The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has departed Oban, Scotland, for the final stage of its 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation, with the fleet now heading home to its start point in Portsmouth.
One of the crew members taking on this 950nm sprint is Steve Pearce from Hayling Island, who will sail into his home county alongside teammates aboard Team Qingdao. Formerly working as a funeral director in Hampshire, he swapped his normal life to compete in a global yacht race.
The Clipper Race is unique in that it takes non-professional sailors and trains them to become ocean racers, with a remarkable 40 percent of people taking part having never sailed before signing up. Race Crew from around the world can sign up to take on one, a combination or all of the eight stages that make up the circumnavigation.
This week (25 July), the fleet will arrive in Portsmouth to celebrate the culmination of an extraordinary 11-month circumnavigation.
Steve has completed Legs 1 and 8 of this edition, sailing both out of and back into his home county and covering around 12,000nm at sea.
Reflecting on sailing home, Steve said: “The goal has always been to complete a personal challenge. It was my 60th birthday, and I thought could I actually do this, having not sailed before? But I had this amazing opportunity with the Clipper Race to do just that. By the time I get home, I’ll have done nearly 12,000 miles of sailing, and for someone who has never sailed, I think I’ve done a big tick in that box – both physically and mentally – and seeing such lovely stuff along the way.
“It was only when I worked out those miles that I pinched myself again at what I had achieved. That’s a long way!”
This final stage, Stage 13: UNICEF’s Unstoppable Race for Childhood, will see Race Crew complete a 950nm race down the west coast of the UK before crossing the Finish Line behind the Isle of Wight.
While Team GOSH secured the overall Clipper Race title during Stage 11, there is still plenty to race for. A final sprint into Southsea on Saturday morning will see bonus points up for grabs, with just 16 points separating second and sixth place, leaving six teams in contention for the remaining podium positions.
26-year-old Diana Vega, who hails from Cowes, has been at sea for nearly 11 months, leading Team UNICEF as First Mate. Talking about seeing home as she reaches the ultimate Finish Line, she said: “I am sailing towards the Isle of Wight, which is my hometown, and I cannot wait. We have circumnavigated the entire world for 11 months and it’s just five days until I get to see the place that I grew up in.
“Home to me is Cowes; it’s been a long, long journey circumnavigating as a First Mate and we’re nearly there!
“When I was younger, I thought the Isle of Wight was small, and I wanted to explore – but I’ve done that now and I cannot wait to go home.
“When we first began, the goal was to win the race. However, although we know we won’t be winning the overall race, you come to realise that the wins actually come in smaller, and different ways. We’ve circumnavigated the world and that has been an immense challenge, and I feel like once I see the Isle of Wight that’s when the emotion will come out.
“As a First Mate, I won’t relax until I see the spinnaker tower, we’re docked in Gunwharf Quays and we can actually say we are home.”
Grand Finale Key Timings – Saturday 25 July:
1000 – 1130/1230 Exhibition race from Isle of Wight
1130 -1200 Race Finish just off Southsea Castle
1245-1320 Parade of Sail
1400 -1500 Fleet Arrival at Gunwharf Quays
1530 – 1540 – Race Crew Parade through Gunwharf Quays
