The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is at a stressful stretch thanks to hectic weather and postponements. But, South African skipper Ryan Gibson is teaching a lesson in leadership despite the looming storm!
Global (23 January 2024) — Yatchies, part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, have met a stressful stretch of the ocean’s fiercest challenge—which is saying a lot, considering this is known as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. However, South African skipper Ryan Gibson is keeping a cool head and teaching a lesson in staying calm despite the looming storm!
The Clipper Race has hundreds of non-professional crew mates participating. So far, they have completed over 17,000 nautical miles since getting underway from Portsmouth, which places a lot of responsibility on any skipper’s shoulders.
However, at this point of the race, challenges have escalated following a serious storm that has disrupted fleet plans for the eleven racing yachts.
A tropical cyclone heading towards the Queensland coast means that all eleven racing yachts need to put their plans on hold; opting instead to make sure their boats are fully prepared for any storm-related worries ahead.
Ryan (who led the team to a victory leg of the race when his crew ‘Dare to Lead’ arrived in his home town of Cape Town) has at present, embodied the calm of the storm; taking on a cool-headed approach as he prepares to lead his team through the intimidating weather.
No stranger to extreme conditions as a skipper—Ryan has before sailed to remote ports in Svalbard in the Arctic and Alaska and crossed the Atlantic five times—he’s put all his focus on preparing the crew and the boat’s safety.
“We have spent the past day preparing Dare to Lead for the cyclone. Making sure the boat is safe and secure, doubling up lines and getting everything below deck. Race Crew have joined myself and Charlie in getting everything backed up for the storm, it’s been great to have their help,” he shared.
“And now we just have to be on standby and get ready for the race in a bit of a different way!” he adds as if the weather worries are simply a small hiccup.
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‘Dare to Lead’ has never been a more literal title than now, but Ryan’s approach—leading from a place of calmness and preparing rather than panicking, has breathed reassurance into the journey ahead.
The cyclone is projected to make landfall on the 24th of January according to Clipper Race Director Mark Light. But, he has noted that there is a plan in place for a four-day delay that will depart from Airlie Beach.
South Africa continues to root for Ryan, ‘Dare to Lead’ and all the South Africans part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race!
Sources: Supplied
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