James Feldkamp

Founder of JLF Solutions James Feldkamp has a goal to compete in the Clipper Round the World Race. He is fascinated with this one-of-a-kind yachting spectacle that sees people work in groups to achieve what very few others have ever achieved before. Feldkamp is also enamored by many of the places participants will get to see in this global event. Image source: chinatouradvisors.com One such place is Sanya in China. Best known for the crystal blue water and well-preserved beaches, Sanya is unlike any other place people have seen before. Located at the southern tip of the province of Hainan, Sanya is never short of visitors. A vast majority of Sanya’s attractions are near or on the water, which is why it has oftentimes been compared to Hawaii. One of the most popular spots in Sanya is Tianya Haijiao, which means ‘edge of the sky, rim of the sea.’ It is 15 miles from the center of the city and is drenched in local folklore. The three rocks in the area are famous attr...

Image source: isportconnect.com The Clipper Round the World Race is a yacht race with no equal, and it is one of the biggest challenges of the natural world. In order to have proper preparation for a race as extreme as the Clipper Race, one must get past the beginner status and move on to become an experienced racer. Some ocean-racing athletes may be completely new to the idea of the Clipper Race. That shouldn’t be a problem, as there are a number of training programs not as competitive as the Clipper Race’s, which can be more suitable for first-timers. A beginner must choose the right race , maybe a regatta for an organization. There are more mellow races, and a racer must view it as a learning goal. Image source: allevents.in Ask an experienced racer along for the ride , and consider them as a safety net. A patient pal can be a great teacher, but treat them as just crew so as to not be dependent on them throughout the race. Go spinnaker-less even if the boat h...

There’s no other race in the world quite like the Clipper Race. It’s a race that takes participants around the world and challenges every facet of their being, from the physical to the emotional to the mental. Teams board yachts and conquer the seas through several legs. Image source: sail-world.com Here are some of the lesser known, jaw-dropping numbers of the race. 1. Since the race is physically demanding, there are 224 types of medical supplies on each boat to make sure everyone is safe and in shape. 2. On an average, participants spend a little more than 500 hours on the boats during the race. 3. Depending on the year, the total number of Clipper Race participants may exceed 650, with the average age being 46. 4. Over 1,400 meters of rope is used in rigging a single boat. Overall, the rope weighs over 190 kilograms. Ropes are made of Dyneema, which is lighter than traditional ropes. 5. If one were to combine all the sails of a Clipper 70 yacht, it would cover...

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...