After completing five circumnavigations and turning thousands of ordinary people into ocean racers, a Clipper 70 (one of the Clipper Race’s ocean racing yachts) is beginning a new chapter.

CV31 is the first from the fleet of Clipper 70s to be sold, soon to become a new youth development yacht, Spirit of Shackleton, which will be based in Dún Laoghaire harbour, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Named after the legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, CV31 will be starting a new life as a floating classroom designed to inspire the next generation of adventurers.

Clipper Ventures has announced that its Clipper 70 fleet is available for sale, as the Clipper Race prepares to introduce a brand-new fleet of next-generation yachts, the Clipper RX, for its 2027-28 edition of the race. Ten Clipper 70s set off on the current edition (at the time of going to press, the teams are racing towards Panama, two-thirds of the way round the global route). CV31 stayed back in Gosport to be prepared for its next adventure as the Spirit of Shackleton.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of Clipper Ventures and Co-Founder of the Clipper Race and the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, said: “When I started the Clipper Race 30 years ago, my goal was straightforward: to open up the world of ocean sailing to as many people as possible.

“Over the years, our industry-leading yachts have enabled thousands of people to do just that. The Clipper 70s, in particular, have proved themselves immensely capable vessels; they are a fleet of strong, robust yachts that have seen the world five times over (and ten will have completed six circumnavigations), and yet still have so much life in their hulls and sea miles yet to sail.

“I am proud to see the first of our Clipper 70s repurposed as Spirit of Shackleton. I have no doubt that many youngsters across Ireland will enjoy the power and beauty of sailing during their time aboard her, and I look forward to hearing the tales they return with.”

Over the past decade, the Clipper 70s have become one of the most recognisable matched fleets in offshore sailing. Built to take on the toughest oceans on the planet, the yachts have helped thousands of non-professional sailors achieve ambitions they once thought impossible, carrying crews across the Atlantic, Pacific and Roaring Forties as part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Along the way, the fleet has also played a role in major milestones and meaningful projects including seeing Wendy Tuck claim her historic victory in the 2017-18 edition, marking the first time a woman had won a round-the-world yacht race, and supporting ocean research initiatives focused on ocean acidification and marine conservation. The current edition has the largest number of female sailing professionals on board - with four female skippers and seven female first mates (a total of 60% of the twenty professionals).

Now, following extensive refits and ongoing maintenance programmes, the Clipper 70 fleet is ready to continue its story in new hands and new waters. The project was announced at a special dedication ceremony last Friday (15 May) in Dublin with the President of Ireland Catherine Connolly, the Honorable Alexandra Shackleton and Clipper Ventures Chairman and Clipper Race Co-Founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. The project is being overseen by Ireland’s ocean sailor, businessman, explorer and President of the Atlantic Shackleton Youth Foundation, Enda O’Coineen.

Talking after the ceremony, Enda said: “CV31, the Clipper 70 in our fleet, has been given a new lease of life as the “Spirit of Shackleton” to be used for sail training and youth development on the island of Ireland and globally.

“Following a refit, rebranding and new decks, an ambitious program has been set out for the Spirit of Shackleton which includes the Round Ireland Race, attending the Clipper Race’s Stopover in Oban and training legs to the Falklands, the Antarctic Lenin’s, Chile, Peru, Galapagos, Panama, the Caribbean, the Azores and Europe over a 12-month programme.” 

The announcement follows Clipper Ventures’ previously confirmed multimillion-pound investment into the Clipper RX fleet, which is currently under construction in Qingdao, China.

Designed specifically for the next evolution of the Clipper Race, the Clipper RX yachts will take over racing duties from the existing fleet for the 2027-28 edition.

For the Clipper 70s, however, retirement is far from the horizon. With proven offshore capability, a unique history, and many more miles left to sail, the fleet is ready for its new chapter of racing, expedition sailing, sail training, charter operations, private ownership and many new adventures across the globe.