Please select your home edition
Edition
25 26 Leaderboard

Clipper RX Ocean Racing Yacht Announced - We speak to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and William Ward

by Mark Jardine 15 Jan 15:52 GMT

Clipper Ventures have revealed the next-generation fleet for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which over the past 30 years has introduced over 7,000 crew to ocean racing.

The new yacht, called the Clipper RX, is 72 feet long, has a 97 feet tall mast, and incorporates some of the latest thinking in yacht design, with a wider stern, twin rudders, and dreadnaught bow, as well a novel aft caddy to protect the twin helm positions, as well as along the mainsheet traveller to be mounted above this.

The mid cockpit and twin companionways reduce the amount of fore and aft movement needed on deck, and the forestay is set further aft, increasing safety during sail changes.

The fleet of yachts is currently under construction, and to find out more, I spoke to the legendary sailor and founder of the race, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, as well as the Clipper Ventures CEO William Ward.

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

Related Articles

Youngest ever professional pair take Clipper win
Plus, it's the first time in Race history with an all-woman leadership duo on the podium The world's toughest endurance challenge, raced by everyday people from across the world, has come to a gripping end in Portsmouth, UK, almost a year after it set off. Posted on 27 Jul
Clipper 2025-26 Race | Grand Finale Live
Watch the fleet cross the finish line on Saturday with real-time commentary from expert hosts Experience the excitement of the Clipper Race Grand Finale from the comfort of your home with our exclusive livestream. Watch the fleet cross the finish line, accompanied by real-time commentary from expert hosts. Posted on 24 Jul
This time it really is coming home!
Round the world ocean racers almost back after 11 months Just one last race separates almost 200 adventurers from home comforts after sailing over 40,000 nautical miles, over eleven months. Posted on 21 Jul
Youth development scheme snaps up Clipper 70
Built for the world's toughest oceans and ready for next chapter After completing five circumnavigations and turning thousands of ordinary people into ocean racers, a Clipper 70 (one of the Clipper Race's ocean racing yachts) is beginning a new chapter. Posted on 20 May
Airline Pilot from Kiel wins Clipper Race Stage 9
Victory after 26 days sailing 5,500nm across the North Pacific Ocean Julia Heitmann, a 36-year-old airline pilot from Kiel, Germany, has arrived in Seattle, USA, after spending 26 days sailing 5,500nm (10,186 km) across the North Pacific Ocean in one of the most challenging legs of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Posted on 24 Apr
Tesco car park dream turns to global race reality
Lake District teen's story is one of ambition, opportunity and speed William Wrigley, a 19 year old gap year student from St Bees, Lake District, has fast-tracked his way to ocean racer as he prepares to sail from Seattle, USA, back home to the UK in the final stages of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Posted on 16 Apr
Clipper Race sailors set for the big one
Ocean racers gear up for relentless North Pacific Crossing This week, 200 adventurers have set sail from Tongyeong, Korea, with the next stop Seattle, USA, as they take on one of the most remote stretches of ocean on the planet: the North Pacific. Posted on 27 Mar
20 years in the making
Clipper Ventures opens first Sailing Academy in China Sailing industry leaders Clipper Ventures has this month opened its first ever RYA Sailing Academy in Qingdao, China, marking its first training centre outside of the UK. Posted on 18 Mar
Clipper Race Stage 7 Video Review
An extraordinary welcome in Qingdao The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race arrived to a huge ceremony in Qingdao, China at the end of Stage 7. Posted on 12 Mar
The World's Toughest Race?
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Update after Stage 6 The Clipper Round the World Race is what many regard as true ocean racing. Exposed to the elements on deck in traditionally shaped displacement yachts. Posted on 20 Feb