Clipper Round the World Yacht Race founder made an honorary ambassador

by Isabel Hokken on 8 Mar 2012 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race founder and chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, has been made an honorary ambassador for Qingdao Sailing Sport.

The award was made this week by the Chinese Olympic sailing venue following the departure of the Clipper 11-12 Race fleet from Qingdao for the notoriously challenging Pacific Ocean leg.

'In the eight years I have known this great city of Qingdao I have watched its energetic development and the professionalism with which it created a first class Olympic Sailing Regatta,' said Sir Robin in accepting the honorary role.

'It has been an immense pleasure for me to bring the Clipper Race to this city four times and I look forward to the next two races coming here when Clipper Ventures will continue to grow, copying the expansion of this outstanding city,' he added.

Qingdao first entered the race in 2005-2006 and used the event to help it prepare for hosting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and subsequently developing a powerful legacy and brand as China’s sailing capital.

'Today we are honoured to appoint Sir Robin as an ambassador for Qingdao Sailing Sport,' said Madam Zang, Chairman of Qingdao Yachting Association. 'He encourages sailors generation by generation and wins the admiration of Qingdao people.'

This is the fourth time the biennial race has visited Qingdao and the city has recently committed to extend this relationship for two further editions of the Clipper Race through to 2016.

The Qingdao Olympic Sailing City Development Association and Qingdao Yachting Association aim to expand the sport of sailing, build its brand as the ‘sailing city’ of China, grow its international reputation and develop a new ‘blue economic Clipper Round the World Yacht Race website