The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has claimed the 2025 “Event of the Year” title at the British Yachting Awards.
Judged by readers of sailing magazines, this award reflects the race’s popularity and impact across the sailing community.
The Clipper Race pushes crews more than 40,000 nautical miles around the globe in identical 70-foot ocean-racing yachts.
This challenge combines long-distance endurance, unpredictable weather and vast ocean passages — a true test of teamwork, grit and resilience.
Most crews come from non-sailing backgrounds. Yet after intensive training and determination, they take on some of the world’s toughest seas.
That blend of accessibility and extreme challenge helps draw new sailors into ocean racing — a major reason voters rewarded the race.
Race under way: 2025-26 edition sets sail
The 2025–26 Clipper Race kicked off from Portsmouth on 31 August 2025.
Ten yachts, each fully crewed, began the circumnavigation — a truly global journey across five oceans, multiple continents and dozens of ports.
What the award means
Winning “Event of the Year” confirms the Clipper Race’s importance in modern sailing.
It highlights the race’s success in opening up ocean racing to ordinary people and fuelling interest in offshore sailing.
For organisers and crews, the recognition rewards years of planning, training and hard work.
Looking ahead
As the Clipper fleet pushes south through the infamous “Roaring Forties”, the season promises epic passages, storms, high seas — and unforgettable teamwork.
With this award, the Clipper Race strengthens its legacy as one of the world’s greatest ocean racing events.