The strong relationship and connection between the Clipper Race and China will strengthen even further when the eleventh edition begins in Liverpool on Sunday20 August. Qingdao will feature as a Host Port for the seventh consecutive edition of the race, and will again be running its Ambassador Program. Yi‘Frankie’ Zhen and Liu‘Lisa’ Jingqiu will be representing China’s Sailing City in the Atlantic Trade Winds Leg. Both ambassadors met with the Qingdao delegation forQingdao’s Naming Ceremony at Liverpool’s Albert Dock on Friday. MrQiGuanghui, the Director of Committee of Education, Science, Culture, Health, and Sports of Qingdao Committee of the CPPCC, officially named the yacht, and wished the team well for their upcoming adventure. “It’s great to have the three Qingdao Officials here,” says Chris Kobush, Skipper ofQingdao. “Especially for the Naming ceremony, it was great that they could come all the way from China. I think it’s great motivation for the crew to have the Team Partner here ahead of Race Start.” Qingdao will be the second stop on the Asia Pacific Leg5 of the Clipper2017-18 Race. From Qingdao, the Clipper Race fleet will race more than5,500nM across the North Pacific Ocean to Seattle, USA. Qingdao, and the eleven Clipper Race yachts are going through the final stages of their preparations ahead of Race Start. The Clipper Race starts on Sunday at1230 (BST), with events at Albert Dock, Liverpool, starting from0800 (BST). |