Clipper Race team for making me smile, cry (in a good way) and laugh thousands of times in the last couple of years. Follow the action as Sir Robin Knox-Johnston competes in Round Britain and Ireland Race tomorrow! Love my new Clipper Race family xxx”

Jamaica Get All Right crew member Nick Bush, who competed in Leg 1 to 3 added:

“The whole thing certainly enhanced my life, thank you Clipper Ventures, you're not perfect but then again no company is, but the bottom line is there is no-where else that you can experience what we did. I have made friends for life and had a brilliant time. Thank you and good night.”

The last edition of the race had its biggest following to date with many friends, family and fans clocking in hourly for the latest news and information on the Clipper Race website, Race Viewer, YouTube and social media sites.

Prue Sheppard the wife of Leg 1 and 4 Mission Performance crew member Alan Sheppard was one of them, on the conclusion of the Clipper 2013-14 Race she said:

“Thank you to everyone for allowing me an "armchair" ride during the race. I have met some amazing people, enjoyed all the spills and thrills of the race through social media and who can forget the Race Viewer! And of course I am a very, very proud supporter of Mission Performance! Thanks for memories that will last a lifetime.”

As the Clipper 2013-14 Race facebook group closes, former crew and fans can still join in with all the latest news and comment via our main facebook page HERE via Twitter @ClipperRace or on the official race website.

With over 390 crew members already signed up to the next edition of the race in 2015-16, their facebook group is already up and running as a new season of ocean racers prepares to take on the challenge of the Clipper Race to achieve something remarkable.