Champions of the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race crowned at Grand Finale ceremony
by Clipper Round the World 2 Aug 2024 16:12 BST
27 July 2024
Champions! Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam team - Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race © Clipper Race
Eleven months of grueling ocean racing have come to an end as Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam was named champion of the 2023-24 edition of the Clipper Race.
In the closest ever finish of the 40,000nm round the world race, which is now in its thirteenth edition, it came down to just one point between first and second and four points separating the top three contenders at the close of the fourteenth and final race.
The Clipper Race is unique in that it trains everyday people to sail around the world. Regardless of previous experience, Race Crew can sign up to take one, all, or any number of the eight legs that form the global race route, with this edition seeing over 700 participants step on board.
By completing all stages of the race, 75 Race Crew in this edition joined a small group of people who can call themselves circumnavigators, crossing all meridians of longitude and passing the equator twice. More people have climbed Mount Everest than have sailed around the world.
The winning Vietnamese backed team had put in an exceptional performance over the course of the circumnavigation, with four race wins included in its six overall podium appearances. It was all to play for going into the final race of the event, with just three points separating Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam and second-placed Perseverance, and seven points from the team third placed Zhuhai. However, despite finishing the final race in fifth place, it was Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam that held on, gaining just enough points to take the win (by one point!) over Perseverance overall. The overall leaderboard saw just four points separating Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam in first and Zhuhai in third.
Skipper Bob Beggs, who led the team to the top spot accompanied by First Mate Cameron McCracken, said: "It gives me great pleasure to join a highly motivated, organised team such as the crew on Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam. Ably assisted by my First Mate Cameron McCracken. Emotions have been running high all day in anticipation of receiving news of our podium position on arrival in Gunwharf Quays. I'm indebted to the whole team for welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to join the team."
First Mate Cameron McCracken added: "I can't quite believe what we've done today. To win this race with this unbelievable team is not something I thought would happen when I joined the boat in Airlie Beach. The crew of Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam have showed time and time again that it's not over 'til it's over and are incredibly gutsy in their collective character. They've shown that today and they deserve this win more than I. Finally, I want to congratulate Perseverance and Zhuhai for their excellent podium achievements as well and thank them for making it so incredibly nerve wracking!"
Clipper Race Director Mark Light congratulated the team on its win: "Huge congratulations to Bob, Cam and the entire Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam team for an absolutely brilliant and epic achievement to become Champions of the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race!
"It was so, so close at the end and the racing throughout the whole circumnavigation has been gripping us all the way. Very well done to all the teams and crew who have achieved something utterly fantastic and special. You will have memories for life should all be really proud of yourselves."
For Bobb Beggs, this is his second Clipper Race win, after he led his Bristol team to victory in the Clipper 2000 Race. This was also the last time the Clipper Race finished in Portsmouth prior to the current edition.
The overall Clipper 2023-24 Race standings are:
- 1st Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam 138 points
- 2nd Perseverance 137 points
- 3rd Zhuhai 134 points
- 4th UNICEF 116 points
- 5th Dare To Lead 107 points
- 6th Qingdao 102 points
- 7th Our Isles and Oceans 98 points
- 8th Yacht Club Punta del Este 90 points
- 9th PSP Logistics 73 points
- 10th Washington DC 53 points
- 11th Bekezela 41 points
On Saturday 27 July, champions Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam led the final Parade of Sail from Bembridge Ledge, Isle of Wight to Southsea Castle, and then home into Gunwharf Quays where cheering crowds of friends, families, fans and locals lined the walls to see the return of the teams after the 40,000nm adventure.