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 at 4 pm on February 27.

At a farewell ceremony on the Han River port the same day, Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dang Viet Dung said Da Nang appreciates how practically the Clipper race has contributed to promoting the city image internationally.

The 10-day stay in the city brought a fascinating experience to both the race participants and locals, he said.

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.

Before arriving in Da Nang, the Clipper boats visited London, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Albany, Sydney and the Whitsundays in Australia.

Da Nang is the first Southeast Asian stopover on the race circuit.

After China, all crews will continue on to Seattle, Panama, New York, Derry Londonderry in Northern Ireland and Den Helder in the Netherlands, before returning in a victorious homecoming parade in London on July 30, 2016.

As a first-time Host Port and Team Sponsor of the Clipper Race, Da Nang has capitalised on the opportunity to boost trade, investment and tourism.

As a fast-growing, tourism-friendly city, endowed with a beautiful river, mountains and beaches, Da Nang is striving to become a world-class tourist attraction. It was named No. 1 on TripAdvisor’s 2015 Top 10 World Destinations on the Rise.

VNA