A WA welcome ahead for Australians racing back home after taking one of toughest sailing challenges
by Clipper Race 6 Dec 2025 00:44 UTC
Conditions faced on Stage 4: Marlow's Blue Ocean Sleigh Ride © Clipper Race
From this weekend, the Clipper Race fleet will be heading into Fremantle, WA - with 15 Aussie nationals amongst its crew, including a doctor from Perth and firefighter from Victoria.
The fleet of ten ocean racing yachts is currently battling it out for final positions after a 4,800nm race across the notorious Roaring Forties from Cape Town, South Africa. The teams have battled wind speeds of up to 50 knots, sea-states so immense they are technically classified as 'phenomenal', and freezing temperatures whilst living on board a yacht stripped of life's luxuries - with twenty other adventurers. Leg 3 is one of the most testing sections of the Clipper Race circumnavigation with the Roaring Forties one of the most remote places on the planet, where few sailors venture.
One Aussie sailing home is Colin Thomson, a 39-year-old engineer from Perth. Speaking in Cape Town ahead of the challenge, Colin said: "I signed up for the Clipper Race because I was at that point in my life where I needed a change and I needed some excitement.
"I had absolutely no experience in sailing, but I'd seen the adverts in London (where Colin now lives) and I thought I'd give it a shot. Obviously, Fremantle is a sailing mecca, and I was taught to sail as a young child, but I just never got into it. All my experience has been through the Clipper Race and competing on the first two legs.
"It was a big deciding factor for me to do the first four legs that I would get to sail into Australia and my hometown of Perth. I don't know how I'll feel when I see Aus - awesome or emotional. I just hope it's daylight so I can see the landscape as it pops up. Returning to home is all about the beers and the beaches!"
Colin added that it's been all about the camaraderie for him so far: "It's all about your teammates. We've all come together and got on and it's been a whole lot of fun."
The conditions Colin and the rest of the Clipper Race crew sailing on this edition have faced can be seen on this video:
Race Crew on Stage 4: Marlow's Blue Ocean Sleigh Ride have faced phenomenal sea states as they sailed for thousands of miles with nothing around. This is a true adventure and Race Crew have experienced Mother Nature at her most raw and unforgiving.
Race Crew living in Australia who have taken on this challenge and will be arriving into Perth, WA are:
- Brian De Swardt | Quinns Rocks, Perth | Engineer | Circumnavigator
- Craig Head | South Bunbury, Western Australia | Project Manager | Leg 2 and 3
- Anna Kirk | Perth, Western Australia | St Johns Ambulance | Leg 3
- Caryl Smith | Busselton, Western Australia | Paramedic | Leg 3, 7 and 8
- Aoife Mcsorley | Perth, Western Australia | Doctor | Circumnavigator
- Colin Thomson | Perth, Western Australia | Engineer | Leg 1, 2, 3 and 4
- Tony Archibald | South Yarra, Victoria | Business Analyst | Circumnavigator
- Anthony Gill | Bakewell, Northern Territory | Public Servant | Leg 3
- Chris Heath | Agnes Water, Queensland | Director | Circumnavigator
- Matthew Kennedy | Invermay, Victoria | Sales | Leg 3
- Peter Simon Lustig | Horden Vale, Victoria | Law | Circumnavigator
- Brooke Mackenzie | London Lakes, Tasmania | Paramedic | Leg 1 and 4
- Astley John Hunter Milne | Jan Juc, Victoria | CEO | Leg 3
- Voula Skinner | Sandy Bay, Tasmania | Executive Support Officer | Leg 3 and 4
- Stuart Walker | Mccrae, Victoria | Firefighter | Leg 3
Australian Race Crew living overseas:
- Joss Pettitt | Hessen, Germany | Construction manager | Leg 3
- Nathaporn Eiamvittayakorn | London, UK | Senior Manager | Leg 3 and 4
- Patricia Caswell | Umm Al Quwaim, UAE | Yacht Captain | Leg 2, 3 and 4
- Naomi Mitchell | Arizona, USA | Workplace Threat Manager | Leg 3
Free events for locals
Once the fleet has docked into Fremantle there's plenty of opportunity to meet the intrepid explorers taking on this round the world challenge.
Greet the fleet // 7-13 December
Welcome the fleet as it arrives at Fremantle Sailing Club following its 4,500nm race from Cape Town, South Africa. Estimated arrival times for each yacht can be found on the Race Tracker.
On The Boats // 16-17 December // 1000 - 1800
The hatches to the Clipper 70 race yachts will be open, giving the public a rare glimpse inside what life both above and below deck can look like on the exact boats these intrepid crew will be calling home as they race around the world. Tours to the yacht are free and family friendly.
Discovery Talk // 18 December // 1930 - 2030
Are you ready to face the ultimate ocean challenge? Head to Fremantle Sailing Club to discover what it's really like to race around the globe as Race Crew in the Clipper Race.
Race Start // 21 December // 1200 onwards
From 1200 on 21 December, watch the fleet depart Fremantle Sailing Club as it departs for its next destination: Airlie Beach, Whitsundays.