Blog. Spotlight on: William Gibbs

Can you let us know what the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is, and what inspired you to do it?

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges: a 40,000-nautical mile race circumnavigating the globe in 70-foot ocean racing yachts, crewed by ordinary people with extraordinary spirit. It’s physically brutal, mentally demanding, and often unforgiving, but also deeply transformative. I’ve never sailed before, which is exactly why I’m doing it. I wanted to step far outside my comfort zone, challenge myself in a completely new arena, and experience the discipline and pressure of functioning within a high-performing team in an extreme environment. The ocean doesn’t care who you are, success demands resilience, collaboration, and absolute focus. I wanted something that would push me harder than anything before. The Clipper Race is not just a race, it’s a metaphor for life, leadership, and what we’re truly capable of when we dig deep and support one another.

What do you think will be your greatest challenge and your greatest strength while racing?

My greatest challenge will be confronting the unknown, navigating the raw physical power of the sea, sleep deprivation, damp living conditions and limited sleep, all while learning a completely new skill under pressure. There’s no safety net out there. One mistake can have serious consequences, so the margin for error is razor-thin. But I welcome that discomfort, it’s the point of this journey.

My greatest strength, I believe, will be mindset. I’m calm under pressure, fiercely committed once I’m in, and I know how to be part of a team. I’ve spent years leading high-performing teams in hospitality where pressure is constant and adaptability is everything. I’m here to listen, learn, and pull my weight. At sea, just as in business, success comes from trust, communication, and knowing that the strength of the team is more powerful than any individual.

Why did you choose to support Hospitality Action?

Hospitality Action has long held a special place in my heart. I’ve worked in hospitality for over two decades, and while it’s a brilliant and rewarding industry, it can also be relentless, long hours, financial uncertainty, and immense personal pressure are all too common. What HA does so powerfully is offer practical, emotional, and financial support to the very people who keep our industry alive, whether they’re facing illness, mental health struggles, addiction, or crisis. I’ve seen first-hand how transformational that support can be.

Choosing to support HA through the Clipper Race felt like a natural extension of what this journey is about: pushing yourself to new limits while standing in solidarity with others. This is my way of giving something back to the industry that’s given me so much, and to the people who often give their all without ever asking for anything in return.