Sailing staff update

Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam Skipper, Josh Stickland, will be taking a break on Leg 6 for personal reasons. Bob Beggs will lead the team from Zhuhai to Qingdao then on to Seattle.

Bob has been a Training Skipper for over two decades and is a hugely experienced offshore racer, with extensive instructor experience. He has been a Race Skipper on three previous editions of the Clipper Race. He led Bristol to victory in the Times Clipper 2000 Race and was Race Skipper of Qingdao and then Unicef on the 2015-16 and 2017-18 editions respectively.

In addition, Bob was an expedition skipper on the inaugural SKIRR Adventures edition to the high latitudes in 2022 and earlier this year led a Clipper China training week in Zhuhai.

Bob has over 500,000nm logged, several Fastnet campaigns and major offshore races under his belt, such as the Round Britain and Ireland Race as well as completing numerous transatlantic races. He is a RYA/MCA commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor and examiner.

Bob and Josh will conduct a handover on 8 March when Bob will then take over as the team's Skipper.

Cameron will continue to be the AQP on Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam. Cameron raced thousands of miles with Bob when he was Race Crew on Unicef on the 2017-18 edition so knows him very well.

In addition to the above, Ella Hebron will remain as the Washington, DC AQP, supporting Skipper Hannah Brewis on Leg 6.