Thousands of spectators expected to welcome home Clipper Race fleet

by Clipper Ventures on 28 Jul 2016 Hurricane force winds, giant waves, freezing conditions, blistering temperatures, battered boats, injury and tragedy fail to quell fighting spirit of the Clipper Race crew.

Thousands of spectators are expected to line the River Thames and pack St Katharine Docks to welcome home a multinational fleet of twelve identical yachts after taking eleven months to complete a global circumnavigation series of 14 races between six continents over 40,000 miles.

The tenth edition of the famous biennial race for novice sailors led by professional skippers is regarded as the most challenging on record after the event endured the most extreme conditions it has ever faced in its 20-year history.

690 crew representing 44 nationalities compete in 12 teams, including entries from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, USA, South Africa, China and Vietnam.

Spectacular photography and TV opportunities of the large ocean racing yachts and welcome home flotilla on the Thames from 0715, arriving at Tower Bridge 1000 BST.

The bridge will lift in salute twice as the fleet parades past the Tower of London before going back through at 1030 and then taking turn to enter into St Katharine Docks 1045-1245.

Emotional scenes expected as crews are greeted by family and friends and reunited after they leave the prizegiving stage 1300-1400.

Especially poignant after the tragic deaths of two Londoners in separate incidents, the first fatalities in the event’s 20-year history.

The homecoming will be a time to reflect and a minute’s applause will be made just before the prizegiving at 1300 to pay tribute to Andrew Ashman and Sarah Young whose zest for life has inspired their fellow crew and the entire Clipper Race family.

Both were crew aboard the yacht IchorCoal (pron: eye-core coal). Keith Ashman will join the yacht for the final parade up the Thames to complete his brother’s journey.