Please select your home edition
Edition
GP Watercraft

The Clipper Race and UNICEF mark a decade of partnership, to champion a better world for children

by Clipper Race 6 May 20:32 BST
UNICEF yacht in the Clipper 2023-24 Race © Brian Carlin / 16 Degrees South

Today, the leading child rights organisation, UNICEF, was announced as a Team and Charity Partner of the Clipper Race once again.

  • 2025-26 edition of the Clipper Race will mark a decade of leading child rights organisation, UNICEF, chosen as the Charity Partner for the global yacht race.
  • Clipper Race crew will be rallying friends and family to build on an incredible £1.6m raised for UNICEF across five editions of the partnership.
  • Fundraising efforts from Clipper Race crew will continue to support UNICEF's work globally, to ensure every child has the resources and autonomy to shape their lives.

The announcement came ahead of the 2025-26 race season, and marks a decade of commitment from the global yacht race to advancing child rights globally.

Whilst setting non-professional sailors on one of the biggest challenges across the world, the Clipper Race renewed its commitment to contribute towards UNICEF's work around the world to overcome the most urgent challenges they face.

Funding driven by Clipper Race crew will continue to help UNICEF protect childhood by ensuring more of the world's children are vaccinated, educated, and protected.

Over the past decade, Clipper Race's UNICEF Team yacht, fondly known as the 'Big Blue Boat' has been on route to circumnavigate the globe five times. Starting on Sunday 31 August 2025, this edition of the Clipper Race will see Clipper's UNICEF Team yacht set sail on an impressive expedition of 40,000 nautical miles. The race will make 14 ports of call on its global route and on the upcoming route, Portsmouth (UK), Cape Town (South Africa), Qingdao (China) and Tongyeong City (Korea), Seattle (USA) and Oban (Scotland) have been announced.

The 2025-26 edition will see Clipper Race crew appealing to their networks, to build on an incredible £1.6m raised for UNICEF over the course of a decade's partnership.

In the 2023-24 edition, Clipper Race Crew and supporters raised an outstanding £459,653 for UNICEF UK. The events ranged from haircut fundraisers and ceilidhs to charity bike rides, running challenges, and multiple events held during stopovers around the world. Race Crew consistently found creative and impactful ways to drive donations, making the 2023-24 race a record-breaking year for charitable impact.

Kate Ashley, Head of Partnerships at Clipper Ventures said, "We are incredibly proud to welcome UNICEF UK back as our Charity Partner for the fifth consecutive edition, and mark ten years of partnership. This milestone is a testament to our shared commitment to protecting and improving the lives of children around the world. Partnering with UNICEF gives us a powerful platform to raise both vital funds and global awareness for the organisation. We are sailing not just for the spirit of adventure, but for the future of children everywhere."

Heather McCrea, Head of Partnerships at UNICEF UK said, "I am delighted to see that the Clipper Race will once again be anchored in child rights, with the UNICEF Team yacht leading fundraising efforts to build on an incredible £1.6m raised for UNICEF over the course of a decade's partnership. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary donations, so Clipper Race crew and their networks' unwavering support means that our work for children can continue to go a long way."

Related Articles

Clipper Race announces line up of First Mates
Each First Mate will assist their Race Skipper in leading their teams of non-professionals The Clipper Race First Mates who will be helping to lead a team in the toughest endurance challenge on the planet have been announced. Posted on 26 Apr
Seattle set to host Clipper Race stopover
Tenth anniversary of first visit, returning with team entry Seattle is set to host the Clipper 2025-26 Race as the global sailing event has announced the city will feature on its race route. Posted on 4 Apr
Clipper Round the World Race to return to Oban
After tourism boosting debut visit last summer The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will be returning to Oban to "bring global focus on the area as a great place to visit and invest" as the West Coast town is announced as a port on the event's 2025-26 edition. Posted on 31 Mar
Clipper Race announces its new line-up of skippers
“Sailing is a level playing field – with the ocean an equaliser” The next roster of eleven Clipper Race Skippers taking on one of the toughest jobs in sailing has been announced. Each will lead teams of non-professionals, making six ocean crossings on the 40,000 nautical mile, eleven-month race around the globe. Posted on 28 Mar
Clipper Race celebrates 30 years of adventure
One of the secrets to the success and longevity of biennial event is the highly experienced team This month marks 30 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world, founded the Clipper Race. Posted on 7 Mar
Clipper Race to return to Portsmouth
On the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city When its fleet departs from Gunwharf Quays this August, the event will be celebrating two milestones - the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city and 30 years of training people to cross oceans and sail around the world. Posted on 3 Mar
Clipper Race returns to its roots
To find next batch of ocean adventurers At 58 years old, Plymouth-based Advanced Clinical Practitioner Loveday Fethney is proving that adventure knows no age limit. Posted on 15 Feb
Spotlight on Clipper Race Leg 5
A tactical multi-stage challenge through the tropics Renowned for its challenging conditions and energising close racing, Leg 5 is a multi-stage leg on the Clipper Race circumnavigation. Posted on 1 Feb
Musto partners with three Clipper Ventures brands
This broader partnership with Clipper Ventures will span the next four years Clipper Race crew have worn Musto in training and on their ocean crossings since 2019 and will continue to be kitted out in industry leading technical clothing for the upcoming 2025-26 and 2027-28 editions. Posted on 25 Jan
Switching the Christmas Day barbie for Christmas
The Clipper Race is one of the biggest challenges of the natural world This time next year, everyday people from all over the globe will be taking part in the Australian Coast to Coast leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Posted on 24 Dec 2024