Clipper Race: Qingdao diverting to Japan for repairs

Clipper Race fleet © Clipper Round the World Race

Update 1800 7 April 2022

A repair plan has been agreed for Qingdao and work has commenced.

The yacht will remain at City Marina Velasis while the work is completed. Repairs will be carried out day and night and over the weekend with the goal for the job to be completed by late Sunday 10 April.

Our Chief Engineer, Jay Haller and Head of Fleet Maintenance, Greg Miller are keeping in frequent contact with the specialist carrying out the repairs. We are also keeping our surveyor and yacht design engineer informed. Our appointed agent SYL Japan continues to assist us shoreside in Yokosuka.

Now that the repair works are under way, the team is working on plans to top up its victualling stocks, replenish gas and refuel the yacht.

It is planned for the yacht and crew to clear Japanese Customs, Quarantine and Immigration and depart on Monday 11 April but this will need to be confirmed. The Qingdao team will then be rejoining Race 10.

Update 1800 5 April 2022

The Qingdao team has today cleared immigration, following clearing customs yesterday and the yacht also clearing quarantine.

As the team do not have Japanese visas, they have been issued with a crew shore pass by immigration and are limited to the surrounding area of the marina, which covers the hotel they are staying in this evening. They are also under seven days of quarantine, which means they can stay on the yacht or hotel, can access the marina and its facilities and shop for essentials.

The work report on repairs is due to be finalised by tomorrow and current estimates show the work taking four to seven days to be completed but this will be confirmed.

Further updates to follow.

Update 1700 4 April 2022

The Qingdao team will be clearing immigration tomorrow (5 April), with yacht clearance, quarantine and customs cleared today.

The Clipper Race will be looking for the repairs to start as soon as possible. Our Chief Engineer, Justin (Jay) Haller has been liaising with local contractors to source the very best specialists to carry out the work, with one specialist visiting the yacht today and another one booked to visit tomorrow.

More details will follow tomorrow (5 April).

Update 0630 4 April 2022

A berth for CV30 Qingdao has been arranged at Marina Velasis in Yokosuka and the team has just safely arrived alongside.

The Clipper Race is working with a local agent to help the team in clearing the Japanese customs, immigration and quarantine requirements. As this is an unplanned stop this is expected to take some time to work through but the agent is there to make the process as smooth and as quick as possible.

A local boatbuilder was arranged to be there for the yacht's arrival to assess any repairs required and this assessment is currently being carried out.

The Qingdao team is all well.

2 April 2022

CV30 Qingdao is currently heading towards Yokohama to effect repairs to its running backstay fitting.

All crew are well on board. There are no safety concerns but the team has ceased racing until the issue is resolved.

For more information visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com.