Quang Ninh welcomes Clipper Round World Yacht Race's sailing teams

Members of Yacht Race teams competing in the 2023-2024 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, have joined numerous sightseeing activities and cultural exchanges in Ha Long Bay of Quang Ninh province after docking at Ha Long International Cruise Port on February 18-19.

Addressing a ceremony to welcome 11 sailing teams and over 400 members, Vice Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Nguyen Thuy Yen said Quang Ninh is famous for its beautiful nature, unique culture and friendly people, and Ha Long Bay – a UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage. The Clipper Race is a special event, offering an opportunity for the locality to promote the image of Ha Long Bay and local destinations.

She expressed her hope that yacht crews will experience wonderful moments in Ha Long, thus introducing the beauty of Ha Long to places they visit.

After docking at Ha Long International Passenger Port on February 18-19, the crew members joined a number of activities in Quang Ninh.

As planned, these teams will leave Ha Long Bay for Cuu Chau port in Zhuhai city, Guangdong province, China. Before arriving at Ha Long Bay, they departed from Coral Sea Marina Resort (Airlie beach, Whitsunday region, Queensland state, Australia).

Through this race, Quang Ninh wishes to introduce and promote its tourism potential and destinations, as well as investment projects in the province to potential investors. Therefore, the province has held a series of proprams such as a program on introducing local products and promoting Quang Ninh’s destination in Ha Long International Port, a tour of local attractions for Clipper Race’s ship crews, a conference on tourism promotion associated with the Award Ceremony of the Race, music shows,  sightseeing and travel programs for crew members, etc. 

The 2023-24 race began in late summer 2023, drawing nearly 400 sailors aboard 11 sailing yachts. The route is divided into eight legs and 16 individual races, including six ocean crossings.

The Clipper Race was first organised in 1996 in the UK. Since then, almost 6,000 racing crews from all walks of life and more than 60 nations have trained and raced in the race. The Clipper Race is the only competition in the world where the organisers supply a fleet of identical racing yachts, each with a fully qualified skipper and first mate to safely guide the crew.

Crews complete four levels of intense ocean racer training before they compete. It is considered one of the biggest challenges of the natural world and an endurance test like no other.