Five Scottish nationals have successfully completed the first major ocean crossing of the Clipper 2023-24 Race. The group of Race Crew members were part of over 200 participants from across the globe who had gathered in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, after completing a gruelling 5,300nm crossing of the Atlantic from Puerto Sherry in Spain.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is billed as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet, and the north-to-south Atlantic passage is notorious for its testing and varied conditions, which can challenge even the most experienced of sailors.
The five Scottish nationals, who were led by Stirling-born Clipper Race Skipper Max Rivers, were part of a diverse group of over 700 people aged 18 to 71, representing 55 nationalities and many different walks of life. The event’s first mother-daughter duo were also competing together on a matched fleet of 70ft ocean racing yachts.
Each team is led by a professional Skipper and First Mate, and 22 percent of the crew had never sailed before signing up to the challenge. However, as a mandatory and intensive four stages of training is provided, they were well-prepared for the journey.
The Clipper Race is divided into eight legs, and the arrival in Uruguay marked the end of Leg 1 of the race. Following a prizegiving ceremony on Monday (16 October), Yacht Club Punta del Este took the top spot on the podium, with Perseverance and PSP Logistics coming in second and third place, respectively.
Clipper Race Crew members are now taking some time to relax and unwind as they enjoy a fiesta of activity at Host Port Yacht Club Punta Del Este, which is celebrating its 100-year anniversary. The fleet will continue its circumnavigation with Leg 2, as Race 3: TIMEZERO South Atlantic Showdown sees the 3,555 nautical mile voyage to Cape Town, South Africa, a destination making its eleventh appearance on the Clipper Race circuit.
The five Scottish nationals are:
- Andrew Fisher, 59, Business Owner, Edinburgh, Legs 1 & 2
- Joan Kelly, 59, Midwife, Inverness, Leg 1
- Susan Smith, 64, Retired, Argyll, Legs 1 & 2
- Ross Dunlop, 60, Retired, Edinburgh, Circumnavigator
- Vicki Leslie, 39, Head Chef, Shetland, Circumnavigator