Clipper race fleet departs Singapore for Qingdao

The twelve-strong fleet of the Clipper Round the World yacht race departed Singapore on Wednesday on a race of 2,450 nautical miles (4,537 kilometers) leading to the Chinese city of Qingdao, which was home to the sailing events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The route of the ninth race of the round-the-globe event has been notorious for its extreme conditions such as the temperature plunging from the tropics to sub-zero conditions as the fleet beats into winter headwinds. Choppy seas are also expected during a part of the race when the fleet sails off the Taiwan island amid the "wind over tide" effect created between northerly winds over the notorious Black Snake current. "The seas are obviously very rough, so that area is probably the most dangerous part of the race. So we got to be very careful," said Gareth Glover, skipper of the yacht Qingdao. "A lot of the time these boats are going to be airborne," race director Justin Taylor told the crew. "It'll be unpleasant for a couple of days, certainly. The race from Singapore to China is one of extremes." The race from Singapore to Qingdao is also the second part of the fifth leg of the Clipper Race, which has been known as one of the longest round-the-world yacht races and one of the few open to novices from all over the world and turn them into ocean racers. The yacht One Dll currently is the leader on the overall standings with 81 points after eight races since September last year, followed by Henri Lloyd and Derry Londonderry Doire at 79.9 and 69 respectively. Great Britain is the fourth with 65, and Switzerland and Qingdao each have 61 points. Glover said it is important to have a team that work together and that good results hopefully can be expected if everyone is happy. All the 12 yachts in the Clipper Race are of the same size of 70 feet, each having a crew of 20 people and sponsored by a brand. The skipper on each of the yacht is fully-qualified to lead the crew safely. Vicky Song, 32, has been sailing with the yacht Qingao since the start of the racing season in September last year. She is planning to sail with the yacht around the world, which will make her one of the first women from the Chinese mainland to sail around the world. The race from Singapore to Qingdao is also special for her as she hails from Qingdao, the coastal city in eastern China that has been known for hosting the sailing events of the Beijing Olympics. "This race is a bit special as we are now half way through the global journey. It's like half through in a marathon. It is also special for me because I am from Qingdao. It is homecoming for me, and it's exciting to think of coming back home to my family on a stopover," she said. "I believe we will have great support." She said it was an enduring experience to spend the past several months mostly on a yacht sailing around the world, having to overcome many challenges, including the sense of loneliness. "There was this one time when a large sea bird flew around and landed on our boat. I asked our photographer to take photos and when I turned around it landed on my arm," she said. "I looked into its eyes. It was amazing. A sense of the magic when this friend from the ocean makes me feel like we are close." The sailors on the yachts are from many different countries and regions. They are encouraged to bring their life skills on board the boats and to apply their skills where necessary. Lawrence Lingard, also onboard the Qingdao yacht, is a chef who has his own restaurant in England. Glover said he helped with the menu planning and put to use his great knowledge about how to make bread, even though all the members of the crew on the boat have been doing their part in cooking. Lingard also took part in various cuisine-related events during the stopovers, including cooking Indian food in Singapore. As for the activities in China, he said he does not have a final plan yet. The Clipper Race consists of 16 races on 8 legs with a total route length of about 40,000 miles. The race started in London in September last year, and the fleet is expected to go back to London in July this year after visiting the six continents.