Around The World Clipper Race - Are you and your wallet up to the challenge?

Ultimate travel experience anyone?
If you, like me, are looking for a travel experience to eclipse all other options next year, Clipper's Around the World Race takes some beating.

Circumnavigating the world by sea actually becomes a possibility for us land-lubing folk, but only if you've the stamina and a hefty amount of cash to invest in a once in a lifetime experience.

Put it this way, you'll certainly have a unique travel story to tell, silencing the bores who roll out the Sydney and West Coast Australia backpacker trail tales time and again. Zzzzz

Want to know more?
David Cusworth, Recruitment Manager for Clipper Ventures whetted my appetite with the following:

'The race visits some great locations - Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, China, California, Canada... It is a competitive race - with the crew pushing the boats and themselves further than they thought possible.

'You will get cold, wet and tired. But you will find out so much about yourself - how you cope under pressure, how much you can really take, what's really important in life. You also learn about other people - about what can be achieved when a team bonds together, how you can support other people and they can support you, how you can keep each other going when you think you can't take any more'.

Number rarely make me smile, but these Clipper numbers did...
The Clipper Race involves
1 CIRCUMNAVIGATION, 7 LEGS, 10 YACHTS, 35000 MILES
14 RACES, 5 CONTINENTS, 400 PEOPLE.
134,400 TEA BAGS, 6,000 LOAVES OF BREAD, 12,000 ONIONS,
108,000 HIGH ENERGY SNACK BARS, 450 KG OF PASTA,
2 MILLION LITRES OF WATER, 375,000 SHEETS OF TOILET PAPER,

So you're up for it and want to apply
First things first, make contact with Clipper here

You'll then hear back from David personally with further information, prices and a more detailed questionnaire to fill in.

There's a £100 entry fee (£75 refundable if you're not successful), as well as selection interviews. Serious stuff!

This is not a cheap trip

The Round The World Race
Includes training package as below plus 5 extra days training free of charge £31,950

Individual Legs, training package (compulsory)
To include 19 days pre-race training and branded crew clothing pack £2,950
Plus
Leg 1 UK – Western European port – Brazil £4,660
Leg 2 Brazil – South Africa £3,900
Leg 3 South Africa – Western Australia £4,175
Leg 4 Western Australia – Singapore – China £4,650
Leg 5 China – Hawaii – West Coast of North America £4,175
Leg 6 West Coast of North America – Panama – Caribbean £4,280
Leg 7 Caribbean – East Coast North America – Home £4,660
(via Western European stopover)

Recruitment is taking place in Yorkshire, Singapore, California, New York – and possibly Ireland – in the coming months.
So, is anyone else still tempted to apply and start saving?