The Clipper Way Two – Extra Info

The Clipper Way Two Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has a life long interest in the great clipper ships and has extensive experience of them. Robin built his own boat, “Suhali” & in her in 1968/69 was the first person to circumnavigate the globe, nonstop, single handed. Robin’s life of high adventure continues. Today he is sharing it with the crews of the Clipper 60 yachts as they race 33,000 miles to many of the most exotic trading ports in the world.

The ghostly tall ship in the background, the spirit of a Clipper, is the famous “Thermopylae” which raced and beat “Cutty Sark“. Built to a quality later yachts would aspire to, she originally raced for cargoes of tea & later, wool. Some considered her faster than the “Cutty Sark”. “Thermopylae” ended her days with a long career under the Portuguese flag.

This picture has been specially produced for the Clipper Venture / Times Clipper 2000 crews & their followers as a distinctive & unique memento of these very special races.

The 60-foot Clipper Class yachts were specially designed for this very long distance race conceived by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Robin has a life long interest in the great clipper ships. His own career started with the British India Steam Navigation Company as an apprentice on “Dumra” working on the Bombay Persian Gulf routes.

Robin built his own boat, “Suhali” & in her in 1969 was the first person to circumnavigate the globe, nonstop, single handed. Robin’s life of high adventure continues. Today he is sharing it with the crews of the Clipper 60 yachts as they race 33,000 miles to many of the most exotic trading ports in the world. So, if you fancy passing from the Caribbean through the Panama Canal to the Galapagos Islands for Christmas, on to party on Hawaii, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Durban, Rio & more this could be the race for you! The sailing is competitive, the socialising & friendships, unforgettable. Some crews go the whole distance; others join for particular legs. Currently the event is sponsored by ‘The Times’ of London.

The painting, developed from an idea of Robin’s, shows a Clipper 60 yacht. The roundel under the bow is left blank. That way whichever boat the crew is associated with, the print can be personalised by the addition of the relevant number. The ghostly tall ship in the background, the spirit of a Clipper, is the famous “Thermopylae“. Built to a quality later yachts would aspire to, she originally raced for cargoes of tea & later, wool. Some considered her faster than the “Cutty Sark“. Her green hull, figurehead & distinctive rig easily identify her.