Flying Fish Alumni Set to Compete in Epic Around-the-World Yacht Race

🚩 Flying Fish Alumni to Lead Crew in 2025 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Two alumni from Flying Fish Sydney have been selected for leadership roles in the prestigious 2025 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race—with one as Skipper and the other as First Mate.

This is a significant milestone for Flying Fish and a testament to the strength of our Yachtmaster training program.

⛵ Meet the Team: Oliver Irvine and Otto Kulo

Oliver Irvine, a former Flying Fish Yachtmaster Instructor, has been chosen to skipper one of the eleven Clipper 70-foot racing yachts.

Joining him as First Mate is Otto Kulo, a graduate of the Flying Fish Yachtmaster program. Otto completed his training in Sydney and has quickly established himself as a capable and dynamic leader at sea.

Together, Oliver and Otto represent the spirit, resilience, and professionalism instilled by Flying Fish’s renowned maritime training.

🌍 A Race Across Oceans and Continents

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race spans over 40,000 nautical miles, crossing six continents and some of the planet’s most challenging waters—from the South Atlantic to the Southern Ocean, and across the Pacific and North Atlantic.

For nearly a year, their crew—made up mostly of sailing amateurs—will face towering waves, storm systems, and shifting global weather patterns. It’s a test of endurance, leadership, and teamwork on a global scale.

🎓 Flying Fish Yachtmaster Training Pays Off.

“We’re incredibly proud,” said Andy Fairclough, Director of Flying Fish. “Seeing both a former instructor and a student take the helm in one of the world’s most iconic offshore races is a powerful reflection of the quality of our training and the lifelong impact of learning at sea.”

The Flying Fish Academy, based at Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney, has trained hundreds of professional sailors, Yachtmasters, and offshore adventurers for decades.

Find out more about Flying Fish Yachtmaster Training

🏁 About the Clipper Race: A Challenge Like No Other

Founded by legendary sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the Clipper Race is one of the only global sailing races that allows everyday people—with professional training—to compete in an around-the-world race typically reserved for elite sailors.

Each yacht is identical, making skill, seamanship, and team dynamics the true deciding factors in success.

📢 Follow the Flying Fish Journey

Flying Fish will be following Oliver, Otto, and their crew throughout the race, providing updates, insights, and stories from each leg of their epic circumnavigation.

From the starting line in the UK to the final triumphant return almost a year later, we’ll be cheering them on every nautical mile of the way.

⚓ Best of Luck, Olly and Otto!

Sail fast, sail safe—and know that the entire Flying Fish community is behind you.