Clipper Yacht Race – Adventurer sets off on the Mighty Pacific leg

by Clipper Ventures on 21 Mar 2016 Adventurer Martin Frey has set off on the Mighty Pacific leg of the Clipper Race on the final stage of his quest to become the first person ever to climb the Seven Summits and sail the Seven Seas.

On completion of the grueling 5,768 nautical mile race from Qingdao, China, to Seattle with his Visit Seattle team, Martin, a technology angel investor, 56, from Utah, USA, will achieve the feat after an eleven year journey spanning 35,000 nautical miles and more than 14.5 vertical miles.

Amongst his biggest achievements as part of the 14 challenges, Martin has summited Everest and sailed around the world with his family. Martin is crossing the world’s largest expanse of water with a race team for the first time, with the Visit Seattle Clipper 70 yacht racing to its home port in Washington State. Martin left China yesterday, March 20, following a colourful fleet departure ceremony.

Martin joins the Visit Seattle team 23,000 nautical miles into the 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation in what is the world’s longest ocean race. He will be sailing against more than 200 international crew members and fellow adventurers, many with little or no previous sailing experience before setting out on the comprehensive training programme.

Martin said: “I love the team camaraderie that develops when you take on a big challenge and work together through the hardships to accomplish it. Joining the Visit Seattle team racing home on arguably the toughest race of the circumnavigation is such a fitting end to my adventure.

“I am looking forward to the satisfaction and confidence of completing what I set out to do, and hopefully the opportunity to inspire others to accomplish their goals.

“I get sea sick very easily and this will be a big personal challenge during the race. Being continually wet, cold, physically worn down and sleep deprived from being on watch every four hours, all while the boat pounds through big waves at a 40 degree angle will be a huge mental challenge.

“My family will be especially glad when this is over. It will be time to celebrate!” added Martin.

Martin’s quest began in 2005 with the Seven Summits. By 2012, he had climbed the highest peak on every continent and set his sights on sailing the Seven Seas. Discovering the Clipper Race after its Pacific crossing from China to San Francisco four years ago and after seeing the Volvo Ocean Race in Cape Town in 2014, he realised the Clipper Race could provide a similar thrilling experience and he applied to be a crew member before completing the training.

Martin’s groundbreaking venture follows a more than 30-year business career that included 13 years in Silicon Valley as a senior director for Cisco, where he ran a global support organization for Cisco’s top service provider customers.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors.