Sailing Back to the States: Washington, DC Yacht Returns to US Waters on Global Yacht Race

After seven months of racing around the globe on the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the Washington, DC team has sailed into US waters, arriving in Seattle, Washington, after conquering a grueling 27-day crossing of the North Pacific.

Over the 27-day, 20-hour crossing of the infamous North Pacific Ocean, the US-backed team has witnessed waves the size of tower blocks, winds of over 80 knots (92 mph) and sub-zero temperatures, as they hurtled through large weather systems in one of the biggest and most remote expanses of ocean on the planet.

Image: The Washington, DC Clipper Race team arrives into Seattle as it reaches US waters.

Crewed entirely by non-professionals, the Clipper Race is the only event of its kind that takes people from all walks of life and turns them into competitive ocean racers without any prior sailing experience required. For Team Washington, DC, this means a Pastry Chef, Interior Designer, Ski-Instructor - and everything in between - have joined together to race across an area of ocean that very few dare to venture.

Image: Team Washington, DC is led by Race Skipper (Ella Hebron, back row second from left) and crewed by a team of non-professional sailors

Once a long shower, hot meal and a sleep in a bed not heeled at 45 degrees has been ticked off, the Race Crew on board Team Washington, DC will no doubt be looking back with immense pride at what they have just achieved.

Image: Race Crew Edward Morgan returns home to the US

Humanitarian Edward (Ned) Morgan from Boston, USA, said: "It was a long, tough journey with tough times but also good times. It feels like a huge achievement. At times it feels like the race would never end. I'm so proud of everyone in the crew for the teamwork. Crossing the finish line yesterday and making it here into port today is just brilliant."

Leading the way into port was a familiar face to the Clipper Race, Skipper Ella Hebron, who raced on the 2023-24 edition as First Mate on the Washington, DC yacht. She said to return as Skipper has been a dream come true.

On completion of her second race across the North Pacific Ocean, Ella said: "I feel very happy to be in Seattle. It was a tough crossing - the North Pacific will always be. In terms of the whole race, it feels like a lot of it is done now.

I am so excited to be in the USA because it means we're very close to Washington, DC. The American crew on board are so happy to be back into their homeland too."

Image: Washington, DC team Race Skipper Ella Hebron on arrival in Seattle, USA.

Backed by Events DC, the city's premier convention, sports and entertainment authority, the Team Washington, DC yacht has so far sailed into eight ports around the globe - covering off destinations in Europe, South America, South Africa, Australia and Asia - and waving the flag internationally for the city. The arrival into Seattle on April 19 marked the beginning of the team's homecoming.

Ella added: "Taking the Washington, DC yacht back to the US feels pretty special. It's my second time arriving as part of Team Washington DC, however this time as Skipper, which is an enormous privilege.

"We had such a brilliant welcome last time, so there's a real sense of looking forward to that again. You can feel the anticipation building on board.

"Seattle feels like a proper milestone. We've arrived in the US and will soon be sailing up the Chesapeake into DC…let's go DC!!"

With the anticipation of the team's arrival in June building, President of Events DC, Angie Gates said: "At Events DC, we are proud to welcome the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race to the United States as they launch Stage 11: the Pan-American Race to Washington, DC. This global event brings together sport, culture and international connection in a way that reflects the spirit of our city. We look forward to welcoming crews and visitors this June to experience all that Washington, DC has to offer."

Once the fleet departs Seattle on April 28, Team Washington, DC and the fleet will head south, bound for the nation's capital via one of the world's most iconic maritime passages, the Panama Canal. This is a 'bucket-list' moment on the global route, before the fleet heads onward to the US East Coast. 

The United States leg culminates in Washington, DC, where the fleet will be welcomed with a program of events, celebrations and opportunities for Washingtonians to meet Race Crew and tour the yachts these adventurers call home, with a chance to experience the scale, challenge and spirit of one of the world's toughest endurance races.

Find out more and follow the fleet at clipperroundtheworld.com

ABOUT THE CLIPPER RACE

This edition of the Clipper Race set sail from Portsmouth, UK on 31 August 2025, with a fleet of ten 70ft matched ocean racing yachts taking on its 40,000 nm lap of the globe. Crewed entirely by non-professionals, the Clipper Race is the only event of its kind that takes people from all walks of life and turns them into competitive ocean racers without any prior sailing experience required.