Clipper Race Boss Faces Harassment Lawsuit

5th August 2014

#ClipperRace - Mail Online reports that offshore sailing legend and Clipper Round The World Race organiser Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is being sued by a woman over claims of harassment she experienced while crewing a yacht during the most recent edition of the race.

Ruth Harvey, an experienced lawyer by trade, paid £40,000 (€50,500) to join the crew of Jamaica Get All Right, which finished the race in eighth place, and raise funds for her chosen charity.

However, she was one of many crew across the fleet to drop out of the gruelling offshore challenge before the final leg.

Now Harvey is suing the race organisers over allegations that she experienced victimisation and harassment while crewing the yacht, and that she has a claim under employment and equality legislation.

A tribunal in November is set to decide whether Harvey can indeed be classed as an employee of the race organisers, even though she paid to take part in the race. Mail Online has much more on the story HERE.

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.