(VOVWORLD) - The first teams competing in the 2023-2024 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race have docked at Ha Long International Cruise Port in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh ahead of schedule.
 The Qingdao team docks at Ha Long at 1:20pm on February 18, 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
Qingdao, the first team to berth at Ha Long, arrived at 1:20pm on Sunday, followed by team Zhuhai at 1:55pm.
The race, drawing nearly 400 sailors aboard 11 sailing yachts, is divided into eight legs and 16 individual races, including six ocean crossings.
The Vietnamese destination is on the fifth leg within the Asia-Pacific Challenge where sailors will take part in the race and different activities during the 10-day event.
As planned, the teams will make a stop in Quang Ninh until February 27 to participate in sightseeing activities and cultural exchanges.
The Clipper Race was first organized in 1996 in the UK. Since then, almost 6,000 race crew from diverse backgrounds representing more than 60 nations have undergone training and taken part in the competition.
It is the only race 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 must complete four levels of intense ocean racer training before they compete.
Renowned for its grueling nature, it is one of the most formidable challenges in the natural realm and an unparalleled test of endurance and resilience.