July 12, 2014 – London Canadian Skipper, Eric Holden, and crew crowned champions of 13-14 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
Back in September 2013, Holden and his amateur crew took off to conquer any sailor’s ultimate challenge: circumnavigating the globe. But this wasn’t a cruise, this was a race around the world.
Eric Holden and the team of CV21-Henri Lloyd saw their first podium after crossing the Atlantic to Brazil. The team secured its place at the top of the leaderboard through the first half of the race through Australia, then had a devastating retirement in the Sydney-Hobart Race due to rudder bearing failure.
“Whenever I thought the team couldn’t be pushed any harder, they dug deeper through some of the worst sailing conditions I have ever seen on the planet.” – Eric Holden
Holden’s team overcame their fall from grace with a first-place win to Singapore for their first race back in the game. The team racked up points across the Pacific races, won into Jamaica and had a clean sweep into New York City. The race concluded in London July 2014, but the team secured their win in the penultimate race into The Netherlands.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, founder of the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race, chose Holden from some 180 applicants to become the race’s first ever Canadian skipper.
“He’s very focused. And he’s a meteorologist, which always helps with ocean racing,” Knox-Johnston said on Holden’s success. “His crew obviously thinks very highly of him, he’s showing very good leadership.”
