Clipper Round the World Race Update - The battle for the North Atlantic.

Published 11:49 on 3 Jul 2026

RC Dinghies Michael Olliff on team Qingdao and RC Yachts Simon Fraser on team Yacht Club Punta Del Este are just over half way across the Atlantic between Washington DC and Oban Scotland.  Punta had a disastrous start having severely damaged their mainsail in squally conditions before race start but after 3 days continuous work they effected the repairs on board and hoisted the main and have successfully hunted down the pack.  Qingdao had a great start and have been sailing at consistently good speeds but a couple of days ago they hit the edge of a wind hole that the leaders sailed south of and this allowed the leaders to get away.  Teams Great Ormond Street Hospital, Unicef and Tong Yeong are now leading the pack and have just bagged extra points in the scoring gate.  Meanwhile its really close ( 5 nautical miles) between the next pack.  Punta have just squeezed ahead of Qingdao but Qingdao are closing the gap again.  Punta are in the better wind ( 17 knots against Qingdao 15 knots) and have a boat speed of 9.9 against Qingdaos 8.7 knots. Team Scotland are battling it out in that pack too but down to the south, and seeking to avoid the light winds on the forecast, are team Warrant , if it pays off they will sneak ahead!  Its 16  degrees celsius and in Michaels words raining relentlessly.  You can follow their progress here: https://clipperroundtheworld.geovoile.com/2025/tracker/

They are due in Scotland between 15 - 17 July and will race from 19 July west of the Irish Coast back to Portsmouth.  There is a CYC flotilla cruise organised by the yacht section which will be in the Solent ( see CYC website) to meet the fleet on 25th July.  There will be a parade of sail which you can watch from the shore 12.50 to 13.20, the boats will berth at Gun Wharf from 14.00 and there will be a prize giving party from 15.30 on the big stage at Gun Wharf. All are welcome to the Gun Wharf celebration.