The Clipper 2019-20 Race, the biggest round the world yacht race, has restarted (24 March) and is putting the sailing city of Qingdao on the map with its team entry, Qingdao, which is leading in first place on the edition so far.
Over the weekend, some 150 Clipper Race Crew departed Subic Bay in the Philippines to embark on the sixth leg of the global circuit. The 6,100 nautical mile marathon race across the North Pacific Ocean to Seattle, USA has been named Race 10: Sailing City ·Qingdao Cup, in honour of the Chinese city, who is the global sailing event’s longest serving Host Port and Team Partner.
Ahead of the restart a congratulatory message was sent from Team and Host Port Partner, Qingdao. Mr Che Jinghua, Director General of Qingdao Municipal Sports Bureau, Secretary General of Qingdao Major International Sailing Events (Festivals) Organising Committee, said:“I would like to extend my congratulations on the restart of Clipper 2019-20 Race, and my best wishes to our Race Skipper Chris Brooks and all the crew of Qingdao. I wish all of you safe sailing and a great performance in the coming race with your courage and skills, fighting against the waves and overcoming the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. By naming Race 10, which sails to Seattle, the‘Sailing City·Qingdao Cup’, we hope to make Qingdao, a vibrant, competitive and glamorous modern international metropolis known to more people who love the sport of sailing all over the world.”
The epic 40,000 mile long route, which started in London, UK, in September 2019, is raced by everyday people from all over the world on eleven identical ocean racing yachts, led by a professional Skipper and First Mate.
The professional skipper of Qingdao is Chris Brooks. Chris led the Qingdao team to first place during the first half of the Clipper 2019-20 Race, and returned eager to hold onto the lead to claim the overall win.
Speaking ahead of the start, Chris, from the UK, said:“We are all very much looking to cross the North Pacific on Race 10. We’ve come a long way to be back here and we can’t wait to get out racing again.”
“One of the biggest challenges in this race will be facing ten other Clipper Race teams out there! Apart from that, we’re expecting some big weather and big waves but really it’s the ten other teams we are worrying about.”
“Going back into the race in the lead feels brilliant. It’s just all coming together and falling into place. It’s a privilege to be Skippering the Qingdao yacht - and to have such a fantastic team to be leading, too. It’s even better to be leading a good team in the lead - it’s a good place to be.”
This twelfth consecutive edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is set to prove sailing in China is going from strength to strength, with a record number of Chinese crew and teams set to take part in the global ocean adventure. In this edition, 44 Chinese Ambassador Crew are representing each of the three cities Qingdao, Sanya and Zhuhai) as they sail around the world, ten of whom are representing Qingdao, including one circumnavigator, Zheng Yi.
Round the World crew member, Ambassador and Professional Sailor Zheng Yi, known as Frankie, is from the sailing city of Qingdao and representing the city on his circumnavigation. He tells us:‘It’s an honour to represent Qingdao. It’s my hometown and a beautiful place, and it’s where I learnt to sail. It’s amazing to be restarting the race and I’m so excited to get going.”
Qingdao first sponsored the Clipper Race in 2005, and used the event as a focal point for both building its credentials to host the Beijing 2008 Olympic sailing events and creating a powerful legacy as China and Asia’s leading location for international sailing events. There was also the aim to develop Qingdao as a powerful maritime city with a strong‘blue’marine economy, and create a leisure sport cluster along the route of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
The Clipper Race has brought thousands of crew, visitors, VIPs, and business partners to Qingdao and China to boost tourism, representing Qingdao’s winter season travel offer, and develop trade, with tangible deals and visitor generated economic impact.
After arriving in Seattle, USA, the Clipper Race will head to Bermuda via the Panama Canal, New York (USA), Derry~Londonderry (Northern Ireland) before returning to Royal Docks London, UK, where the overall winner of the Clipper 2019-20 Race will be crowned victorious.
About the Clipper Race
The Clipper Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures and renowned as the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. Founded in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world, it is the only event of its kind for non-professional sailors.
Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams, each made up of a Skipper, Mate, and a crew who come from all over the globe and many different walks of life, competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts. Fewer people have sailed around the world than climbed Mount Everest, and with 40 percent of crew having no previous sailing experience before signing up - the achievement is all the more incredible.