59° North Sailingvideo
Chris Kobusch & Sophie O'Neill // From Clipper Race to Antarctica & Beyond
3 February 2026 · 1h 33m · 377 views · Little Harbor, Abacos
What this video covers
Chris Kobusch and Sophie O'Neill, longtime 59 North skippers who met on the Clipper Race, describe their path from professional racing and delivery sailing to high-latitude expedition work with Skip Novak in Antarctica aboard Vincent, and now a new project building a Wharram 62 catamaran for charter and cruising in the South Pacific.6:39 Sophie joined Chris's Clipper Race boat as a last-minute first mate — recruited three hours before the start of a North Pacific leg after a man-overboard incident in the South Atlantic forced the MCA to mandate mates on all boats.41:55 Both hold Yachtmaster qualifications and have worked as professional skippers; Chris skippered Ice Bear and Falcon for 59 North for two years. They discuss the psychological demands of professional sailing: client attitude as the primary source of burnout, the value of cycling between racing, deliveries, teaching, and high-latitude work to sustain motivation, and the challenge of balancing professional sailing with raising a young son, Xander.34:31 The Wharram 62 build is funded in partnership with a former client.52:18 Chris is completing a final Antarctica season before the family transitions to the South Pacific project.6:41
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