Vicky Ellis to lead Swiss entry in next Clipper Race

The only professional female sailor competing in the 2013-14 edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has been selected as the skipper for the Swiss yacht entry. Vicky Ellis (30) is the only woman out of the twelve professional skippers leading amateur teams in the race and only the third female skipper in the 17 year history of the Clipper Race.

Following a rigorous selection process Vicky, from Bristol in the UK, has been chosen to lead first time team partners Swiss Sailing around the globe during the 40,000-mile, 11 month endurance challenge, the longest ocean race on the planet

No stranger to the Clipper Race, Vicky has worked as a training skipper for the Clipper 11-12 Race but set her sights firmly on skippering her own yacht entry for the ninth edition of the biennial event. With the start of the competition just months away, Vicky is already looking forward to leading the Swiss entry and her crew around the globe.

“The Swiss have a great reputation in competitive international sailing,” said Vicky Ellis. “I am sure there will be strong interest in our progress and I look forward to leading the team successfully on behalf of our partners Swiss Sailing and Mercy Ships.”

Originally from landlocked Worcestershire, Vicky moved to Bristol in her teens where she studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol. Having fallen in love with sailing at a young age at 15-years-old Vicky completed her RYA competent crew certificate, before going on to join her university’s sailing team.

After graduating from Bristol University with first-class honours, Victoria went onto work as a Chartered Engineer before joining Clipper Ventures as a training skipper, assisting the amateur Clipper 11-12 Race crew fulfil their full potential. With several ocean crossings already under her belt, skippering an entry in the Clipper Race has always been the ultimate dream.

Swiss Sailing was founded in 1939 and counts 146 sailing clubs and 46 boat classes as members to Switzerland’s umbrella organisation for sailing, kite and windsurfing. It is one of the major goals of Swiss Sailing to promote sailing among young people. This year more than 21,000 sailors of all age groups received a regatta license to compete.

Switzerland will also carry the logo of Mercy Ships, raising awareness for the hospital ship charity which provides free surgery and medical care. Mercy Ships partners with local communities to improve health care, offering training and advice, materials and hands-on assistance in Africa and around the world.

Vicky added: “I am confident we can inspire even more young people from Switzerland into sailing and to consider participating in the Clipper Race in the future.”

There are a limited number of berths remaining for people of all ages to compete in the Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race. There is a minimum age limit of 18 years old.

The Clipper Race will depart London on 1 September and will return there the following July after racing more than 40,000 miles around the world visiting 14 ports on six continents.