​Like father, like son - duo complete ocean adventure together

Niel and Ben Holt, a father-and-son duo from Maulden, Bedfordshire, have just finished sailing over 6,000nm around America together on Leg 7 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht race, and are due to arrive in Washington, DC on Monday 17 June, the day after Father’s Day.

Ben is sailing on Our Isles and Oceans and has “bragging rights” over his father, he explains, as his team ‘just pipped Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam to the post’ on this race to Washington, DC.

Our Isles and Oceans managed to sneak a win over Ha Long Bay,Viet Nam team on Race 12: Come Sea DC, with both teams placing fifth and sixth respectively on the race from Panama up to Washington, DC.

Reporting from the motor through the Chesapeake Bay, 31-year-old Ben reports: “We are really excited to be getting into DC. It was a pretty exciting end to the race, we ended up less than two miles from each other on the Finish Line. There was some fun overtaking manoeuvres on that last day: dad overtook us, then we overtook them. Dad’s team beat us in the last race, so now we are even!

Image: Ben Holt

“I’m looking forward to catching up with him tomorrow, we already agreed to go to breakfast together when we get in and I’m sure we will have a hug and a chat.”

His father Niel summed up the experience: “So coming to the end of the experience, it’s mixed emotions really. It’s been good fun, there’s been highs and lows. Seeing Ben is going to be great, and he’s wished me Happy Father’s Day earlier today.

Image: Niel Holt

“To share the experience has been great, we’ve now got so much to talk about in the years to come. Our Isles and Oceans beat us in this current race, but overall but we got more points!”

The pair decided to take on the Clipper Race together, after briefly considering climbing Kilimanjaro. The duo’s shared love of watersports encouraged the decision and haven’t looked back since. You can read more about the duo’s story behind signing up for the race here.

Inspired by Ben and Niel? Applications are open for the upcoming editions of the Clipper Race. Find out more and apply here.