The tenth edition of the classic biennial Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, established by legendary British sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (76) almost 20 years ago, will set sail from London at the end of this month (Sunday 30 August). It will take 11 months to cover 40,000 nautical miles in a series of 14 races between six continents: It's the world's longest ocean adventure.

Script: 40 thousand nautical miles, 11 months, 14 races, six continents, 44 nationalities.

It's a test of endurance, with mother nauture throwing down the gauntlet in the biggest, toughest challenge in the natural world.

There's nowhere to hide in the tenth Clipper Round the World Yacht race.

The biennial classic was created by Founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. He became the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world in 1969, and established the event so novice sailors could experience ocean racing and, for some, their first ever circumnavigation.

It's a rare achievement: More people have climbed Mount Everest than have sailed around the planet.

SOT KNOX JOHNSTON: " They're heading out on a 40 thousand mile odyessy. They're gonna go through some of the calmest waters in the world, some of the roughest waters in the world, in fact THE roughest waters in the world. They're gonna see countries they've probably only ever read about. Never thought they'd ever vist. Meet people with difficult cultures, different languages. Meet winds from every single direction, hopefully mainly good ones so they can go fast but they will have to make use with what ever wind is available to them."

The twelve-strong Clipper 2015-16 race fleet is headed to London for the start. It's the world's biggest match-fleet of 70 foot ocean racing yachts..

SOT KNOX JOHNSON: "Well the boats are coming into St Katharines Dock fully provisioned, apart from fresh food. They've got all their stores on board, all of their sails, its all there on the boat. All they have to buy now before thy leave it the fresh food and things like that. They're going to be sitting in St Katharines for a while. Friends and family can come and see them off, last change to go and visit home, catch up, perhaps send a cheque to HMRC before you go, all those other little things you need to think about before you go away for a couple of momths or even a year.

In the last edition, the fleet was hit by hurricane force winds, a water spout torando knocked a boat flat, yachts were trapped in blisterting heat of the doldrums, and icebergs had to be avoided.

The teams endured injuries, there were dramatic medical evacuations and there were even pirates to avoid.

Before they begin this year, the people on board must complete four weeks of intensive training - either on the Solent, UK or in Sydney, Australia.

…and the 12 professional skippers have a massive responsibility to teach and guide their amateur crews over the next 11 months of racing.

Those involved have to learn the ropes, cook, clean, and not forgetting - race. They also have to learn the basics of yacht maintenance and management, racing tactics, survial at sea and weather routing.

The most important skill, however is that they will learn to be a part of a multi-discpilined, high performance team that will function in every condition thrown at it.

One of the skippers includes Peter Thornton of the Great Britain boat;

SOT SKIPPER: "Ocean racing is one of those experiences that not many people get to do, so for me to get to drive a boat like this around the world for 11 months and share that experience is quite something."

The race route includes Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Vietnam, China, coast-to-coat around the USA via the Panama Canal, Northern Ireland and The Netherlands, before returning to London at the end of July next year.

It's the final countdown to the race of their lives - the adventure starts at the end of August.