Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M75

Queenslander returns after completing once-in-a-lifetime global ocean yacht race

by Clipper Round the World 30 Jul 2024 23:21 AEST
Dianne McGrath raced round the world on board PSP Logistics © Clipper Race

Dr Dianne Mcgrath, a 55-year-old sustainability expert from Maroochydore, Queensland, has raced into Portsmouth, UK, after circumnavigating the world with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Dianne is one of 700 non-professional sailors aged between 18 and 75 who have raced eleven identical stripped back 70ft yachts in the extraordinary eleven-month-long challenge. The event stopped in Fremantle and first time Host Port Newcastle (in December/January 2023), along with Airlie Beach where the race had to bunker down due to an approaching cyclone in January 2024.

A total of 31 Australians competed in stages across the Clipper 2023-24 Race and Dianne was one of three, all hailing from Queensland, to have completed their Clipper 2023-24 Race journey in Portsmouth. Dianne raced alongside PSP Logistics teammate Justin Howard, a 51-year-old, Agronomist, from Brisbane, who completed Legs 1,2,3,4,7 and 8. And they competed against Phil Siddle, a 62-year-old Electrician from Kiels Mountain, who completed the final three legs, 6, 7 and 8 on board the Unicef team.

Upon completing her achievement, Dianne, no said: "We have just come into Portsmouth, we have completed the circumnavigation of the planet after eleven months. I feel elated to be back in Portsmouth where we started this incredible adventure.

"Mixed emotions, excited but sad as some big changes are coming ahead, people I will miss and the experiences. This has really truly been the adventure of a lifetime and then to go back to what will be normality is a little bit surreal.

"Other elements, I know have transformed personally throughout this journey, so a lot of those life lessons I will take with me. There is a great analogy, one of the other round-the-worlders has spoken about it, when the seas are really rough and the boat's not doing very well, let go of the wheel, and it will right itself then you can grab it again. And I think it's a great analogy for life."

With no prior sailing experience necessary, Clipper Race Crew choose to take on the full round the world challenge or pick one, or multiple, race legs. Like some 40 percent of the crew, Dianne had never sailed before they signed up to take part in the Clipper Race.

She added: "I am really proud of myself, I have learnt an extreme amount. I never really considered myself a sailor prior to this, I guess you can say now after so much experience at sea I am a sailor. I have done things I never thought I would do, experienced conditions that were incredible."

Before setting sail, Race Crew - who come from all walks of life - take on an intensive compulsory four-stage training programme before going on to tackle some of the most challenging conditions that Mother Nature can serve up. From freezing temperatures and 40-foot waves to the blistering heat and flat calms of the tropics, these adventurers will return having witnessed it all.?And in the only event of its kind, teachers will race against tattoo artists, electricians and students in one of the biggest tests of human endurance.

Reflecting on her experience and what she will take with her from her time on board, she said: "It's a montage, the environmental images, what I experienced out there, the ocean in all its glory. All the wildlife, birdlife, especially on the race from Seattle to Panama and dolphins, whales, will never get sick of seeing dolphins and whales, even yesterday we had dozens of dolphins out with us, just stunning. The natural environment is something that I will continue to carry with me. I will also always think about the fun, we had a lot of fun on board, it's who you travel with, not just where you travelled and what you saw.

"I really enjoyed the racing aspects, always loved Race Starts, tacking and gybing lots of close interactions with the other boats - It's a lot of fun. So I will probably go and do some sailing round the cans when I go back to Australia."

The Clipper Race was founded by record-breaking yachtsman, Sir Robin-Knox Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, round the world and this has been the 13th edition of the biennial event.

This edition saw the Clipper Race fleet call into three diverse ports in Australia as part of its race circuit. Leg 4, the All Australian leg saw the fleet return to the WA city of Fremantle at the end of 2023, visit the vibrant Newcastle in New South Wales for the first time seeing in the New Year, and sail back to the tropical Queensland paradise of Airlie Beach, the final Australian destination.

Having set sail from Portsmouth, UK, on 3 September 2023, the entire route saw the teams sail to Puerto Sherry, Spain, Punta del Este, Uruguay, Cape Town, South Africa, Fremantle, Newcastle and Airlie Beach, Australia, Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam, Zhuhai and Qingdao, China, Seattle, USA, Panama, Washington DC, USA, and Oban, Scotland before coming full circle back to Portsmouth.

For more information visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com.

Related Articles

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race gets underway
The 2025-26 editiondeparted Portsmouth, UK, on Sunday A true test of human endeavour, 20 sailing professionals departed Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, on Sunday leading their ten teams, formed of non-professional sailors, on the eleven-month endurance challenge around the world. Posted on 4 Sep
Everyday people set out on lifechanging race
Non-professional sailors embark on 40,000nm yacht race today Live event happening today - Non-professional sailors embark on 40,000nm yacht race. Posted on 31 Aug
Family fun and a farewell to local legends
Join us at Gunwharf Quays for a fun-filled weekend of festivities Raced by people from all walks of life, including plumbers, teachers, chefs and former funeral directors, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race gets under way this Sunday 31 August from Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. Posted on 27 Aug
UK Gov, Brand Scotland & Diageo enter Clipper Race
The event will be utilised as a global platform to boost economic growth The UK Government's Scotland Office (through Brand Scotland) and Oban Distillery (Diageo) have joined forces to partner with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as they launch team entry into the biennial event. Posted on 22 Aug
55% of professional Clipper Race line up are women
Sailing is a level playing field - with the ocean an equaliser On the 31 August, 20 sailing professionals will leave Portsmouth, leading their ten teams on an eleven-month endurance challenge around the world - and 55% of this line up are women. Posted on 19 Aug
Clipper 2025-26 Race to return to Puerto Sherry
After tourism boosting debut visit The Finish Line of the opening stage of the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race will be set against the backdrop of El Puerto de Santa María as Puerto Sherry returns as a Host Port Partner for the international sailing event. Posted on 25 Jun
Punta del Este announced as Clipper host port
4th time the city will host the Round the World Yacht Race fleet The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is set to return to Punta del Este, as the Uruguayan city is officially announced as a Host Port for the Clipper 2025-26 Race. Posted on 17 Jun
Clipper Race announces Official Logistics Supplier
Warrant Group offers a deep understanding of the complex operational demands As it gears up for its 14th edition, the Clipper Race has announced that Warrant Group will be the Official Logistics Supplier for the upcoming circumnavigation, with the UK-based firm also making its racing debut with a team entry named in its honour. Posted on 13 Jun
Clipper Race & UNICEF mark a decade of partnership
Fundraising efforts from race crew will continue to support UNICEF's work globally Today, the leading child rights organisation, UNICEF, was announced as a Team and Charity Partner of the Clipper Race once again. Posted on 6 May
Clipper Race announces line up of First Mates
Each First Mate will assist their Race Skipper in leading their teams of non-professionals The Clipper Race First Mates who will be helping to lead a team in the toughest endurance challenge on the planet have been announced. Posted on 26 Apr
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastBarton Marine Pipe Glands