Devon sailor wins world yacht race again

40,000 miles. 11 months

A Plymouth skipper and his team have won the round the world yacht race once again. 

64-year-old Bob Beggs led his team to victory in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, a first in the event's history. His team, Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, covered over 40,000 nautical miles and 11 months at sea.

A close competition unfolded in Race 14, with teams battling for top positions. Bob's team needed to stay close to Perseverance to secure victory. Despite Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam starting in eighth place and Perseverance in third, Bob's team made a strong comeback, finishing fifth and winning the race by one point.

The Clipper Race offers individuals from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to train as ocean racers and embark on global adventures.

The Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam team in the eleven-month race consists of 59 diverse Race Crew members facing extreme challenges from mother nature. They represent 22 nations, aged 25 to 70, experiencing storm force winds, massive waves, freezing temperatures, and searing heat, making it an unforgettable adventure.

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 a 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.”

Bob Beggs previously won the Clipper Race in 2000 with Bristol. The Grand Finale in Portsmouth will celebrate the teams' achievements with a Parade of Sail.

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