(VOVworld) – Twelve crews of the ongoing Clipper 2015-2016 Round the World Yacht Race began their race between Vietnam’s central Da Nang City and China’s Qingdao on Saturday.

Scene from a Clipper's sailing boats show in Da Nang.

A farewell ceremony was held on the Han River port the same day with the attendance of the municipal leaders, Robin Knox-Johnston, founder and President of Clipper Ventures and thousands of locals.

At 40,000 nautical miles in length, the Clipper Race, the 10th of its kind, takes eleven months to complete its around-the-world journey through 14 seaports. It sees the participation of 12 crews with 690 amateur sailors from 44 nations.