Photos: As supplied by Faolan Whyte
Sai Kung’s Faolan Whyte has arrived back in town after sailing around the world, according his family. On 25 July, 23 year old Faolan completed an 11 month circumnavigation as part of the Clipper Round The World Race. The race started and finished in Portsmouth, UK having started in August 2025 stopping in Spain, Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, Philippines, China, Korea, US, Panama and the UK across some of the most inhospitable and remote oceans.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a biennial sailing race that takes paying amateur crews on one or more legs of a circumnavigation of the globe in 11 specially designed identical yachts owned by Clipper Ventures. Professional skippers and additional qualified persons (AQPs) lead each of the teams on the 10-month journey. All participants must complete a four-week training course before starting the race. The race was conceived in 1995 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and is run by Clipper Ventures plc. Foalan’s team “Warrant” placed ninth out of the ten teams taking part in the race this year.
Faolan, who’s name means “Little Wolf” in Irish, experienced scary times especially in the Southern Ocean between New Zealand and South America where the yacht battled 30 ft waves and storms. There were 14 to 18 crew on the yacht at any one time and during the entire voyage about 60 people came and went. “When you’re in an environment where you are forced to interact with people you wouldn’t normally interact with, it makes you learn better communication skills . . .” The crew endured freezing conditions in the north Pacific and immense heat at the Equator. They were taking part in the Clipper Round the World Race, a biennial event. “We experienced amazing nature and wildlife including alligators in the Panama Canal, dolphin pods, whales and sharks.”
Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean (three times), the Southern Ocean and Pacific Ocean, it is considered one of the world’s toughest endurance events.
Faolan was born in Hong Kong to Irish parents, Fergal Whyte and Carmel Taylor. He went to school at Renaissance College before studying at the UK’s Falmouth University. Now Faolan says he will look for jobs related to his business and digital marketing degrees.
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