Clipper Ventures, based on the Solent, in southern England, has confirmed a multi-million-pound investment in a new ‘Clipper RX’ fleet of ocean racing yachts.
The investment will see the development and construction of 12 matched 72ft yachts, intended for use in future editions of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
Clipper Ventures was founded 30 years ago and created the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 1996. The new fleet is a fourth-generation design for the fleet, and is intended to support the company’s operations over the coming decade.
The Clipper Race trains participants with no prior professional sailing background to take part in ocean racing. Since its launch, more than 7,000 crew members have participated across 14 editions of the biennial event.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, founder of Clipper Ventures, says: “The new ‘Clipper RX’ fleet benefits from everything we’ve learned from thousands of crew in addition to our own operations team. The new design concept was created in-house and then developed with leading British naval architects.
“It is a major investment in our future and will provide a safe yet exhilarating experience for the crews who take on this unrivalled adventure. The new design is well equipped to cross the most challenging oceans on the planet, between six continents, on a journey that takes nearly 11 months to complete the full circumnavigation of around 40,000 nautical miles.”
The yacht concept has been developed into a final design by Fish Marine Design-Composites (MDC), based in Hampshire, with hull lines by British naval architect Nigel Irens. The design incorporates a new bow shape and forms the basis of the Clipper RX class.
The Clipper RX has been developed as a 72ft ocean racing yacht intended to operate in extended offshore conditions. Safety features are integrated into the overall design, which is aimed at use by non-professional crews undertaking long-distance racing.
Clipper Ventures employs more than 50 staff at its headquarters in Gosport. The company has expanded its activities in recent years and has added to its portfolio of sailing-related businesses, including the acquisition of the Hamble School of Yachting.
William Ward OBE, co-founder and CEO of Clipper Ventures, says, “I am very proud to see what we’ve achieved over the last 30 years to take the company from strength to strength, despite some major challenges along the way, from economic downturns to a global pandemic. Today, we have the world’s leading event of its type that attracts international participants who are seeking a life-changing adventure.
“The experience we’ve amassed is exceptional and has been applied to this major investment in a new fleet that will take us through our fourth decade. We have developed a strong partnership with Qingdao in China over the last 20 years, where we are building our latest fleet to the highest quality standards at globally competitive rates.”
Components for the Clipper RX fleet have been sourced from UK and international manufacturers. Hull construction for the 12 yachts is taking place at a shipyard in Qingdao, China. The hulls are scheduled to be shipped to the UK later this year for final fitting out.
The fleet is expected to enter service for the 15th edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which is scheduled to start in late summer 2027.
The 14th edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race began on 31 August 2025 and is currently on stopover in Airlie Beach in The Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia. The next stage, Leg 5 – The Asia-Pacific Challenge, will take the fleet to Qingdao. The race is due to return to Portsmouth on 25 July 2026.
Clipper Ventures was established in the UK in 1995 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and co-founder William Ward OBE. Since the first race took place between 1996 and 1997, a total of 14 round-the-world races have been staged using three generations of yachts. The organisation now operates across sailing events, training, expeditions and related activities in the UK and China.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race uses a matched fleet format, with each yacht crewed by non-professional sailors under the leadership of a professional skipper and mate. The current route covers destinations on six continents over approximately 11 months, with each yacht sailing around 45,000 nautical miles. Since the race began, cumulative distance sailed by all fleets has exceeded 5m nautical miles.
The original fleet consisted of eight 60ft yachts. This was followed by ten 68ft yachts introduced in 2005 and twelve 70ft yachts launched in 2013.
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