Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race to return to Oban after tourism boosting debut visit last summer

by Clipper Race 31 Mar 03:42 PDT

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will be returning to Oban to "bring global focus on the area as a great place to visit and invest" as the West Coast town is announced as a port on the event's 2025-26 edition.

The Clipper Race's eleven strong fleet will sail into Oban in summer 2026. A 200 strong crew of adventurers, including over 50 nationalities, and 150 professions, will descend on the town for its international sailing festival. This news follows the successful stop last year when Oban appeared on the same international route as major cities such as Cape Town, Washington, DC and Qingdao (China).

Those who take on the Clipper Race need no previous sailing experience before being intensively trained to face the record breaking 40,000 nautical mile race around the world. On the Race Crew roster this year are five participants living in Scotland, some of which will have the honour of sailing into their home country.

Stirling born Clipper Race Deputy Race Director, Max Rivers, was a Skipper on the 2023-24 edition, and had the chance of sailing into his home country last year. Max says: "The West Coast of Scotland has some of the best sailing in the world, and it was an honour to share the most gorgeous parts of the nation with my global crew. Having grown up sailing in and around Oban, I relished the opportunity to sail there again with the Clipper Race.

"Our arrival and departure in the Firth of Lorn didn't disappoint with its amazing wind and scenery, making it truly one of the most memorable sailing locations in the world. And to top it off the town was an amazing host with brilliant events and spectacular hospitality. Oban put on a superb stopover, and I am delighted that our next intake of international crew will get to enjoy all that the town has to offer in 2026."?

It is estimated that hosting the Clipper 2023-24 Race gave a boost of £2m in revenue to Oban from Clipper Race crew and their families alone, with the thousands of additional visitors sure to have driven further economic impact. During the ten-day stopover in June 2024, crew immersed themselves in all that the town has to offer, including a visit to Dunollie Castle, whisky tastings at Oban Distillery and even fitting in a trip to nearby Lismore. They also took part in Gaelic lessons and a shinty taster session. With such a diverse offering of activities for tourists, it was no wonder that the town was awarded Scotland's Town of the Year in October 2024.

Building on the successes of the 2023-24 edition, the town is hoping to put on an even bigger festival of culture for Race Crew and their families next year. Jim Lynch, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council said: "It's fantastic news that the Clipper Race is returning to Oban. It's a huge, international event and so is a welcome opportunity to attract people to Oban, and Argyll and Bute more widely, and to bring global focus on the area as a great place to visit and invest."

Clipper Ventures Head of Partnerships, Kate Ashley, added: "This partnership with Oban means we will once again see this Scottish 'Town of the Year' sit alongside major international cities on our race route. Oban, with its rich maritime history and warm hospitality, is the perfect destination to welcome our adventurous crew after a tough ocean crossing.

"Our event brings with it a global audience and in the 30 years since the Clipper Race launched its first circumnavigation, we've seen many collaborations develop into broader partnerships which can include a team entry. A Scottish named yacht in our event would give brands an international platform as our fleet sails to 14 destinations around the world and we are currently working to make this a possibility."

The arrival of the Clipper Race fleet into a destination brings with it a diverse following of fans - many visiting a port for the first time. A testament to this, 87% of people who visited Oban for the 2024 'Festival of the Sea' event came from outside of the area, with 80% of visitors stating the Clipper Race as being the primary driver for their visit.

Joining forces with the council to host what is set to be another community showstopper of an event, Andrew Spence, Chief Executive of Bid4Oban, said: "Bid4Oban Ltd is delighted that once again the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has chosen Oban to be a Host Port on its 2025-26 edition. Following a successful visit in 2024, along with Argyll and Bute council, Oban demonstrated its expertise in hosting such a prestigious event. The welcome afforded by Oban and its residents was second to none and we look forward to welcoming all the crews from around the world. We will once again showcase Scotland at its best with numerous events and activities planned."

The fleet is expected to arrive into port in early summer 2026. The stopover will be a midway point of Leg 8: The Atlantic Homecoming, which will see Race Crew take on a furious downwind battle as they make the 3,900nm crossing from North America towards the Race Finish port of Portsmouth, UK. Along with Oban, other ports that have been announced so far for the Clipper 2025-26 Race are Portsmouth (UK - the event's Race Start and Finish location), Cape Town (South Africa), Tongyeong (Korea) and Qingdao (China). Further port announcements are due in the next month.

Related Articles

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
Seattle set to host Clipper Race stopover
Tenth anniversary of first visit, returning with team entry Seattle is set to host the Clipper 2025-26 Race as the global sailing event has announced the city will feature on its race route. Posted on 4 Apr
Clipper Race announces its new line-up of skippers
“Sailing is a level playing field – with the ocean an equaliser” The next roster of eleven Clipper Race Skippers taking on one of the toughest jobs in sailing has been announced. Each will lead teams of non-professionals, making six ocean crossings on the 40,000 nautical mile, eleven-month race around the globe. Posted on 28 Mar
Clipper Race celebrates 30 years of adventure
One of the secrets to the success and longevity of biennial event is the highly experienced team This month marks 30 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world, founded the Clipper Race. Posted on 7 Mar
Clipper Race to return to Portsmouth
On the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city When its fleet departs from Gunwharf Quays this August, the event will be celebrating two milestones - the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city and 30 years of training people to cross oceans and sail around the world. Posted on 3 Mar
Clipper Race returns to its roots
To find next batch of ocean adventurers At 58 years old, Plymouth-based Advanced Clinical Practitioner Loveday Fethney is proving that adventure knows no age limit. Posted on 15 Feb
Spotlight on Clipper Race Leg 5
A tactical multi-stage challenge through the tropics Renowned for its challenging conditions and energising close racing, Leg 5 is a multi-stage leg on the Clipper Race circumnavigation. Posted on 1 Feb
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastExposure MarineMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM