The UK capital has waved off the Qingdao yacht entry in the world’s longest ocean race as the crew started their 40,000 mile adventure from Tower Bridge.

    Crowds of around 120,000 lined the banks of the Thames to cheer on the colourful pageant to mark the start of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race.

    Qingdao and the fleet of eleven other 70-ft ocean racing yachts and a flotilla of support vessels, spectator boats and well-wishers participated in a spectacular parade with Tower Bridge lifting to salute the crews who will face the ultimate endurance test.

    Skipper of Qingdao, Gareth Glover, says, “There has been some really good bonding going on amongst the team and we are confident of success. As I have done the race before, I am feeling very prepared and have already done our crew brief and gone through all the watch patterns, weather conditions, engineering, winching and safety briefs.”

    The yacht is sponsored by the city of Qingdao and eight Chinese crew have been chosen to act as ambassadors to compete in each of the eight legs over 11 months. Wenfei (Erika) Duan, is participating in the first leg of the Clipper 13-14 Race, while Vicky Song is vying to become the first Chinese woman to sail around the world.

    Legendary British yachtsman, Clipper Race Founder and Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “It is wonderful to see these gutsy people set off on one of the greatest adventures left on the planet.

    “Departing from the iconic British capital London in the shadow of Tower Bridge is something really special for the crews and skippers who have been building up to this moment for months.

    “To see them return to London as accomplished circumnavigators in 11 months’ time will be a special moment.”

    The armada was joined by a paddleship steamer, pilot boats, police boats, RIBs, spectator boats and other pleasure craft as Britain waved off the 270 crew sailing from London to Rio de Janeiro on Leg 1.

    It is the first time London has hosted the Clipper Race and is 40 years since the Thames last featured a round the world sailing event.

    The fleet will not be returning until July 2014 after a total of 670 crew race 40,000 miles and visit 16 ports on six continents.

    Designed to provide everyone - regardless of sailing experience - the chance to race across oceans and taste the exhilaration of circumnavigation, the Clipper Race has turned over 3,500 novices into ocean racers since its inception in 1995.

    Everyone from teachers to sports stars, professionals, lorry drivers, nurses, film directors and more team together to take on the world’s toughest sailing conditions. Skippered by professional yachtsman, each team will battle to complete eight different legs over eleven months, all vying for the overall top prize.

    The race will officially start offshore at Southend, England, on Monday 09.30 BST. The first leg of the Clipper Race ends in Marina da Gloria, Rio de Janeiro, the destination for the 2016 Olympic sailing events. They then continue on via South Africa, Western Australia, Sydney (including the world famous Sydney-Hobart Race), Brisbane, Singapore, China, San Francisco, Panama, Jamaica, New York, Derry Londonderry and the Netherlands before returning to London’s St Katharine Docks for Race Finish in July 2014.