Oban to welcome the world (again) with the return of the Clipper Race

Expect determination, and dockside celebrations as over 200 crew members, representing 50+ nationalities and every walk of life, sail into town during the final stretch of the 40,000-nautical mile odyssey. The fleet will arrive during Leg 8: The Atlantic Homecoming, following a 3,900-mile sprint from North America toward the race’s Grand Finale in Portsmouth.

And the buzz won’t stop at the waterfront.

Oban is already preparing to roll out the red carpet with a full-blown Festival of the Sea, building on the previous year’s hit programme that saw crew and visitors enjoy everything from shinty tasters and whisky tours to Gaelic lessons and castle visits. No wonder the town bagged Scotland’s Town of the Year title in 2024.

Former Race Skipper and Deputy Race Director Max Rivers, born in Stirling and raised sailing these waters, calls the Firth of Lorn “one of the most memorable sailing locations in the world.” And with Oban’s famously warm welcome, stunning scenery, and a community that knows how to throw a party, it’s little surprise the race is charting a course right back here.”

Behind the scenes, Bid4Oban and Argyll and Bute Council are working full sail ahead with Clipper Ventures to make Oban’s return stop a world-class celebration. “We’ll once again showcase Scotland at its best,” says Bid4Oban’s Andrew Spence.

Oban will join a global race route that includes Cape Town, Qingdao, China, Tongyeong, Korea and Portsmouth, proving once again that this seaside town can stand tall on the world stage.

So, mark your calendars. The sails are set, the crew is in training, and Oban is ready to take centre stage for another unforgettable chapter in this round-the-world adventure.

Next month we will meet the skippers who are taking on the 2025-2026 challenge and The Oban Times wishes them ‘Fair winds and following seas’ when they start the race August 31 in Portsmouth.
Keep up to date with race news at www.clipperroundtheworld.com/