News

An interview with winning Clipper 07-08 skipper: Duggie Gillespie

22 July 2008

On 5 July 2008 the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race fleet returned to the city of Liverpool after 10 months and 35,000 miles of ocean racing.  Leading the fleet into Albert Dock was New York, onboard a non-professional crew that had been led to overall victory by Scotsman Duggie Gillespie.  Here the winning Clipper skipper shares his thoughts on the race and his reasons for taking part.

Why did you apply to be a skipper in the Clipper 07-08 Race?
I joined the race late in Salvador, the second Clipper stopover, as the replacement for an existing skipper. Why? Because some things were obviously not going right on board and I saw it as a challenge to get the boat back on track and further up the leaderboard. I really relished this challenge especially in the very short time frame given to me.

Looking back what was your biggest achievement?
It has to be building the team to win the overall title – marvellous!

What did you find the most challenging?
It will always be maintaining boat performance – trying to rise to and stay on the podium. This relates directly to crew management which is the biggest part of the job.

From a skipper’s perspective what do you think the crews get out of participating in the race?
Close bonding whilst working on deck in a watch team; learning numerous skills both sailing and non sailing; meeting lots of new people.

What do you think the Clipper Race has changed about you?
It has given me a further understanding of people or rather confirmed to me that the more I go into this subject the more I discover I have just scratched the surface.
It has also given me more grey hairs!

What is the biggest lesson you have learned from taking part?
People are creative and are key to anything we do.

What was your favourite moment on the race?
There are many, but because I am an achiever it has to be the six race wins and winning overall. This was my third attempt at being a round the world yacht race winner.

What was your least favourite moment?
When we had a crew issue running. It usually turns out in the end to be a waste of time and energy for everybody involved, but that is how it goes.

How do you think being a Clipper skipper and working for Sir Robin will enhance your career prospects?
I am proud of being a Clipper skipper and pleased with what our team on New York achieved. Working for Sir Robin has to have enhanced my career prospects.

What are your plans since finishing the Clipper Race? 
In the near future I am getting back onboard New York to skipper her during Skandia Cowes Week when she joins the other Clipper 68s for a week of corporate racing.  I am still deciding what my plans will be in the long term.

Now you have completed Clipper 07-08 what would you say are the essential personality and people skills for someone considering applying to be a race skipper for Clipper 09-10?
You are your own person so you should come along as you. There cannot be any fixed personality needed otherwise we would not have the variety that is required.
People skills – you need this one or at least be as aware as you can be of people, if not you are soon going to learn the hard way!

If you had one word of advice to pass on to future Clipper Race skippers what would that be?
You must “commit” to the project. It is a phenomenal project to be involved in.

Sir Robin recently launched his search for skippers for Clipper 09-10 Race. If you have what it takes to lead a team of novice sailors on a ten-month race around the world then please email him at . 

Visit Clipper Round The World Yacht Race for more exciting updates.