Plymouth Skipper wins round the world yacht race for second time 

Bob Beggs, a 64-year-old, professional sailor from Plymouth, UK, has led his team to victory in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race; a first in the event’s 28 year history. With over 40,000 nautical miles (46,000 miles) of racing, six ocean crossings, fourteen races and eleven months away on the ocean race track, Bob and his Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam team was crowned Clipper 2023-24 Race champions. 

In the closest finish ever, Bob Beggs and his crew on board Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam took victory in the overall Clipper 2023-24 Race.

Image: Bob Beggs (front, far left) and his team celebrate on board.

It was a fierce fight between three teams for the podium spots on Race 14, which came right down to the wire. For Bob’s team to secure the win, they could not afford to finish more than three places behind Perseverance, which was hot on the team’s heels on the overall leaderboard.

Following the news was shared with the teams this afternoon that the race would be shortened and finish tonight at 18:00 UTC, Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam was in eighth place and Perseverance was third, meaning an overall win was in sight for Perseverance. However, in a nail-biting effort by the crew on Bob Beggs' team they trimmed themselves back into fifth place over the course of the afternoon, reducing the difference in positions on the Race 14 leaderboard down to two places, enough to secure the overall win of the 2023-2024 race by one single point overall, clinch the trophy and become champions.

The Clipper Race is the only event of its kind where non-professional sailors of varying ages, nationalities, backgrounds and sailing abilities can train to become ocean racers as they take on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure around the world. Crew members from all walks of life can sign up to take on one, a combination or all of the eight stages that form the circumnavigation. 

 Image: the Clipper Race fleet has spent 11 months racing 40,000nm around the world 

Over the eleven months the Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam team has consisted of 59 Race Crew, eight of which are about to become circumnavigators, representing 22 nations, aged from 25 to 70, and who have faced everything mother nature can throw at them. From storm force winds and waves the size of houses, freezing temperatures and searing heat, to waterspouts and wind holes, this race has truly been an adventure of a lifetime. 

Speaking just before official confirmation of the team win, says Bob Beggs: “It gives me great pleasure to join a highly motivated, organised team such as the crew on Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam. Ably assisted by my first mate, Cameron McCracken. Emotions have been running high all day in anticipation of receiving news of our podium position on arrival in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. We're now awaiting confirmation from race headquarters and we believe we're the overall winners.”

Clipper Race Director Mark Light congratulated the team on its win: “Huge congratulations to Bob, Cam and the entire Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam team for an absolutely brilliant and epic achievement to become Champions of the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race! 

“It was so, so close at the end and the racing throughout the whole circumnavigation has been gripping us all the way. Very well done to all the teams and crew who have achieved something utterly fantastic and special. You will have these memories for life and you should all be really proud of yourselves.”

For Bob Beggs, this is his second Clipper Race win, after he led his Bristol team to victory in the Clipper 2000 Race. This was also the last time the Clipper Race finished in Portsmouth prior to the current edition. 

The Grand Finale was held in Portsmouth on 27 July.