Clipper Round the World Race: An introduction.


The Clipper Round the World Race, also known as the Clipper Race, is one of those legendary races that test the limits of human endurance amidst the backdrop of unforgiving nature.  The race itself consists of a whopping total of 40,000 nautical miles around the world.  The vessel is a 70-foot ocean racing yacht.  And while many of its participants are professional sailors and yachters, there are those who join with zero experience.


The Clipper Race was conceptualized by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.  For those who are unfamiliar with the name, Knox-Johnston is the first recorded person to sail around the world on his own, without stopping at any port.  This year is the 11th race of the now, annual event. 


The race itself is a bit more complicated than getting from start to finish.  There are eight legs, with 13 to 16 individual races.  Participants have the choice of either going through the entire Clipper Race or just the individual legs.  There are also 11 racing yachts (identical in make) and a professional skipper for each vessel.  The skippers guide the crews of the yachts throughout the race.


What sets the Clipper Race apart is that as aforementioned, ordinary, everyday folk comprise a huge percentage of the participants.  People from all walks of life band together to take on the terrible power of the seas to reach their goal.  Of course, they will be trained intensely before the event.


James Feldkamp, currently the Lead Consultant for Intelligence and Counterterrorism at Complete 
Threat Preparedness, will be joining the Clipper Round the World race next year.  
Learn more about Feldkamp and his interests  here.

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