James Feldkamp

Traversing the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean constitutes the second leg of the great Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, as competitors depart from South America. They now must find a way to blitz the rolling swells of the South Atlantic on their way to the Southern Ocean. Spinnakers are the most appropriate sails for this crossing, as participants face the Trade Winds and surf down the front of the swells. If done correctly, the boats can run at speeds well above 20 knots. However, yacht crew members must be fully aware that the race is more of a marathon than a sprint; taking great care of their kit is a must as any false turn can rip apart the sail and leave them lagging as they stitch for hours. Massive South Atlantic storms are common, too. Participants have to be alert of incoming weather reports as they follow the route that turns the boats east toward Africa. This navigation of the Southern Cross is nonetheless most welcome: a breathtaking, nature-communing segme...

Unparalleled in its grandeur, test of endurance, and prestige in sailing, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a much-awaited sporting event that involves eight legs around the world onboard a fleet of identical yachts.   The race, conceived in 1995 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, ran every two years from 1996 to 2002, skipped a year, and then ran subsequent races starting in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2017. The crew members, who can sign up for the whole race or just one or more legs, need not be professional yacht racers.   In the past, qualified crew members ranged from housewives and office workers to chief executives and seasoned athletes, demonstrating that credentials aren’t what it takes to make it; it’s all about outwitting and conquering the ocean and facing Mother Nature in its most challenging. On the Clipper Race website, interested individuals may request an application pack or book an interview.   Clipper Race crew must undergo fo...

It’s a yacht race around the world like no other, involving 11 months of daring and hard work, as well as 40,000 grueling nautical miles across the sea .   The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is unparalleled in its appeal to the novice and the experts alike, its refusal to distinguish between seasoned athletes and sailing enthusiasts who want to embark on an ocean challenge of a lifetime. The race across five oceans and six continents is no easy feat.   According to the Clipper Race’s official website, full circumnavigation is quite an undertaking, where one “ will have sailed in all conditions from warm trade winds, through winter storms, tropical heat of the Doldrums, traversing the Equator twice and cross the International Date Line.”   It’s a visit to 13 different countries, a real circumnavigator’s journey from the point of departure to the path back home. The individual legs are as follow: Atlantic trade winds leg, South Atlantic challenge leg, Southe...

Once participants of the Clipper Round the World Race, or the Clipper Race leave Cape Town in South Africa, they will travel all the way to Australia and dock on the port of Fremantle.   The city itself is a fantastic place to stay in, and any lover of art and music will surely find their stay here a very memorable one.   Fremantle has several establishments dedicated to art and music such as art galleries and musical venues.   The city even has its very own theater company, named Harbour Theater Inc., which has had performances that date all the way back to 1963.   On Bathers’ Beach, tourists can find J Shed, which is home to four studios made for artists.   Across the Fremantle ports, visitors can see the Old Customs House.   Artsource is based here, running it non-profit artist agency.   There are 23 artist studios inside. Among the several wonderful music venues that see live performances from all kinds of musical artists, the m...