The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has revealed its fourth-generation ocean racing yacht.
The Clipper RX design concept has been developed in-house, based on its 30 years’ of experience in organising round the world yacht races and feedback from more than 7,000 crew participants.
The result is the Clipper RX, a 72ft ocean racing yacht which has been designed as a fast and seaworthy vessel with superior safety features for the extreme conditions faced by crews.
The new yacht concept has been translated into the final design by the Fish Marine Design | Composites (MDC) with hull lines by Nigel Irens, incorporating a new distinctive bow shape.
“The Clipper RX is a yacht that is not only striking in appearance but also exceptionally capable, robust, and well-suited to the realities of round-the-world ocean racing,” explained FISH MDC managing director Peter Murphy.
The Clipper RX enhances crew safety while improving overall racing performance whether beating up wind or powering downwind.
Nigel Irens
Design enhancements provide for versatile performance both upwind and downwind; include a new bow and wider foredeck; two watertight companion ways accessing the twin helms as well as mid-cockpit and new cuddies providing crew greater protection to the elements.
Nigel Irens: “It is very unusual to work on such a well-informed design concept. What has emerged embraces new thinking in ocean racing yacht hull design. The Clipper RX enhances crew safety while improving overall racing performance whether beating up wind or powering downwind.”
The project to design the new yacht has been co-ordinated by Clipper founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston working with British naval architects including the world-renowned Nigel Irens.
“The Clipper RX design benefits from everything we’ve learned,” said Sir Robin.
“It will provide a safe yet exhilarating experience for the crews who take on this unrivalled adventure, providing the ultimate racing experience.
“This 12 x 72ft matched ocean racing fleet represents our commitment to the fourth decade of the Clipper Race after 14 global editions since the inaugural event in 1996.”
“I am very proud to see what we’ve achieved over the last 30 years,” said Clipper co-founder and CEO William Ward OBE.
“The experience we’ve amassed is exceptional. We have developed a strong partnership with Qingdao in China over the last 20 years where we are building our latest fleet to the highest quality standards.”
Twelve yachts are now under construction with the aim of the new fleet coming into service for the 2027-28 edition of the race.
