Sta-Lok to rig the eleven-strong Clipper Race fleet for third consecutive edition

Sta-Lok Terminals Ltd. is returning as the Official Standing Rigging Supplier for the upcoming edition of the Clipper Race. This will be the Essex-based company’s third edition of partnership with the global yacht racing event, and once again Sta-Lok will be providing its high-quality fittings for the fleet of matched Clipper 70 ocean racing yachts.

Sta-Lok manufactures products for almost every stainless steel wire rope and structural tie rod application, from sailing yacht rigging to architectural building design. As part of the partnership, Sta-Lok provides hundreds of high-quality fittings and over 2km of stainless steel wire for the Clipper 70 rigs.

The Clipper Race is the perfect platform to market the brand worldwide and showcase the strength and reliability of Sta-Lok products. By its very nature, the Clipper Race tests the yachts and equipment on board to the absolute limit during the eleven-month gruelling circumnavigation, where teams face some of the trickiest and most brutal weather conditions Mother Nature can conjure up.

Renowned for exceeding its customers’ expectations, delivering top customer service, in addition to the high-quality products, Sta-Lok aligns with the Clipper Race culture of achieving something remarkable. Sta-Lok’s products are held in high regard by professional riggers and sailors around the world, and the company is renowned for its focus on excellence, not just in quality but efficiency, reliability and superior design.

Image: Sta-Lok stainless steel fittings

Terry Barfield, Managing Director at Sta-Lok said: “It’s fantastic to partner with the Clipper Race for the third time. We see this partnership as the main portal for us to represent our products around the world. What better way to demonstrate reliability and endurance of Sta-Lok to a global market than to partner with this round the world sailing event, which we have done successfully for two editions and are looking forward to the third.

“Seeing the crew sailing in extreme weather and severe sea conditions in the footage that is sent back from the yachts is inspiring! For us, we see that the teams are relying on our fittings to get them safely around the world, and the proudest moment for us is seeing the teams arrive safely back after a circumnavigation.”

James Barfield, Sales Director at Sta-Lok added: “One of the most important things to us at Sta-Lok is that we manufacture everything with safety in mind, and quality and endurance is at the heart of everything we do, which matches the ethos of the Clipper Race.

This year Sta-Lok Terminals is also celebrating 50 years of manufacturing. James says: “It’s a really proud moment for us to celebrate this milestone. All of the fittings we manufacture for the Clipper Race are made in the UK, and we’re proud that over the three generations in the family business, we have stayed true to the core elements of our brand- the quality and reliability- which is the key to our success.”

Terry concludes: “Over the years we have only made minor changes to the fittings to enhance the performance, but we are certainly at the level where we can see that the performance and reliability of the product is where it needs to be for this event.”

Ahead of each edition, the eleven Clipper 70s are refitted with completely new fittings to ensure maximum safety of the rig in the severe ocean conditions faced.

Image: Sta-Lok fittings on board the Clipper 70

Andy Peck is the Fleet Rigger at Clipper Ventures, and works closely with many of the Clipper Race Official Suppliers, notably Sta-Lok. Speaking about its products, Andy said: “We use Sta-Lok for all of our standing rigging wire and deck fittings, primarily because the fittings are strong, reliable and exactly what we need for a round the world, 40,000nm race. Sta-Lok produces some of the most durable fittings: this will be the third race that the Clipper Race will be using the product and we have never had any issues during each circumnavigation, and each fitting has withstood the test of thousands of miles of ocean racing.

“Sta-Lok supplies over 2400m of wire, plus around 40 fittings per yacht which are assembled by our rigging team by hand. Assembling over hundreds of fittings across the eleven yachts is a big task, so having a product that is so easy to assemble is key. What’s more, as a company, Sta-Lok are incredibly helpful, provide excellent customer service and support to myself and the Maintenance Team and it’s great to be working with the team again.”

All eleven yachts are currently being refitted in Gosport, UK, ahead of the start of the Clipper 2023-24 Race, which gets underway this summer.

Find out more about Sta-Lok here.