Clipper Round the World

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a unique global sailing challenge founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in 1996, offering everyday people the opportunity to circumnavigate the globe in a professional ocean race. Spanning roughly 40,000 nautical miles and lasting about 11 months, the race features a fleet of twelve identical 70-foot ocean racing yachts, each representing a team sponsored by cities, nations, or global brands. Crews are trained but primarily amateur, led by professional skippers, and race through a series of 14 international stopovers across six continents—facing extreme conditions from the North Pacific to the Southern Ocean. Beyond its sporting achievement, the event serves as a platform for destination marketing, tourism promotion, and corporate engagement, drawing millions in economic impact and showcasing the power of adventure, teamwork, and human endurance.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is one of the toughest challenges on the planet. Adventure is at the heart of everything we do, combined with an ambitious attitude and a human desire to push forwards. Race Crew from all walks of life and nations across the world, compete on each of the eleven Clipper 70 yachts with a professional skipper and first mate. This is a 40,000 nautical mile, eleven-month race around the globe and an event like no other.

Our Race Partners understand and align with our values and use the race to activate and engage globally with communities and our race audience.