China enter Clipper round the world race

More news from Qingdao

Race organiser Clipper Ventures PLC and the Qingdao Municipal Government jointly announce that the port of Qingdao will be the Chinese stopover for the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race. Qingdao, a key economic centre and port city on the east coast of China, will sponsor one of the ten yacht entries in the competitive event.

The Clipper 05-06 Race sets sail on Sunday, 18 September 2005 from Liverpool (UK) and returns some 10 months later after 35,000 nautical miles of intense competition on the high seas.

The sole Chinese stopover is scheduled for mid February 2006, with the 10-strong fleet of identical 68ft racers berthing in Qingdao for eight days, before heading to the Japanese port of Yokohama and onto Victoria BC in Canada on the fifth race leg. Qingdao is also set to host the 29th Olympic sailing events in 2008.

In addition to Qingdao being a host port for the Clipper 05-06 Race, the race line-up will include a yacht named Qingdao Clipper on the start line. The Chinese entry will face competition from an international field including race title defenders Jersey (Channel Islands), as well as Liverpool (UK), Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Western Australia), Singapore, Glasgow (Scotland), Victoria BC (Canada) and New York (USA).

As an economic hub and open port city, Qingdao is one of China’s major ports for foreign trade. Located at the southern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, Qingdao is famous for its cultural heritage and eye-catching scenery.

“We are delighted that our crews will get to experience this beautiful natural port firsthand in February 2006 and wish the Chinese team every good fortune in the Clipper 05-06 Race,” said Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of Clipper Ventures Plc.

Mr Zhu, General Office Director for the Committee (Qingdao) of Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, added: “Qingdao is immensely proud of being the first and only Chinese boat entry in this Race. As the Olympic Sailing centre for Beijing 2008, we look forward to welcoming the entire Clipper fleet here for a stopover in February 2006. We are also very much-looking forward to joining the line-up of other world-class cities for Clipper 05-06.”

The Qingdao yacht will be skippered by Danny Watson (35) from Beckenham in Kent (UK) and there are selected berths available for China’s budding sailors interested in racing on various legs of the race.