Clipper Round the World Yacht Race skippers test their navigation skills at Warsash

Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race skippers, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, and Race Director Mark Light were given the opportunity to brush up on their navigation skills when they recently visited the bridge simulation suite at Warsash.

The 12 skippers selected to take part in the Clipper 2017-18 Race were tested with several challenging scenarios using our suite of bridge simulators. The scenarios included entering Sydney harbour on a superyacht, crossing the English Channel on a container ship, and navigating through busy shipping channels with restricted visibility.

It’s all in a day’s work for our team of bridge simulation lecturers, but the session provided a realistic training environment for what the skippers could face in their race around the world.

When asked what the race skippers will take away with them from the session, Mark Light said: “They have had a really good time first and foremost. We really enjoyed coming to Warsash, the facility is amazing, and the lecturers really enthusiastic. Our skippers will take away a little food for thought, and they have got some brushing up on rules to do, but I think it’s just really interesting looking at the bigger picture.”

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman and Founder of Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and a former merchant mariner, enjoyed the experience of being back on the bridge of a cargo ship. He said: “It was brilliant, I was most impressed. What a good way to sharpen yourself up and then go through and analyse it afterwards - that was actually one of the most useful things. It was absolutely fascinating and a wonderful facility.”

The Clipper Race is a 40,000 nautical mile race around the world on board twelve identical 70-foot ocean racing yachts. Each team is led by a fully qualified skipper and crewed by international men and women from all walks of life. No prior experience is necessary to sign up for the race, as full training is provided. 

Watch our interview with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Mark Light