Discover Sailing and Meet Round the World Sailors at the Wharf in DC
All are invited to learn more about sailing when Washington, DC, hosts the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race’s East Coast stopover, June 14-22 at The Wharf.
Don’t miss your chance to step aboard one or more of the 70-foot ocean-racing vessels, talk to the crewmembers, and discover what life is like above and below deck. A Discovery Zone will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and the public is invited to visit the boats and meet some of the 200-plus extraordinary crew members who are expected to be in town. Be sure to keep a lookout for Ella Hebron, skipper of Team Washington DC, sponsored by Events DC.
In 2024, when DC last hosted the race stopover, more than 2100 guests took advantage of this amazing opportunity. Youngsters left feeling inspired, and those with an itch for adventure left feeling encouraged to take the next steps on their own once-in-a-lifetime adventure. This year, boats will be open for tours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 18, 19, and 20. On those same dates, race crew members will present Discovery Talks.
This is the second year Events DC will sponsor a yacht and host port. Events DC is the sports and convention authority for the nation’s capital, hosting meetings, entertainment, sporting, and cultural events that showcase the best of Washington, DC for visitors from across the city and around the world.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a 40,000-nautical mile, 11-month circumnavigation challenge. Crewmembers come from all walks of life and nations around the world. Participants may compete in one or multiple legs of the race. No previous experience is required. The organization will train complete novices to become ocean racers. When the boats arrive in DC this month, they will have just completed leg seven of the eight-leg race.
Eight sailors have ties to the Chesapeake area. Three of them are circumnavigators, meaning they are participating in all legs of the race. They are Anthony Sennhenn from Alexandria, VA; Mruthyunjaya Gonchigar from Potomac, MD; and Ieva Notturno from Washington, DC. Leg-specific crew, meaning they have or will participate in one or more legs but not all eight, are Tina Brower-Thomas, Gardell Robinson, and Maria-Marta Andrade from Washington, DC; Tim Boatwright from Vienna, VA; and Christopher Ruotolo from Arlington, VA. The ages of these local racers range from 40 to 67 years.
On June 22, boats and crews will shove off bound for the UK on the final leg of the race. A crew parade will unfold at 6:15 p.m. followed by a parade of sail from 8:55 to 9:20 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. Learn more about all the planned festivities and find details at clipperroundtheworld.com.
