After 30 years circumnavigating the planet, the world’s most challenging ocean adventure has announced a multi-million GBP investment in a new yacht design for the next-generation 12-yacht fleet that will take the global biennial race into its fourth decade.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has pooled the experience of its professional operations team and over 7000 crew, who have participated in 14 global race editions since 1996, to create a new bespoke design concept in-house. The unique event trains non-professional sailors to compete aboard fully-crewed matched stripped-down ocean racing yachts, taking on the full circumnavigation or one or more of eight individual legs. The new yacht concept has been translated into the final design by the experienced team at Fish Marine Design | Composites (MDC) in Hampshire with hull lines by world-famous British naval architect Nigel Irens, incorporating a new distinctive bow shape.
The result is the Clipper RX which distils all this experience into a fast and seaworthy vessel with superior safety features integrated seamlessly into a high-performance 72 ft ocean racing yacht designed for the extreme conditions faced by the novel Clipper Race ocean adventure. The Clipper RX features a dreadnought bow and a wider foredeck brings the forestay inboard, allowing full deck access even forward of the outer forestay. The simplicity and robustness of hanked-on headsails is retained.
The wider foredeck design and more buoyant bow will make headsail changes easier for crew who should also remain dryer. Deck protection is enhanced with the addition of deck cuddies at two watertight companionways offering quick access from below to the mid-cockpit and twin helms. The cuddies provide on-watch crew and helmsmen more shielding from the elements and water sweeping the decks. The two companionways minimise the need to traverse the length of the deck resulting in even further advances in crew safely.
The design provides for versatile performance both upwind and downwind. Transom hung rudders provide more directive power and are also easier to repair or replace; a break away fuse ensures they will kick up should they hit any ocean debris at speed.
The new design project has been led and coordinated by yachting legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69) who established the race operating company Clipper Ventures in 1995 and is now its chairman together with co-founder and CEO William Ward OBE.
Sir Robin said: “The Clipper Race has amassed a unique experience of training thousands of people to sail across the world’s toughest oceans in three matched fleets of yachts over the last 30 years.
“The Clipper RX design benefits from everything we’ve learned. It will provide a safe yet exhilarating experience for the crews, from all walks of life, who take on this unrivalled adventure. The new yacht is well equipped to cross the most challenging oceans between remarkable destinations on six continents; a journey that takes nearly 11 months to complete the full circumnavigation with around 45,000 nautical miles under the keel.”
Sir Robin will be presenting details of the Clipper RX in public for the first time when he speaks at boot Düsseldorf on Sunday 18 January at 14.30 CET. Further details will be available at the Clipper Race stand C23 in Hall 15 for the duration of the show, 17-25 January.
The Clipper RX has been developed by naval architects at FISH MDC in association with Nigel Irens Design and M2ED.
FISH MDC Managing Director Peter Murphy said: “The Clipper RX in a yacht that is not only striking in appearance but also exceptionally capable, robust, and well-suited to the realities of round-the-world ocean racing. These yachts must protect their crews while also rewarding them with performance. Our design input plays a major role in achieving that balance.
“Being selected to contribute to the next generation fleet of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is something we’re immensely proud of. This unique global event represents one of the most demanding and respected racing programmes in the world.”
Hull lines were developed by naval architect Nigel Irens who said: “It is very unusual to work on such a well-informed design concept. What has emerged embraces new thinking in ocean racing yacht hull design with the re-shaping of the bow section. The Clipper RX enhances crew safety while improving overall racing performance whether beating up wind or powering downwind.
“In the past the issue of offshore yacht designs incorporating fatter forward sections slowed the boat down, often resulting in an unwanted broach, as the stern tries to ‘overtake’ the bow.
“Recent trends have pushed the centre of gravity further aft, resulting in an ever-widening transom; this requires twin rudders to ensure the leeward rudder is not only kept well immersed but also installed in such a way that it is in a near vertical position when the boat is sailing upwind.”
The hulls of the 12-strong fleet are being built at a shipyard in Qingdao, China, and will start to be shipped to the UK later this year. They are anticipated to enter service for the 15th edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race starting late summer 2027.
Clipper Ventures CEO William Ward OBE said: “I am very proud to see what we’ve achieved over the last 30 years to take the company from strength to strength, despite some major challenges along the way, from economic downturns to a global pandemic. Today we have the world’s leading event of its type that attracts international participants who are seeking a life-changing adventure.
“The experience we’ve amassed is exceptional and has been applied to this major investment in a new fleet that will take us through our fourth decade. We have developed a strong partnership with Qingdao in China over the last 20 years where we are building our latest fleet to the highest quality standards at globally competitive rates.”
Clipper RX components have been sourced from leading UK and international manufacturers. For example, the keels are being produced by Cornwall based Irons Brothers to a two-part design of cast-iron fin and an antimonial lead bulb; Italian manufacturer Antal is supplying extensive deck hardware including all winches and line control.
A range of critical onboard systems such as power distribution, navigation equipment and ancillary kit are being supplied by LKQ Aquafax; Hyde Sails provides the extensive sail wardrobe; the Yanmar main engine and Whisper generator from Barrus; Gebo deck hatch by IMP; watertight doors and companionway hatches are by Seaglaze.
Steering by Edson, Marlow Ropes and Sta-lok currently provide running rigging and standing rigging respectively; Coppercoat produce the antifouling; Schenker watermakers by Mactra; life rafts and beacons from Ocean Safety.
The spa package has been procured from Sparcraft Masts of South Africa and has been engineered specifically for the Clipper RX: it consists of a 29.575 metre (97 feet) mast* and 9.255 metres (30 feet 4 inches) boom.
(*Note: The mast is 27385mm above the shear line with 2193mm below. Estimated air draft of the Clipper RX is 30.5 metres – see summary of specs in the note to editors below. More supplier details are in the EPK.)
The 14th edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is currently on stopover in Airlie Beach in The Whitsundays, Queensland, before starting Leg 5: The Asia-Pacific Challenge to Qingdao in China, where the new Clipper RX fleet and current Clipper 70 hulls are manufactured.
Anyone interested in becoming one of the first to race the Clipper RX around the world can discover more details about costs and how to qualify on the race website www.clipperroundtheworld.com
