The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has returned home to Portsmouth, UK, this weekend after an 11-month circumnavigation of the world's toughest oceans. Among the returning teams was Team Washington, DC, which raced more than 40,000-nautical-miles around the globe representing the US capital. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet visited Washington, DC in June of this year putting the city on the world map as a key sailing and tourism destination.
The fleet of 10 yachts arrived into Portsmouth, UK on Saturday, July 25 with thousands of people cheering on the teams after they had crossed five oceans, visited six continents and spent weeks at a time at sea battling it out in 13 individual stages.
An adventure of the unknown, the Clipper Race takes non-professional sailors and trains them to become ocean racers as they take on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure around the world, with some Race Crew - including on board Team Washington, DC - returning back to the UK for the first time since setting sail in August 2025.
The Race Crew on board have shown courage, skill and spirit, and received the heroes’ welcome they deserved.
Returning to lead Team Washington, DC for a second edition was Skipper Ella Hebron, alongside First Mate Faith Nordbruch. After a relentless race campaign, this weekend the team celebrated its achievements of scooping up second place on the final race, and successfully navigating 40,000nm of ocean racing together for one last time.
Washington, DC Race Skipper, Ella Hebron from the UK said on arrival home: “The crew has been spectacular all the way around. We had our setbacks, but this crew brushed it off and cracked on and caught up with the fleet. They never let it get them down and this race, with a great result, is an example of that.
"I'm proud to have led them all the way around the world, and to (literally) have Events DC on our side as well."
DC local, Chris Ruotolo, stepped on board his hometown namesake yacht for Leg 8 - sailing from Washington, DC to Portsmouth, UK. About his adventure he said: "Usually I'm a consultant, but I've enjoyed taking a break from that and being out here, meeting new people, and going on a hell of a new journey. I'm supremely excited I did this, as well as being a part of this incredible crew."
About the Clipper Race
The Clipper Race is unique in that it takes ordinary people and trains them to become ocean racers, with no previous sailing experience required. A fleet of 10 identical purpose-built Clipper Race yachts are led by a professional Race Skipper and First Mate, with up to 22 non-professional Race Crew on board, racing around the clock for up to 30 days at a time. Race Crew can choose to take on one, a combination or all of the eight legs that form the 40,000nm global route.
The Clipper Race is the brainchild of sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who wanted to break down barriers to ocean racing. Founded over 30 years ago and now in its fourteenth edition, the first ever Clipper Race set off in 1996 and over 7,000 people have been introduced to ocean racing through it.
The Clipper Race left Portsmouth UK on August 31, 2025 and it has so far visited, Puerto Sherry (Spain), Punta del Este (Uruguay), Cape Town (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia), Whitsundays (Australia), Subic Bay (Philippines), Qingdao (China), Tongyeong (Korea), Seattle (USA), transited the Panama Canal, Washington, DC (USA), Oban (Scotland) and returned to Portsmouth (England) on July 25.
