And with that, the 2024 training season comes to an end!

It’s a wrap on Clipper Race Training for 2024!

Becoming an ocean-racer and overcoming the most challenging conditions on the planet requires training. Every crew member, regardless of previous experience, will complete four levels of pioneering Clipper Race training that enables them to tackle the demanding situations they will face as they sail around the world.

Since March 2024, hundreds of new sailors have stepped on board a Clipper 68 or 70 to undertake their training ahead of the race of their lives. This season, the Clipper Race Training department has run over 60 courses for crew, with more future sailors set to step on board in the New Year to learn the ropes on the race yachts.

We chatted to some of the Clipper 2025-26 Race crew who have started their training this year to reflect on their experience, and offer some handy tips to those starting their training soon:

Loveday Fethney, 58, Advanced Clinical Practitioner from Plymouth, UK, circumnavigator:

Why did you sign up to the race?

“I used to dingy sail as a child. I lived down the road from Claire Francis when she did her single-handed voyage when I was tiny, and I was always fascinated by it. I love the water! I knew of the Clipper Race and then suddenly as you do, you’re scrolling, and you see the ads. So, I found out a bit more about it, had a chat with Chris and was hooked.

“I didn’t just want to do one leg because I thought it would be over too soon! Then I thought I would do two legs together and picked Leg 6 and 7 and I did my Level 1 in July. I went home, and within 24 hours I’d signed up to do the full circumnavigation!

“Just having the week on Level 1, you get that introspection and thinking because of my age, how much longer I’m going to be fit enough for? Let’s just do it!”

Image: Loveday during training

Tell us about your training experience?

“I’d dinghy sailed as a child, but Clipper Race training is so much more difficult because there are so many more sheets, three sails instead of two or one, and the steering is different. But I was born to be on the water, I’ve always loved it and been fascinated by it.

“I always thought about the full circumnavigation but thought it just wouldn’t be possible for me. But coming here and doing the training, I thought about it a lot and spoke to a lot of people.

“On Level 2, it was great getting into the watch system and seeing how that is going to pan out. I probably slept too much because I was always asleep when I was off watch! The enormity of it hit me a little bit. There was a night watch, it was relatively calm and there was just me on the helm with my helm buddy, and the enormity hits you: the North Pacific is just going to be huge! I love an adventure, I’m very determined, very competitive, I’m terrified but I am so excited by it!”

Susan Truscott, 47, former Diplomat, from the UK now living in Texas USA, circumnavigator

Why did you sign up to circumnavigate?

“I decided to sign up purely to challenge myself! I’d never crossed an ocean before and I thought, if I’m going to do it, why not do the whole thing!

How has training been for you?

“Clipper Race training has been super intensive but super awesome. I’ve met very different people from all over the world on each level of training. I’ve had different skippers for each level, and I can’t praise them highly enough. I loved it!”

Image: Susan Truscott

Do you have any advice for future crew starting their training in the New Year?

“I would say, number one, don’t worry about it! Everyone is literally in the same boat. You are also going to pack too many clothes! That’s OK, you’ll get used to it. Just get on with it- try every different thing on the boat and don’t worry if you’re not the strongest, you’ll have different skills. Don’t worry if you’re not the best sailor, you will learn and improve. Have confidence in yourself and your teammates!”

Justina Chrapan, 42, Accountant from Germany racing on Leg 8

Why did you sign up for the final leg?

“I wanted to cross the Atlantic and it's the homecoming leg! I have never sailed before. I wanted to do some sailing, but I don’t know any sailors and I don’t live near the coast, so I signed up to learn to sail and to do something special. It’s also a race in a big team, and the combination of that is what I like.”

How has training been for you?

“The first two or three days of Level 1 were super hard. I read the Training Manual before, but it’s not just a new sailing language, but also a foreign language for me! It’s really hard and I had a lot of questions. But Guy [Waites], my Skipper, was super nice and so patient, and the team was so nice, helping me with a lot of things. When I got how it works and understood a little more it was super fun. From Level 1 to Level 3, I have learnt so much and it's really fun now!”

Do you have any tips for crew that will start their training next year?

“Just relax! The people are so kind and so patient. You can ask anything, there are no stupid questions, and everyone will help you.”

Voula Skinner, 56, Executive Support Officer from Tasmania, Legs 3 and 4

Image: Voula on training

Why did you sign up for your chosen legs?

“I had originally chosen Legs 2 and 3. But after Level 1 and speaking to the First Mate on board, he recommended Leg 4 because of the variable conditions; you are going through different oceans, and you go both upwind and downwind. I’m very excited to cross the Southern India Ocean, get to the Roaring Forties, go past home and up to the northern part of Australia.”

Had you done much sailing before? What have your first two training levels been like?

“I’ve been on yachts a fair bit, but I don’t know how to sail. It’s very challenging and humbling. I had two different skippers and mates, and both those teams were absolutely brilliant. It’s a safe space to learn, and its slow instruction so you can pick up on the key sailing principles.

“Level 2 was a bit challenging, especially when you are out at sea. By day three you are quite fatigued and it’s absolutely brutal, but very necessary to give you a taste of what’s coming! By day four you start to get into a rhythm, and you know what’s ahead of you now, so you feel a lot more prepared than when you first start. It’s been a great experience.

“I had Patrick as my skipper [Clipper 2013-14 and 2019-20 Race Skipper] on Level 2, and it just feels like he’s a part of the ocean! He is very cool, laid back and patient. The instructions are really step by step and you just build your confidence.”

“There were times on Level 2 that I was really starting to doubt myself. I thought no, do the hard thing!”

David Lees, Electronics Engineer from Sydney, Legs 5 and 6:

How much sailing had you done prior to starting your training and what has the experience been like for you?

“I’d barely sailed! I’d dinghy sailed years ago and maybe one day on a yacht but that’s it! A lot of information comes at you, and I’m quite surprised I coped and came out the other end! But the instructors are excellent. I had Joerg and Tom, then Ian and Patrick, and both sets of instructors made great teams. The Skippers were great teachers and very wise. I really enjoyed it!”

Do you have any advice for crew starting their training soon?

“You don’t need to pack as much as you think you’re going to need! Especially for Level 2. In terms of the learning curve, you might feel like a fool the whole time, but on the second day, you look back at what you learned on the first day and that was really easy and it’s what you got on the second day that’s hard, and then the same again the next day and so on.”

William Smith, 49, Rope Access Technician, from Newfoundland, USA, Leg 6:

What has Clipper Race Training been like for you?

“Level 2 was another awesome experience with the crew. I met new people, and everyone who is doing this is in it for the same reasons, but everyone has a different background. You meet so many people and become a family on board so quickly! I’d never sailed before in my life and decided last year to buy a boat as I had signed up for the Clipper Race. The Clipper Race training was my first experience on a boat with other people. Everyone is like-minded and it's a great experience. I was on the first course of the year in February, so we had some additional staff to help out, which was awesome.

“With Level 2, you get back on and all the stuff that you had learned previously has kind of gone, but so quickly you catch on and the crew and staff helped. They let us become a team- they were there for our safety, but we ran the boat, so it was a great experience.”

Helen Leonard, Paediatrician from Newcastle, Legs 7 and 8

How has your training been, Helen?

“Level 2 was pretty intense and tiring. Because everything is new and I wanted as much practice as possible, I signed up to the Knox-Johnston Cup (in September) straight after my Level 2, to consolidate my knowledge, as it’s that repetition that really helps.”

How did taking part in the Knox-Johnston Cup help improve your skills and knowledge on the Clipper Race yachts?

“It was great training with a different Skipper as you learn different tips from their slightly different approaches. It helped build up confidence and experience as a newcomer to sailing. It was also a good introduction to racing and tactics. It was great training with a different Skipper as you learn different tips from their slightly different approaches. It helped build up confidence and experience as a newcomer to sailing. It was also a good introduction to racing and tactics. We encountered some challenging conditions during the race which made me realise how much I had learned already but also what to practice It was a great reinforcement of the skills learned during training.”

What has been the highlight of your race training so far, and what tips would you give to future crew?

“We remembered to time our final man overboard drill on Level 2 and it was much quicker than we would have anticipated (and very much quicker than our first one!). It was good to have solid evidence of how much we have improved.”

Clipper Race Training kicks off again in February 2025. Find out more about what Clipper Race crew undertake here and check out some additional opportunities to get out on the water with Clipper Events, Hamble School of Yachting and SKIRR Adventures.