A fleet of 11 racing yachts currently berthed in Punta del Este, Uruguay, will soon embark on an epic 17-day journey through the South Atlantic to Cape Town as part of the 2023-24 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race – one of the biggest endurance tests the world has to offer.
Expected to arrive at the V&A Waterfront Marina from 8 November, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of life onboard above and below deck with a free tour of one of the race yachts.
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As the only event of its kind, The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a record-breaking 40 000 nautical mile race around the world on a fleet of 11 identical 70-foot (approximately 21 metres) ocean racing yachts, each with a fully qualified skipper and first mate.
The route is divided into eight legs between 13 and 16 individual races, including six ocean crossings beginning and ending with the Atlantic crossing. Participants can opt to complete the full circumnavigation or select one or more legs to join in on.
Having left Portsmouth in the UK on 3 September, the fleet traversed the Atlantic Tradewinds and Doldrums and completed 1 200 nautical miles, which took them to Puerto Sherry in Spain – a first in the history of the race.
Another 27 to 29 days of sailing and 5 300 nautical miles later, the fleet is now berthed in a much-loved Clipper Race Host Port, Punta del Este in Uruguay before making its way through the rolling swells of the South Atlantic to the Cape to mark the end of Leg Two.
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‘We look forward to welcoming the Clipper Race community of Race Crew, family and friends back to the city of Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront,’ said David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront.
‘Both the port of Cape Town and the Waterfront have a rich history of hosting ocean racing passing through the Southern Oceans, which are considered a core challenge to any sailing competition.’
What makes the Clipper Race so unique is that it welcomes people from all walks of life – whether they have previous sailing experience or not – to become ocean racers through four levels of intense training before the race begins. This edition of the race sees 23 South Africans taking part, including race skippers, Greg Hunt and Ryan Gibson.
There promises to be a hive of activity at the V&A Waterfront Marina, where sailing enthusiasts will gather to tour one of the yachts and talk to the crew before the fleet departs to sail across the Roaring Forties to Western Australia.
‘Ours is a location like no other, attracting global attention to our beautiful city and creating opportunities for tourism. We are ready for you,’ concluded Green.
Details:
- Date: Sunday, 12 November 2023
- Location: V&A Waterfront Marina
- Time: 9am to 7pm
- Cost: Free entry
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