Preparing for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers

Having moved to the beautiful Island of Guernsey with her husband in 2008 for his work, Anne, who had grown up with horses and riding, was looking for a new interest.
Eventually she decided to try her hand at sailing. This is when she heard about The Clipper Round the World yacht race. This race, incredibly, gives people who have never sailed before, the chance to train and race around the world. She thought this was an unmissable opportunity. 

 She signed up for a single leg of the 2017/18 race, sailing from Seattle to New York via the Panama Canal and this was enough to encourage her to do the whole race. Sailing with a skipper like Jeronimo Santos Gonzalez and first mates Ryan Barkey and Nano Antia Bernandez and the crew of Punta del Este, it was a complete joy. It was never just about the sailing but also about the people you meet and the friends you make and the bonds you form during life on a 70-foot boat racing around the world in all conditions. A fantastic adventure.

The current 2025/26 race is nearing completion, with Team Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) enjoying an unassailable lead. They have amassed 126 points, while their nearest challenger, Power of Seattle, has 81 points.

However, second place is still all to play for. Team Scotland has 79 points, London Business School has 77, and Yacht Club Punta del Este has 67. A total of 17 points is available for the winner of Leg 8.

The fleet has now reached Washington DC and will soon leave for the final leg of the race across the Atlantic Ocean, arriving in Portsmouth on 25 July.

The skipper of GOSH is Oliver Irvine and his Additional Qualified Person (AQP) is Otto Kulow. Otto stayed with my cousin Amanda Dreyer in Cowes for several weeks before the race start in September 2025, while gathering the necessary qualifications and experience, so we have followed GOSH with extra interest.