Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops 2022 November Load Pin LEADERBOARD

Spotlight on the Clipper Race: Leg 2 - The South Atlantic Challenge

by Clipper Round the World Race 5 Mar 02:12 PST
Clipper Round the World Race © Clipper Race

Race length: Approx 4,000nm
Air temperature: 10-30 c
One individual race
Days racing: 15-23 days (port dependent)
Where? South America to South Africa

The South Atlantic Challenge, otherwise known as Leg 2, is renowned as one of the most exhilarating and closely fought legs of the entire Clipper Race circumnavigation.

Formed of one single race over 4000nm in length, Leg 2 starts from South America and crosses the South Atlantic ending in South Africa, with the added tactical elements of a Scoring Gate and Ocean Sprint.

Famed as a white knuckle sleigh ride with some of the highest wind speeds of the circumnavigation, it's common to see boat speed records broken as teams surf down huge waves. In previous editions, teams have recorded boat speeds of over 30 knots as they take advantage of the Westerlies and the long, rolling swells of the South Atlantic.

For Race Crew, it's a heady mix of adrenaline pumping conditions and highly tactical close-fought racing juxtaposed by impressive swooping Albatross and sightings of Whales.

Glenn Hayward, 2019-20 Race Crew on board GoToBermuda said: "When we signed up for the Clipper Race many us, perhaps all of us, were asked why we had signed up to leave our loving families and comfortable lifestyles to spend weeks or months at sea, in close quarters with people we had seldom met in a vessel with very few of the modern conveniences that we take for granted in the twenty-first century. Well, let me give you a taste of just one experience that draws us to this.

"As I write, we are holding friendly contests to see which watches can drive our boat at the fastest speeds through mounting seas and following swells in 50 knot gusts of wind. Each new record was met with whoops and fist pumps into the air. More common, though, was the sound of maniacal laughter as yet more waves of drenching grey surf crashed over and into the boat. Do these drenchings dampen our spirits; does the cold numb our enthusiasm for the race and our adventure? No, quite the reverse, we're ready for more. This truly, to us, is heaven on earth."

What's more, after thousands of miles of heavy weather racing, teams can find that winds can taper off and be fickle on approach to the finish port, adding one last hurdle to a challenging race.

A leg that keeps Race Skippers, AQPs and Race Crew on their toes, it is not uncommon to watch standoffs, match racing and fluctuating leaderboard positions right up to the finish line.

Clipper Race Director Mark Light shares his secrets to success: "The keys to a successful race are to position the vessel on the correct side of the approaching low-pressure systems but equally as important is the need to carefully monitor and look after the deck gear and sails. With lots of spinnaker work on this particular race there is a big emphasis on sail care and chafe management.

The Clipper Race crew will be able to helm the yacht in some fantastic surfing conditions and it will be some of the most exhilarating sailing they will have experienced on the journey so far."

Whilst there is plenty of action on the race track, Leg 2 is a marathon rather than a sprint. Punta del Este Race Crew Jim Leafe said: "60 knots of wind, 9 metre waves, a 48 hours of helming marathon, 15 lines dragging aft, 3 reefs in the main 1 headsail, 5 cakes, 4 loaves of bread, 23 crew eating, sleeping, sailing and repeating!

"Endurance can be summed up as a person's ability to suffer for undefined periods of time.

It's mind over matter and applied focus, not physical ability alone. It has been something that has always fascinated us and we are experiencing it in sloppy bucket loads on this race. We love it, which is good because it will happen all over again in 24 hours."

One for the thrillseekers, Leg 2 is a mental and physical test packed into 15-23 days of around-the-clock racing.

Want to experience it for yourself? With a final few spaces remaining, you could be lining up on the Leg 2 start line as Race Crew this autumn. To find out more about Leg 2, you can request further information or book an interview via the website and read more about the South Atlantic Challenge on the Leg page.

Related Articles

In photos: First Level 4 Training underway
Level 4 is the final level of training Yesterday, over 100 Race Crew set sail for the first time with their Skipper, First Mate and fellow teammates on the first of five Level 4 Training Courses. Posted on 3 Jun
Clipper Race Crew Allocation
Over 450 adventurers, from 48 nations, filled the Portsmouth Guildhall Over 450 adventurers, from 48 nations, filled the Portsmouth Guildhall (on Saturday 20 May), for their Race Crew Allocation, one of the biggest and most highly anticipated events in the Clipper Race calendar. Posted on 22 May
4 Clipper Race skipper team partners announced
Allocated to their respective teams for the upcoming 2023-24 edition The first four Clipper Race Skippers to be allocated to their respective teams for the upcoming 2023-24 edition have been announced. Posted on 20 May
Clipper Race confirms AQP lineup
Eleven exceptional professional sailors announced for the highly regarded role Eleven exceptional professional sailors have been announced for the highly regarded AQP role and are set to assist the Clipper 2023-24 Race Skippers in leading over 700 Race Crew around the world. Posted on 30 Apr
Sta-Lok to rig 11-strong Clipper Race fleet
This will be the Essex-based company's 3rd edition of partnership Sta-Lok Terminals Ltd. is returning as the Official Standing Rigging Supplier for the upcoming edition of the Clipper Race. Posted on 13 Apr
Clipper 2023-24 Race skippers announced
Eleven skippers set to lead teams of amateur sailors The eleven skippers set to lead teams of amateur sailors from all walks of life around the globe has been revealed. Posted on 18 Mar
Edward Woodward
He played Lieutenant (Henry Harbord) Harry ‘The Breaker' Morant in the film. He played Lieutenant (Henry Harbord) Harry ‘The Breaker' Morant in the Bruce Beresford film depiction of the famed bush poet's execution during the Second Boer War. Woodward was utterly superb at it, too. Posted on 12 Mar
TIMEZERO returns for the Clipper Race
To provide cutting-edge navigation software TIMEZERO has renewed its partnership with the Clipper Race, returning for a fourth consecutive edition as the Official Navigation Software Supplier for the global yacht race. Posted on 26 Feb
SKIRR opens up Arctic Circle sailing expedition
Designed for the curious, the restless and those who are adventurers by nature SKIRR Adventures, subsidiary of Clipper Ventures which runs Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, is due to set off on its second expedition to the Arctic Circle this July. Posted on 17 Feb
Clipper Race #MyStory
First hand the extraordinary stories of intrepid Clipper 2019-20 Race Crew Experiencing the exhilaration of ocean racing and accessing parts of the world few people have the opportunity to see, the Clipper Race offers life-changing opportunities for its courageous crew. Posted on 12 Feb
Hyde Sails 2022 One Design FOOTERHenri-Lloyd 2022 December - SW FOOTERSOUTHERN-SPARS-OFFICIAL-SUPPLIER-52-SS728-X-90 Bottom