Clipper Chronicles is a compelling firsthand account of the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race, written by crew member and sailmaker Adrian Birrer, who sailed 45,000 nautical miles aboard the winning yacht Ha Long Bay Viet Nam (CV31). Part I - The Race offers a vivid, day-by-day narrative across 331 days at sea, featuring over 200 photographs, route maps, and QR codes linking to onboard video clips. From towering waves to tropical calms, it captures the true intensity of offshore racing. Part II - Guidelines & Lessons provides practical advice on training, preparation, safety, crew life, watch systems, and the philosophy "Love your Sails" - a mindful approach to caring for your gear as your lifeline on the ocean. A must-read for ocean sailors, aspiring adventurers, and anyone curious about the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of circumnavigating the globe. "In this book, I take you with me-out of your comfort zone and onto the open sea. Join me as we race through 14 stages around the world, sailing day and night for weeks on end, in full competition mode. High risk. High responsibility. You'll face intense physical and mental challenges, push beyond your limits, and experience both the raw power of nature and the strength of true teamwork. There are no guarantees-only relentless effort, deep trust, and moments of both frustration and elation. Work hard. Play hard. And somewhere along the way, discover who you truly are." Experience the wonder of close encounters with wildlife. A passage from Clipper Chronicles: "One albatross in particular glides around the boat with majestic ease and uncanny precision. Its wings-stretching nearly three metres-vanish behind a cresting wave, skimming the surface with scarcely an inch to spare beneath its feathers. It hardly ever beats its wings, yet it remains effortlessly aloft. Even at night, it circles us, its silhouette fleeting against the darkness. It's said that albatrosses can sleep while flying, shutting down one hemisphere of the brain at a time. I try to communicate with this silent companion, giving a wave each time as it sweeps close by. My crewmates chuckle at the gesture-but doesn't it tilt its head towards me on that final pass, as if in quiet acknowledgement? Perhaps I imagined it-but the feeling of connection was real."

Autorentext

How do I tell my family that I will be at sea for a year? The idea had been simmering within me for a long time. For years, I had watched Ocean Race broadcasts with fascination-yachts crashing through the waves, spray flying, carving their way through restless seas. I longed to experience it myself: the courage, the challenge, the quiet mastery of the elements; the harsh solitude, and yet the deep connection of working as a crew. Not just one ocean, not just a single crossing of the Equator-I wanted to go all the way around. After many long conversations and much negotiation, my wife and I found a setup we could both accept. I applied for a crew position with Clipper Ventures Ltd., and two years later-after completing intensive training in the UK-I was officially signed on as a sailmaker and round-the-world crew member. On 3 September 2023, the race began in Portsmouth. The adventure was real, and I was part of it. In this book (initially published in English), I share my experiences-moments of awe and struggle, fear, frustration, even anger-and how I kept looking ahead, learned, grew stronger, and stayed the course. I invite you, the reader, to come aboard and join this remarkable journey. Feel the sea, the salt, the wind, the gales. Imagine your muscles aching, the sting of spray, the blaze of the sun-and at last, the exhaustion as you fall into your bunk. The many online links throughout the book will take you straight to the deck with me, somewhere out there on the open ocean.