AIBU to ask about the Clipper round the world yacht race?

[FoxtrotGolf]

Hi all,

AIBU to ask for your advice please?

I saw an advert on the tube the other day for the Clipper Round the World yacht race
www.clipperroundtheworld.com/race/leg/full-circumnavigation.

It sounds amazing, so I thought I’d look into it more. This sounds a bit crazy, as I’d never thought about doing anything like this before, but I definitely know I’d like to do it one day and that I will try and fit it in.

I just wanted to ask if anyone on here has ever done it before or if you know anyone who has done it? How did you find it?

I’ve looked on their website and it mentions that people taking part in the full race (you can take part in separate legs or the full race) spend around 46 weeks at sea, so very nearly a full year.

At the moment, I work in the Civil Service, and would like to stay there for the long-term, if possible. I know that it’s possivle to take sabbaticals in the CS, bud I don’t know if I could take a sabbatical for a year though. I’d definitely have to look into this. Does anyone know? I’m really junior at the moment, so would maybe wait until I had a more senior role.

Bump :)

Namechanged because this is very outing, but dh did it in the late 90s. He did the full year.

He absolutely loved it.

My Mum did a leg of it as opposed to the whole thing (she was in her 60s!). She spent several weeks at sea.

It was utterly gruelling. It isn't like going on a cruise! I think the most sleep they had at one go was about 4 1/2 hours so think new baby-level exhaustion.

It can be incredibly dangerous- people do die on this challenge and if they are out at sea (and still have the body) they do a Skype funeral and bury the body at sea.

She also told me about a very severe case of bullying that had happened before she got on the boat. One woman was actually urinated on, however this isn't the experience of the majority (I think!)

She would never do it again, however it was a genuine challenge and maybe if she had been younger she would have enjoyed it more. They saw a lot of marine life e.g. flying fish.

I should say - my dh is a lifelong sailor and is never happier than when he’s on a boat.

If we didn’t have dc, I expect he’d have retired by now and be off sailing round the Caribbean or somewhere.

It was incredibly gruelling - cold, wet, dark - but for him he was doing something he loved so he didn’t mind it.

If you’re not a born boat-lover it could definitely be a tougher experience.

He also lost 3 stone during the race (despite eating more than double the recommended daily calorie allowance) due to how strenuous the work was.

He often jokily recommends it as a weight loss strategy!

I haven't done this but I've done three weeks hard sailing on a yacht and it was absolutely gruelling. Cold, wet, incredibly hard work, we only got about five hours sleep a night and I found it hard to get straight off despite the tiredness. It was relentless.

Also I remember her tellinh me abour how dirty you get. There isn't time to change / fully wash and so even changing underwear didn't happen- they used pantyliners and plaited their hair.

I'd agree with the poster that said if you enjoy sailing you may well enjoy this. If you cannot handle exhaustion well and maintain concentration (a mistake can kill you, or others) then it might not be for you.

I enjoy sailing, but don't think I'd cope with the clipper race!

I know someone who did the whole thing and loved it. He said you have to really, really love sailing - and even then it's tough. Pretty much as mentioned above.

Wow, thanks everyone! This is eye opening. I’m glad I asked!

I’ve never sailed in my life

From what I’d understood, this race can be done by anyone - even someone who hasn’t sailed before - but I can see that it’s incredibly challenging.

If I’m thinking of doing this, what sort of preparation would you recommend? I feel a bit naive, as I’m approaching it from the point of view who loves water and the sea, and is also quite open minded and open to trying new things, but has never sailed at all. Is it worth even considering doing this?!

My friend did a leg and loved it. She is involved in a sailing charity and had been on trips on Challenger yachts so had an idea of how gruelling sailing can be - would suggest a short trip to see if you like it! The charity she did it with is tall ships but there are loads

If you aren't in a hurry to do it (it's biennial), then I'd recommend going to St Katherine Docks on the day it leaves London as you can see the boats and chat to people who've done it before

I know someone who did a leg. I've also been on/shown round one of the boats.

The boats are fairly small considering how far they go but really I would worry more about the claustrophobia. They have two watches so one team is sailing when the other team is sleeping. Frankly the head (loo) would put me right off on its own. There is obviously a rota so cleaning the loo for other people would be a job of joy.

She said exactly what has been said above about it being physically tough and remember its a race. She said on her boat there were a couple of people who didn't pull their weight and this caused friction.

Also there are different dynamics on the boat, a typical crew will have (in addition to the professional captain) some people who are going round the world and are on the boat for the duration. If you are joining later for one or two legs, you will be dealing with a group who have already bonded and you'll have to fit in.

On the plus side, when they get into port there is a lot of partying and I spoke to someone who did the whole round the world thing and he said that parts of it were amazing (sailing the Panama Canal).

Clipper do taster/training days so you can get a sense of whether it is for you.

Some legs are longer and harder than others - I think the long ones that cross oceans are notoriously bad - ie. the leg from Africa to Australia I'm pretty sure I remember someone telling me was horrendously rough.

People do die on this race. In the 2015/16 race, two people were killed.

Andrew Ashman, 49, died during the first leg of the race after being knocked unconscious during two uncontrolled gybes 122nm west of Porto, Portugal on 4 September 2015. Sarah Young, 40, was washed overboard while mid-Pacific Ocean during the leg between Qingdao in China to Seattle on 1 April 2016.

www.yachtingworld.com/news/106809-106809

They do train you up first before they send you off to the race. Possibly my mum did 2 training weeks(?). You need to know your bowlines from your half hitches!

In the interests of balance I should say that I also met a woman who did the round the world thing as a novice sailor and it changed her life. She lost weight, got super fit and married a man she'd met on the race and they now go sailing together!

Is it worth even considering doing this?!

I would try to get some shorter-length experience first.

Tall Ships do trips for, I believe, complete beginners. There are also yachting qualifications you can get e.g. ‘competent crew’, where you do a three-four day trip and learn all the necessary skills, and then get the certificate at the end.

I wouldn’t recommend going straight in with the clipper race if you’ve never sailed before.

Dd is thinking about doing it once she’s finished uni - she’s been sailing all her life with dh though, on dinghies and on yachting holidays.

OP List of Clipper Open Day events here

www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/clipper-round-the-world-yacht-race-4068162181

The London one is on the 15th Feb

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/clipper-round-the-world-yacht-race-presentation-london-15th-february-2019-tickets-52664486898

Also you need to fundraise quite a chunk of money to do the whole thing.

Definitely do the open days and see if you can get some experience before hand. Even though they'll train you up, I think getting a bit of a feel for it away from Clipper isn't a bad thing. It either gets you or it doesn't, I think. If you really get the feeling for sailing, apply for Clipper!

We went on a racing boat at the Southampton Boat show many years ago. It was a great experience. But it's not a leisurely experience. It's really hard work. If you like being on a boat look to get experience by training for your day skipper qualification - you will learn about tides, maps, ropes, knots, weather etc etc and if you do your practical you will build up sailing hours. If you enjoy all this then go for it.