​Grahame Robb Associates Appointed Official Learning and Development Supplier to Clipper 2019-20 Race.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has announced that Grahame Robb Associates (GRA) has been appointed to deliver a bespoke leadership development programme, specially designed to hone the leadership and team development skills of its professional Skippers and Mates ahead of the twelfth race edition.

Grahame Robb, Managing Director of GRA, said: “The Clipper Race is a high profile endurance race which, by its very nature, challenges people to push beyond their comfort zone. We have 30 years of experience supporting leaders to develop by pushing the boundaries of their comfort zone and enhancing their awareness of their own leadership style. We are delighted to partner with the Clipper Race Skippers and Mates to enhance their leadership skills through practical, experiential learning. We’ll be helping them to be the very best they can be in high pressure situations, enabling these leaders to get the best out of their teams whilst racing around the world.”

UK-based Grahame Robb Associates are experts in providing people and organisational development training programmes on a global scale. They have over 30 years’ experience supporting corporate organisations and sports teams with practical, results-focused programmes that produce better leaders, and more effective teams. They deliver strategic leadership development, high performing team training and assist behaviour and culture change initiatives.

The Clipper Race is not only one of the planet’s most extreme endurance events, but also one of its toughest leadership challenges. Racing a 70 foot yacht around the globe, whilst taking on Mother Nature’s harshest environments for almost a year, is not a job for the faint-hearted. Add in a non-professional multinational crew of varied, age, backgrounds, cultures and experience levels to the mix and Skippers and Mates need to be outstanding instructors, exceptional motivators, and strong role models.

Grahame Robb Associates operates a Challenge by Choice ethos. This ethos encourages people to push the boundaries of what they thought they were capable of and uncover new strengths they didn’t realise they had. The bespoke GRA leadership development programme for the Clipper Race will build on the Skippers’ and Mates’ existing leadership capabilities. Additional tools and opportunities will also be available for honing their skills, leading practical exercises and participating in constructive reviews. The results will be to effectively build and lead high performing teams for the duration of the 40,000nm race.

Clipper Race Chairman and Co-Founder, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “Continuous learning and development is crucial for any sailor, and for any leader. Through our new partnership with Grahame Robb Associates, the Clipper 2019-20 Race Skippers will be given expert support in their preparations to build effective, cohesive teams from scratch.”

The chosen eleven Clipper 2019-20 Race Skippers have a vast array of sailing, racing and leadership experience. The GRA programme aims to develop, maximise and build on these existing skills through experiential learning in an environment which simulates the pressures of real-life race conditions.

Leadership and team development training will also be delivered to the Mates, and support will be provided to Race Crew as they prepare for the unique challenge ahead. Regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges, the Clipper Race is the only event which trains everyday people to make six ocean crossings, covering six continents, testing them to their absolute limit.