The next roster of 11 Clipper Race Skippers taking on one of the toughest jobs in sailing has been announced.
Each will lead teams of non-professionals, making six ocean crossings on the 40,000 nautical mile, eleven-month race around the globe. The Clipper Race is the only event of its kind which trains people from all walks of life to become ocean racers and take on the endurance challenge of a lifetime. The sailing professionals hail from six nations – England, Wales, Ireland, France, South Africa and the Netherlands.
Speaking of his selection, French Skipper David Sautret says: “Racing around the world has been the dream of my life ever since I first felt the pull of the sea and the thrill of offshore racing – it’s the heartbeat of everything I’ve worked towards. To take the helm, and lead a crew through this legendary adventure is the culmination of years of passion and pursuit. I’m counting the days until we set off!”
The next edition will start from Portsmouth on 31 August and over the course of the almost year-long event, over 700 participants will face all that Mother Nature can throw at them. From hurricane force winds, to blistering heat, the isolation of the North Pacific Ocean to learning to live aboard a yacht with stripped back facilities with up to 22 others – this event is a true test of mental and physical fortitude.
The Clipper 2025-26 Race Skipper line up:
Alistair Dickson, Welsh (Menai Bridge, North Wales)
Angela Brandsma, Dutch (Sneek, The Netherlands)
David Sautret, French (Bordeaux, France)
Dylan Kotze, South African (Cape Town, South Africa)
Ella Hebron, British (Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK)
Gavin Rees, Welsh (Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK)
Guy Waites, British (Leeds and Catwick, Yorkshire, UK)
Heather Thomas, British (Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK)
Lowri “Lou” Boorman, Welsh (Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales)
Philip Quinn, Irish (County Down, Northern Ireland)
Terry Kavanagh, Irish (Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK)
All skippers went through a rigorous selection process led by the Clipper Race Management Team. The team’s Race Director, Deputy Race Director and Race Manager have all competed as a Race Skipper on previous editions and therefore understand the unique requirements of this role.
Looking ahead to the event’s 14th edition, Clipper Race Director, Dale Smyth, says: “Our selection process is tough, and rightly so, as these individuals are taking on one of the toughest jobs in the global sailing industry. They need to not only be incredibly good sailors but able to lead, inspire and look after a big team of diverse individuals across the harshest oceans on the planet.”
Sailing is one of the few sports where men and women compete together in mixed teams. On the Clipper Race – each team is led by a professional sailing duo of Skipper and First Mate and has a mixed team of up to 22 Race Crew. On previous editions the male/female percentage split across participants has been 70/30.
Clipper 2025-26 Race Skipper, Ella Hebron, competed on the previous edition of the global event as a First Mate, so has already completed one circumnavigation. “Sailing is a level playing field – with the ocean an equaliser. It’s not going to treat male or female, older or younger people any differently to each other. The relentlessness of the ocean – you can’t manipulate it, it’s there to give everyone the same challenges and everyone the same joys.”
The Clipper Race has created a pathway to becoming a sailing professional and on previous editions has supported Race Crew to progress through the ranks including from participant to First Mate to Skipper. Newly appointed Clipper Race Skipper, Heather Thomas has been through this sailing pathway. In 2015, Heather was awarded a bursary place to race across the North Pacific Ocean on the Clipper Race as crew. After that experience, she decided she wanted to work in the sailing industry. Fast forward to 2024, Heather was the skipper of Maiden, the first ever all-women crew to win a round the world yacht race. And now she is returning to the Clipper Race as a Skipper.
Heather says: “When I took part in the Clipper 2015-16 Race, I was lucky enough to have Wendy Tuck* as my skipper. She was a phenomenal inspiration and mentor to me not only on the race, but going forward. She’s helped me a lot in my career and has encouraged me to do more racing. I didn’t necessarily think I’d get into racing, but Wendy instilled a competitive spirit in me and taught me a lot about sailing. I’m really excited to be following in her footsteps.”
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, 30 years ago and trains people from all walks of life to learn seamanship and become ocean racers. Each participant must complete four stages of intensive training before signing up for one or multiple legs or the full 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation. The eleven strong fleet of matched Clipper 70 ocean racing yachts makes six oceans crossings – including the North Pacific – and the Clipper Race is the only round-the-world yacht race to cross this vast and unforgiving ocean.
Says Skipper Guy Waites, who is returning to the challenge after first being a Skipper on the Clipper 2019-20 Race: “It’s great to be back again. I never tire of the ocean and the empty horizon; it’s a huge privilege to explore our greatest wilderness!”
The race makes 14 ports of call on its global route and on the upcoming route, Portsmouth (UK), Cape Town (South Africa), Qingdao (China) and Tongyeong City (Korea) have been announced so far, with more port announcements due from next week.
Applications are still open for crew to sign up to participate on the Clipper 2025-26 Race. To find out more visit clipperroundtheworld.com.
*The Clipper 2017-18 Race saw a female one-two result with Australian Skipper Wendy Tuck returning as skipper and becoming the first woman ever to win a round the world yacht race, with Brit Nikki Henderson taking second place, aged 23.
