Leg 4: Towering ocean swells to tropical squalls

Leg 4 is famed for its towering swells, powerful winds, and exhilarating downwind sailing as Race Crew navigate the southernmost point of the circumnavigation.

Despite just finishing Leg 3, one of toughest legs of the circumnavigation, there's no respite yet as the conditions ahead on the fourth leg of the circuit will challenge Clipper Race crew in every way possible. And once circumnavigating crew have completed Leg 4, they will have passed the halfway point, ticking off over 20,000nm.

Image: Splashy conditions on Leg 4

After a tough race across the Roaring Forties, and some time soaking up the Western Australian sunshine, once you set off on Leg 4 it’s only a matter of days before you round the southwestern tip of Australia, Cape Leeuwin, and you are back into the higher latitudes and facing its relentless conditions. Huge rolling swells, strong winds and fast, downwind sailing will become a feature as the fleet races around the base of Tasmania, tracking the furthest south of the entire circumnavigation.

Watch: Sailing on Leg 4 of the Clipper Race

But you aren’t out of the woods yet. After rounding Tasmania, it's back to ocean swells, changeable breezes and strong currents offshore of Australia's East Coast, as you sail towards the Tropical North of the country. This section will be highly tactical, with plenty of sail changes making for action-packed watches.

Image: Spinnakers up as the fleet left Fremantle on the last edition

Ryan Gibson, Skipper of the Dare To Lead team on the 2023-24 edition commented on the leg: “Leg 4 was a fantastic part of the race with some impressive sailing, especially on the west to east coast race where it felt like a mini–Roaring Forties leg as we dipped so far south. This was followed by a very tactical and challenging race as you proceed north along the East Coast with the East Australian Current and some heavy winds rounding Tasmania. Adding in the wildlife and spectacular stopovers giving you a real taste of Australia, I'd highly recommend this leg to all.”

Image: Varied conditions make for a busy time up on deck

Aside from the challenging and variable conditions faced, a highlight of this leg is getting to spend Christmas and seeing in the New Year at sea. Far from home, with crew mates as their family, these unique Christmases may be different from the norm but are certainly ones for the memory book. Christmas carolling, presents, full roast dinners cooked in the galley, messages from home and even visits from Santa Claus, the Race Crew pull out all the stops for the festivities. For those looking to complete a Clipper Race leg, this particular one can be a great option for crew who want to maximise paid time off from work, as the racing takes place during the festive season.

Image: Christmas on UNICEF

Laura Hampton, First Mate on UNICEF on the previous race edition added: “We have sailed over 20,000nm in the Clipper Race, and Leg 4 has been one of my favourites so far. To spend Christmas Day at our ice limiting latitude of 44 degrees south, New Year's Eve rounding Tasmania in 60 knots of wind surfing down waves, hitting 20 knots boat speed, to then sail into one of the most beautiful places on earth: the Whitsundays, in hot and sweaty conditions, was pretty epic.

Image: Laura Hampton (L)

“While the sailing was diverse and exciting, for me, Leg 4 epitomized the sense of community on board. Sailors are a special bunch of transient misfits and edge seekers. After crossing three of the world’s great oceans, and sailing 20,000 miles, spending ‘the holidays’ together felt like a natural point to celebrate how far we have come as a team and a boat family and get excited for all that is to come!”

Sailing in Australasian waters also features the chance to experience warm and friendly destinations: the race has historically visited incredibly host cities in Australia and New Zealand, from the rugged beauty of Western Australia to the vibrant, sun-soaked East Coast cities, up to Queensland’s Tropical North where beautiful vistas, azure water and incredible wildlife awaits.

Image: Clipper Race fleet racing out of Newcastle, NSW

Nano Antia Bernardez, Clipper 2023-24 Race Skipper on Yacht Club Punta del Este sums up this stage of the adventure: “Racing around Australia has it all: good steady winds with sky blue water, big surfs on high waves south of Tasmania, confused sea states around the Bass Strait, squalls, light airs... it's like doing a circumnavigation in one leg as you get a little bit of everything all together. No doubt it's one of the most active and more challenging legs, not only because leaving the West Coast takes you back to the Roaring Forties, but also because the East Coast has all the reefs, shallows and islands you can imagine and that makes navigation a pure art and a super challenge that requires everyone on board to perform, and be focused and engaged at all times.”

Image: YCPE racing on Leg 4

Leandre Terblanche, a Qingdao crew member from South Africa who raced on Leg 4 reported from a blog whilst at sea: “We have had high winds and swells, wind holes and sunny days, rain, beautiful sunrises and sunsets and dark starry nights. We even had dolphins surfing the waves from the bow and whales playing in the water at a distance. Sometimes I wake up for watch wondering if it was all a wonderful dream... I look forward to what lies ahead in this race even though it is sometimes so unpredictable. Maybe it is the unpredictability and uncertainty that Mother Nature brings that draw so many to the ocean. For me it has always been the great love, peace and serenity I feel being near, on or in the ocean.”

Want to experience all of this for yourself? Spaces are available on this exhilarating leg on the 2025-26 edition. To find out more, request further information or book an interview, click the link below.