Scottish sailor chosen as skipper for famous Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

A SCOTTISH sailor has been chosen as skipper for world’s longest ocean race. Daniel Smith, 31, from West Kilbride in North Ayrshire has been named among the twelve professionals who will each lead a team in the tenth edition of the famous Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Daniel, a Senior Yachting and Watersports Instructor, will lead a crew of amateur sailors through Mother Nature’s toughest environments in the 40,000 nautical mile challenge which starts from the UK on August 30, 2015. The Scotsman, who began sailing in the Scottish Islands with his family when he was five years old, is relishing the huge physical and mental challenge. He said: “Skippering an ocean racing yacht in the Clipper Race is a dream of mine. I feel the challenge of building a team, taking on ‘Mother Nature’ and conquering the oceans is a challenge with massive rewards. “I have had loads of sailing, kayaking and diving adventures in different parts of the world in the past but nothing quite like this. I don’t think there are any challenges quite like skippering a Clipper 70 around the world. I have a background in teaching and sailing instruction so I’m sure these skills will be invaluable in the race to get my team working together and well on their way to becoming great sailors and racers.” The Clipper Race is one of the world’s toughest challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, this is the only event which gives amateur sailors the chance to sail round the world, taking on Mother Nature’s most remote conditions. Fewer people have completed the Clipper Race than have climbed Mount Everest. Twelve teams compete against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-ft ocean racing yachts, designed for speed not comfort. Crew represent over 40 different countries and can choose to compete in either the full circumnavigation or one or more of its eight individual legs. The only professionals on board are the skippers who safely lead each team. Speaking about the selection process, Race founder and Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “Our Race Skippers are put through rigorous trials before we appoint the successful candidates. “Nothing can fully prepare you for the challenge of sailing round the world with a crew of amateur sailors. We have to be sure we choose skippers, who not only possess the best sailing skills, but also have the right temperament and are good with people in highly stressful environments. “It’s a race so of course everyone wants to win. However the most important characteristics for a Clipper Race Skipper are a true sense of seamanship and to be safety conscious. I am sure Daniel will relish the adventure that lies ahead.” Daniel, a former Scottish Schools National Champion, also trained with the Scotland Sailing squad, while studying for his degree in Computer Science at Glasgow University. After graduation, Daniel qualified as a Yachtmaster Instructor in 2005, and RYA Dinghy Coach Assessor in 2010. The 2015-16 Race departs from the UK on August 30, 2015 and will return almost a year later. The fleet will visit six different continents in up to 15 individually scored races. The team with the highest total points at the finish wins the Clipper Race Trophy.