Alternatives to Clipper?

[Skylark]

If you’re an adrenaline junkie the record speed of a Clipper boat, iirc, is >30 kts. My pal witnessed these conditions in 70kt winds crossing from China to Seattle. He told me that the boat felt very stable blasting off wind in big seas.

 

[capnsensible]

My tip? Do it. Enjoy. You only get one go at life. Ive never turned down a sailing adventure!

 

[V1701]

For anyone with sailing experience...is clipper really going to scratch that itch? It's a turnkey solution. It's racing (sort of) on big boats you might not otherwise get experience of. It includes the experience of sailing in conditions where a prudent cruiser would not normally place themselves. You get to experience the whole group-dynamics-under-stress thing which may be intensely interesting or offputting depending on your inclination. But someone else is in charge, someone else is navigating, someone else dictates the timetable and you don't get to change the plan. I absolutely see why people might do it and I have thought about it but crewing on a round-the-word yacht satisfies neither my desire to navigate a yacht round the world, nor to meet some of the people who live on those little dots on the "oceania" page of the atlas.

I wonder if there are sufficient semi-competent amateurs with mid-life crises reckless enough to fork out for an old open 40 each to race slowly round with no interest whatsoever outside this forum?

That's really well put.

I'm the same age as Phil but couldn't run to £50k to do the clipper to save my life. My "solution" is to have bought a small boat that's just big enough for me to sail pretty much wherever I want to go. I'm planning to have my gap year at 55 so that gives me time to get her and me ready, have prenegotiated the career break with my employer (NHS). Phil I'd have thought an academic employed in a university should be able to negotiate a sabbatical unless they say you haven't worked with them for long enough to justify it? It also happens that at 55 I'll have done my 35 years of NI for my full state pension rights & my first occupational pension becomes payable albeit at a reduced rate which even for frugal me wouldn't be enough to live on. But there will be options available to me in a couple of years that aren't now & the year off will help me to answer the question of whether I want to sail long term (whether RTW or not) or rejoin the rat race, potentially for another 10+ years. I have to do something though and consider myself extremely fortunate to have such choices available to me...

 

[PhillM]

I went to the interview day yesterday. It was the usual stuff you get with group assessments: introduce yourself to the group, a session in which we learned more about logistics, training and of course payment. This was followed by an individual interview.

I was impressed that they are genuinely probing to see if you understand what you are letting yourself in for. There was plenty of talk about the mental resilience and physical strength and ability needed to enjoy the experience. There was absolute nothing “sales” about it. In fact, I would say that they spent more time trying to put us off, than they did encouraging us to join up.

I was also pleased to hear that during training there is a MOB drill every day and also one night MOB each week. All in all the required training looks, on the face or it, to be good.

We all passed and are invited to take up a berth contract. However, each of us have our targets to hit so as to have the best chance of passing the training tests. In my case, I know I need to build by fitness. My self assessed target is to use the gym for 3 hours a week, cut down on nibbles and wine and lose a bit of weight too,

I am going to proceed cautiously. If I sustain a diet and exercise routine between now and March, I shall book onto the level 1 training and see howI do. If I fail to keep myself motivated, well that will speak volumes about my committment to it,

 

[laika]

<rummages in archives...>
From the thread a few years ago where the employment lawyer was taking action against clipper...

that is the link to my blog. glad you liked. she is the woman I talk about at the end of the blog, the round the worlder who left in Brest. Clipper should have never let her join in the first place. Their lax ways around "selection" bit them on the arse on this one. I doubt she could fit easily in her boat companionway nevermind help change a sail...but they took her fee regardless...

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?404029-Wow!-Now-your-crew-are-actually-employees-or-so-says-a-lawyer!&p=4873923#post4873923

(sadly the blog has gone...)

I was impressed that they are genuinely probing to see if you understand what you are letting yourself in for. There was plenty of talk about the mental resilience and physical strength and ability needed to enjoy the experience.
[...]
We all passed and are invited to take up a berth contract. However, each of us have our targets to hit so as to have the best chance of passing the training tests.

That's interesting to hear and let's hope they responded to criticism. If you decide not to do it maybe you could eat a few pies "for the team" just to check that they're serious . Out of interest, are the targets relative (ie "You should lose 3Kg") or absolute (ie "You should be able to run 5k in under N minutes")?

 

[Seajet]

PhillM,

Good Luck :encouragement:

 

[PhillM]

Out of interest, are the targets relative (ie "You should lose 3Kg") or absolute (ie "You should be able to run 5k in under N minutes")?

Relative and self-set. I suspect someone has dug out the Grow caching model. Having seen and and heard what’s expected, we set our own targets. Of course the final arbiter will be how we cope with the training.

 

[Uricanejack]

I hope you enjoy it.

I contacted them myself just out of idle curiosity. I concluded it was just to expensive for me. Prior to the recent incidents. Also the cost of taking the time. Is a huge cost. I might have been potentially interested in a leg rather than the entire voyage.

Or if they were looking for a Mate or Watch leader. From a personal perspective, I might have been willing to provide my services and take on the responsibility, very cheep for the pleasure and experience. No chance I would pay for the privilege of being a Clipper Coxswain. It appears the Clipper Coxswain is no longer acceptable. So they need a minimum YM.

I have enjoyed acting as a watch leader on sail training vessels in the past. Which I have done as an unpaid volunteer. I enjoyed working with youngsters.
I may go back to doing this when I have the time.
Just a personal opinion. I will work for free for a charitable organisation. Why would I work for free for a purely commercial venture?
People tag along with delivery skippers just for experience. Again I have similar opinion. Why would I crew for free. With friends yes, its not a commercial venture.

I get their updates having contacted them in the past.
Truthfully even if it was a paying position, It would cost me to much in time and commitment. I am not likely to apply for such a position. I have not seen advertised anyway.

Good luck hope it works out and you enjoy it.

 

[Skylark]

Or if they were looking for a Mate or Watch leader..

Applications for Mate close on 20th January


https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/jobs/view/clipper-race-additionally-qualified-person-mate


To the OP. Congratulations on taking the first steps and good luck with your next steps.

 

[Uricanejack]

Applications for Mate close on 20th January


https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/jobs/view/clipper-race-additionally-qualified-person-mate

To the OP. Congratulations on taking the first steps and good luck with your next steps.

I had quick look, unfortunately closed on Jan 20 2019
Maybe I will have better luck next time

 

[Skylark]

I had quick look, unfortunately closed on Jan 20 2019
Maybe I will have better luck next time

Sorry, I didn't check the year

However, applications for Training Skippers close at the end of this year. Being one of these would probably put you at the head of the pack for the next round of Skippers and Mates in 2 years time. Go for it :encouragement:

 

[ridgy]

One of the previous skippers wrote a book about the 2010 campaign, it explained that the crews make a decision to either be competitive or focus on having a good experience which explains the large disparity in performance within the one design fleet.

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Team-Spi...p86GFPT1qGKjvDe1-pY_tZn_LZJ6TajhoCnt0QAvD_BwE

 

[paulsibley]

Phil, did you progress to the 2019/20 race? I'm considering 22/23 and found this thread helpful.

 

[PhillM]

Phil, did you progress to the 2019/20 race? I'm considering 22/23 and found this thread helpful.

No. COVID happened. The house sale fell through, three of my grown kids came home. Finished a PhD I’ve been promoted at work. Got engaged. Funny how life turns out.

 

[[3889]]

A lot depends on your outlook, really. For me, I would derive far more satisfaction circumnavigating the Isle of Man in a Westerley Centaur than complying with other peoples' standards and nodding along as I sailed around the world.
In that vein, I respect Ellen McArthur more for her efforts in her Vivacity in UK waters than her Vendee Globe achievements, though that is not to denigrate her considerable achievements in any way.
Do you want to achieve personal satisfaction or tick 'bucket list' items off?

 

[PhillM]

I think there is adventure wherever you choose to find it. I’m still working on longer distance passages in my little 24 footer. Just waiting for the world to reopen. Although, for a while it will be restricted to uni summer holidays.

Do I regret that the clipper (and world) closed down, yes. but as I’ve always found as one door slams shut I can usually kick another open.

 

[Resolution]

I think there is adventure wherever you choose to find it. I’m still working on longer distance passages in my little 24 footer. Just waiting for the world to reopen. Although, for a while it will be restricted to uni summer holidays.

Do I regret that the clipper (and world) closed down, yes. but as I’ve always found as one door slams shut I can usually kick another open.

I have never met you (but have seen the boat!) but your positivism is a credit to you.

 

[KompetentKrew]

No. COVID happened. The house sale fell through, three of my grown kids came home. Finished a PhD I’ve been promoted at work. Got engaged. Funny how life turns out.

Congrats. Sounds like you're doing ok.

 

[matt1]

Think the OP needs to be careful what he wishes for As a teenager I harboured an ambition to cross the Atlantic. When I did this it was such a crack I was desperate to go again (but work prevented it) However, undertaking the passage really diminished my motivation and passion for more normal sailing eg batting about the Solent / s coast (fortunately I got it back, but it took a while). I suppose there seemed little point or challenge after an Atlantic crossing.

What would put me off the clipper is the cannon fodder factor. Feels like they just make up the numbers by having hanked on headsails to boost crew numbers who then sit on the rail. Not much fun / challenge or achievement in that. If it were me I’d just sign on with a delivery company and do some interesting delivery work.Far cheaper, loads of fun and variety. Would learn heaps too

 

[paulsibley]

Congrats. Sounds like you're doing ok.

Congratulations Phil, your reply did make me chuckle, sounds like you've done okay. I wonder, in all that change, did you keep your boat? ?