'It’s an unbelievable feeling': Northern Ireland sailor (26) conquers the world after leading crew to Clipper Race victory

A Northern Ireland sailor has led an amateur crew to victory in one of the world's toughest sailing challenges after completing an 11-month, 40,000-nautical-mile circumnavigation of the globe.

Twenty-six-year-old professional yachtsman Oli Irvine from Belfast skippered Team GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital) to overall victory in the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race, with the team returning to Portsmouth last Saturday to celebrate their achievement.

The victorious crew sailed back into Gunwharf Quays, where the race began in August 2025, to an emotional homecoming as family and friends gathered to welcome them back following one of the most demanding endurance challenges in sport.

Speaking after crossing the finish line, Oli said: “We just won the Clipper 2025-26 Race, it’s absolutely amazing! We just sailed into Gunwharf Quays, the crowds are pumping, the team is so excited, it’s an unbelievable feeling. It's just started to feel real that we have completed the circumnavigation.”

The Clipper Race is unique in transforming people from all walks of life into ocean racers, with crews of up to 22 non-professional sailors competing aboard 10 identical racing yachts led by professional skippers.

Over the course of the race, crews crossed the Equator twice, completed six ocean crossings and faced some of the planet’s most challenging conditions, from towering waves and storm-force winds to lightning storms, extreme heat, freezing temperatures and weeks at sea without setting foot on land.

Life on board meant racing around the clock, with crews operating rotating watch systems and spending up to a month continuously at sea while pushing themselves and their yachts to their limits.

Highlighting the unique nature of the challenge and encouraging others to take part, Oli explained: “The Clipper Race is the only event of its kind that trains everyday people to sail around the world on 10 identical racing yachts. The race is split into eight legs, with race crew choosing to take on one, multiple or all eight of the legs.

“Unlike any other round-the-world sailing race, the Clipper Race is open to everyday people. Around 40% of participants begin with no previous sailing experience before completing intensive training and taking on one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet.”

Reflecting on his team’s triumph, Oli continued: “We left on 31st August last year, from this dock, and we have been to incredible places, seen things on board I never thought I’d see on a yacht.

“We pushed hard, pushed the crew hard and came out with a win. We set high standards and the crew lived up to them every single day. It was a privilege to lead a team of individuals who wanted to push hard and we won.”

The success of a homegrown skipper underscores the potential for Belfast to welcome the Clipper Race fleet as an official host port in an upcoming edition. A Belfast stopover would bring thousands of international visitors, global media coverage, and economic impact to the region.

Oli added: "It would be incredible to see the Clipper Race fleet sail up Belfast Lough.

"Bringing a spectacle like this home to Belfast would be absolute magic for Northern Ireland, showcasing our city on a global stage and inspiring the next generation of local sailors."