THE CLIPPER RACE AND UNICEF MARK A DECADE OF PARTNERSHIP, TO CHAMPION A BETTER WORLD FOR CHILDREN.
LONDON, 06 May 2025 – Today, the leading child rights organisation, UNICEF, was announced as a Team and Charity Partner of the Clipper Race once again. The announcement came ahead of the 2025-26 race season, and marks a decade of commitment from the global yacht race to advancing child rights globally.
Whilst setting non-professional sailors on one of the biggest challenges across the world, the Clipper Race renewed its commitment to contribute towards UNICEF’s work around the world to overcome the most urgent challenges they face.
Funding driven by Clipper Race crew will continue to help UNICEF protect childhood by ensuring more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated, and protected.
Over the past decade, Clipper Race’s UNICEF Team yacht, fondly known as the ‘Big Blue Boat’ has been on route to circumnavigate the globe five times. Starting on Sunday 31 August 2025, this edition of the Clipper Race will see Clipper’s UNICEF Team yacht set sail on an impressive expedition of 40,000 nautical miles. The race will make 14 ports of call on its global route and on the upcoming route, Portsmouth (UK), Cape Town (South Africa), Qingdao (China) and Tongyeong City (Korea), Seattle (USA) and Oban (Scotland) have been announced.
The 2025-26 edition will see Clipper Race crew appealing to their networks, to build on an incredible £1.6m raised for UNICEF over the course of a decade’s partnership.
In the 2023-24 edition, Clipper Race Crew and supporters raised an outstanding £459,653 for UNICEF UK. The events ranged from haircut fundraisers and ceilidhs to charity bike rides, running challenges, and multiple events held during stopovers around the world. Race Crew consistently found creative and impactful ways to drive donations, making the 2023-24 race a record-breaking year for charitable impact.
Kate Ashley, Head of Partnerships at Clipper Ventures said, “We are incredibly proud to welcome UNICEF UK back as our Charity Partner for the fifth consecutive edition, and mark ten years of partnership. This milestone is a testament to our shared commitment to protecting and improving the lives of children around the world. Partnering with UNICEF gives us a powerful platform to raise both vital funds and global awareness for the organisation. We are sailing not just for the spirit of adventure, but for the future of children everywhere.”
Heather McCrea, Head of Partnerships at UNICEF UK said, “I am delighted to see that the Clipper Race will once again be anchored in child rights, with the UNICEF Team yacht leading fundraising efforts to build on an incredible £1.6m raised for UNICEF over the course of a decade’s partnership. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary donations, so Clipper Race crew and their networks’ unwavering support means that our work for children can continue to go a long way.”
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Notes to Editors
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For more information, please contact Ayse Yalinca at UNICEF UK Media team – [email protected] or 0208 375 6030.
About The Clipper Race
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, thirty years ago (March 1995) and trains people from all walks of life to learn seamanship and become ocean racers. Each participant must complete four stages of intensive training before signing up for one or multiple legs or can complete the full 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation. The fleet of matched Clipper 70 ocean racing yachts make six ocean crossings – including the North Pacific and the Clipper Race is the only round the world yacht race to cross this ocean.
Applications are still open for crew to sign up to participate on the Clipper 2025-26 Race. To find out more visit clipperroundtheworld.com
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.
United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).
For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
UNICEF does not endorse any brand, company, product or service.