Leg 7
After takin' it easy in Jamaica, the race heads north, stopping in New York and again further up the East Coast before heading back across the Atlantic for the final time. There will be a brief stopover in another European port, before the final race to Liverpool.
25th May - Depart Jamaica
2nd June - Arrive New York
6th June - Depart New York
9th June - Arrive Halifax, Nova Scotia
15th June - Depart Halifax
29th June - Arrive Cork
3rd July - Depart Cork
5th July - Finish in Liverpool
Remember yachts have destinations, not arrival times, so all arrival dates are estimates and are subject to change.
Neil Withers
Claire Johnson
I have done a fair bit of sailing on tall ships, including a couple of transatlantic trips, and wanted to try something different, which does not require a cast of thousands to perform a manoeuvre. I also wanted to have a break from my nice comfortable, but rather monotonous job in front of a computer. So when I saw the Clipper website during the 2005/2006 race I thought it might be for me. After part A and B training I decided it was now or never, and I haven’t looked back since. I am really looking forward to getting to grips with as much as possible so that I can be a useful member of the team. My biggest challenge is likely to be preparing an edible meal for 15 or so people in a boat which is heeled over at a ridiculous angle. Even getting dressed to go on watch has proved extremely difficult when the boat is at an angle. I am not looking forward to having to repair huge rips in the spinnakers, so I have instructed the crew not to take them out of their bags! However, I fear that if we want to be serious contenders in this race we will have to use our spinnakers occasionally, so I must stand ready with the sewing machine (affectionately known as the spare anchor because of its weight and rusty appearance).
Ian Deas
The Clipper Race has given me the opportunity to take a career break and embark on a once in a lifetime adventure. I have been given an extended leave of absence from my employer, Pantheon Ventures, a private equity fund-of-funds, with whom I have been with for 17 years and am an Investment partner in the San Francisco Office. I was born in South Africa, grew up in Mtubatuba and after graduating from the University of Natal (Durban campus), emigrated with my wife (Karin) to the UK in 1986. Seven years later and accompanied by two children we moved to California which was only supposed to be a three year secondment. Now 14 years later we have three children (Jessica, Michael and Emma), have become US citizens and are comfortably settled in Walnut Creek which is about 20 miles east of San Francisco. My favorite winter pastime is skiing and as often as possible go to the Sierra Nevada mountain range where we have a house in a ski resort called Kirkwood. The summer months in the mountains are equally beautiful with wonderful hiking around pristine lakes and soaring peaks. My prior sailing experience consisted of some bareboat cruising with Karin as the skipper and me as the “incompetent” deckhand. I expect the competency level to improve from the Clipper experience.
Keith Howard
For many years I have said to friends and family … one day I am going to sail around the world …. One evening last November I was on the train travelling home from work whereupon I saw a full page advert in the London Evening Standard for the Clipper 07/08 round the world race. Almost immediately I sensed this is it, I’m going to do this. Over the following two weeks I looked at my personal situation, I had just turned 50; I wanted something extra in my life and decided that subject to being offered a place, I was going to race around the world. I filled in the application form ….. and here we are …
I am really looking forward to the whole event, the competitiveness of the race, the big oceans, the fantastic ports of call and the chance to explore new places, new friends, the team spirit and camaraderie which I am sure will be absolute; it is essential for a crew who must work together and who will be living in fairly tight conditions for weeks on end.
Mandy Brown
I lecture Personal and Management Development, at Hull University, and decided to practice what I preach - life needed a new challenge. Having decided to take a career break I had no idea what to do, just that I wanted to learn a new skill. However, with perfect timing whilst I was listing possible options an email arrived advertising the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The idea of sailing took me back to 2003 when I visited Perth, Australia for the Rugby World Cup, where I visited the Maritime Museum and was captivated by the America’s Cup winning Australia II. So here I am four years on, another Rugby World Cup but this time I shall be setting off to ‘Sail Around the World’. I chose Durban Clipper as having lived there in the mid-eighties and visited many times since, it seemed appropriate to link my love of Africa with my new love of sailing. The boat does not have the vastness of Africa but the oceans do - earth’s last great wildernesses. In contrast the boat is somewhat ‘snug’ with 14 to a bedroom – which means teamwork and team spirit is crucial. Hopefully when I return in 2008 the ‘challenge’ will have been a life changing experience.
John Gray
I always thought that one day I would sail off into the distant yonder. From the very first time I was introduced to the sea as a child I suspect that I was hooked. That was probably the start of my long trip. We each have the ability to ask questions of ourselves, often without any answers. I guess for me that's what a lot of my journey is about, questioning and experiencing. I know that when I am even older and greyer I will be able to look back and reflect on some really amazing things. After making the initial Clipper enquiry my interest in the race gradually took over and my life began to take on a different perspective. Now I am here about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, sailing round the world. Having spent most of my professional career encouraging youngsters to be positive and proactive I decided it was about time I put my principles into practice. Why now ? Why not!!
Hagen Tropper
I’ve sailed for about 25 years, most of the time in the Mediterranean Sea. My dream of lifetime was sailing around the world as a crew member in a race and now I have the chance and have quit my job to do it. During the Part C1 training we had very strong wind and big waves and I thought to myself that’s what I want to do. I like challenges. I’ve crossed Australia on my motorbike, done parts of the Paris – Dakar and crossed deserts. I also like Baseball (it’s really unusual in Austria), but I think the best thing I will ever have done will start on the 16th of September. I don’t know why, but Durban was my first choice.
For me the hardest challenge is living with so many different people on such a small place for such a long time, but we all want the same so I hope and I’m sure there will be no big troubles.
I don’t know what will happen after this race but I think I won’t work in IT which has been my job for 25 years. I have now 10 month time to think over what I want to do next.
Tore Taraldsvik
My first offshore sailing was crossing the North Sea to the Shetland Islands, some 20 years ago, as crew on a Whitbread 81/82 boat. The boat was all teak inside in those days! The most spectacular, and possibly dangerous, adventure during that voyage was the passing, as we learned later, of the full Russian Black Sea fleet going north, and having an unmarked submarine popping up a hundred yards ahead. Times have changed, hopefully.
Later I have crossed the North Atlantic both ways, sailed down to Lanzarote and sailed shorthanded 10000 nm as single crew with a captain, from Australia to the Med. We were hit by the tsunami at Phi Phi Don, but were lucky, as other crew as well, to stay alive onboard.
So far, I have been sailing half way around the world, and Clipper Race is the proper way to tie the knot, different from any sailing before.
I am crew on Durban 2010 and Beyond. But to me the order of sequence is opposite. First it is Durban and Beyond. I am going to be crew on Durban from Durban and Beyond. Later comes 2010 and it is time to retire, but not from sailing.
I am sure the Race will be great fun for me at sea, but the life on board may be a challenge. My English is understood by most people, but I am from Norway. I had an English girlfriend a long time ago, but that relationship didn’t last as long as the Race!
But, don’t misunderstand; I am a great admirer of British seamanship!! And with many nationalities onboard we will get the right culture balance. The world is so small that I have worked in the same international company as the captain, but in different countries, and two of us, from different countries, have studied at the same university. Durban is global boat.
A quote from British seamanship is Nelsons “Ships and sailors rotten in harbours”. He wanted them out at sea, but I hope to get ashore Beyond harbours and marinas. My two long ocean sailing routes will cross at Nongsa Point in Indonesia, so it seems right to tie the knot there, getting the whole Durban crew away from the marina to a beautiful outdoor restaurant on a cliff looking over to Singapore in the night. Life is not just sailing!
Jan Nel
Age 46, single and crazy! Born and grew up in Ladismith, Little Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa. Started sailing 2 years ago altghough I had an active sports career hiking trails, running marathons, canoeing, windsurfing, motorbiking and going on safaris. I own a small yacht called "Oulik", meaning "cute" in Afrikaans. I'm a member of Mosslebay Boat and Yacht Club where I do my sailing.
Why this adventure? Life is too short to keep dreaming about what you want to do one day. I just like to live out my dreams every day as opportunities arise and funding and time is available. It is a wonderful experience meeting people from all over the world. Training by excellent people is also a bonus.
Lucy
Several years ago a friend completed the BT challenge & I thought - I want to do that too. So hear I am looking forward to joining the Durban Clipper in China and sailing her back to Liverpool. Very much looking forward to the experience, both the challenge of the sailing and the bigger challenge of working as a crack hot effective working team.
Apologies for the mystery but my work knows nothing about my plans as yet.
Nigel Owen - Aerospace Engineer
I'm a professional aerospace engineer, married with 2 children and keen amateur yachtsman with approximately 20 years of fair weather sailing experience in and around the British Isles, Channel Islands and Northern France.
Whilst living in Plymouth I watched Sir Francis Chichester return to Plymouth Sound on Gypsy Moth IV having sailed single-handed round the world. Since then I've watched and read many accounts of RTW sailing expeditions and races, from Clipper's own Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, to various Whitbread campaigns through to latter day heroes and heroines like Peter Goss and Ellen MacArther. Almost without exception the most dramatic sections of these accounts is through the Southern Ocean and around the Great Capes. I found it difficult to read these accounts without wondering whether I could rise to the challenge of the Southern Ocean.
Clipper 07-08 has provided the opportunity, my family have provided the support and the question has to be answered!
James Maltin
Peter Evans
After years of doing for others and reading adventures of others my family have let me have my turn. On Durban I hope to become a safe sailor who can cope with rough weather so I can turn my dream of skippering a boat to the Med into a reality. Taking part in the training weeks has been great fun and a privilege to meet so many lovely people.
I'm not sure how my dog will cope with my absence, I suspect my family will manage very well apart from my role as "Daddy fix".
Paul Harrison
Steph Hills - PR Manager for science laboratory
I started sailing three years ago and loved it, especially the buzz from racing. I was sailing with friends when I rashly announced that I was going to sail across the Atlantic before turning 40. A couple of weeks later (fate??) I saw an ad for the Clipper 07-08 race.
The early training was great fun and I really enjoyed life above and below deck. But now my competitive streak has taken over - the race is serious and I want Durban to win.
There are so many things that I’m looking forward to; sailing into New York past the Statue of Liberty, the camaraderie on board, having a shower after eight days without one, seeing family and friends again in Liverpool. And there are quite a few things that I know will be daunting; being out of sight of land for nearly three weeks, missing eight weeks of The Archers…
I’m using my once-in-a-lifetime experience to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Crossing the Atlantic is going to be a huge emotional and physical challenge - I want to know if I’m up to it, and the only way of doing that is to have a go…
Charlie Neal
