Please select your home edition
Edition
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP TOP

Clipper Race 10: Qingdao finishes mighty North Pacific Ocean crossing

by Clipper Round the World Race 7 May 2022 22:32 PDT
Clipper Race 10: Sailing City Qingdao Cup © Clipper Race

After crossing the mighty North Pacific Ocean, Qingdao has completed Race 10: Sailing City Qingdao Cup and arrived at Schoonmaker Point Marina in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The team, skippered by Chris Brooks, sailed into the Golden Gate strait and under its iconic suspension bridge, 47 days after leaving Subic Bay, Philippines. The team was greeted by Clipper Race Officials, family and eight Qingdao crew mates who will be joining them for Leg 7.

Qingdao local, Zheng Yi, known as Frankie to his teammates, is Qingdao Ambassador Crew and a round-the-worlder on the Clipper 2019-20 Race. On his arrival yesterday, he said: "Over the past few days we were in the Ocean Sprint which was a really good experience for us as we were back to racing and everyone was excited for that. It was a really challenging 21 hours and we are really tired. But three points is a really good prize. We've arrived in San Francisco (Bay Area) and the sun is starting to shine. It's been a long time since we have seen the sun shine.

"The Pacific Ocean is the perfect ocean and was the biggest challenge for us. It was freezing cold and the big weather was horrible. But Qingdao was just itself. We sailed fast. Sometimes we sailed 240nm a day, and other times up to 300nm. In this race, the skipper gave me more time on the helm, sometimes up to six hours a day, which gave me more confidence. I can't wait to be back on the race and battle with another boat."

After diverting to Japan for repairs, and then just before its departure from there having to wait out a typhoon, the Qingdao team made the North Pacific crossing almost two weeks later than the rest of the fleet. The team wouldn't have arrived in time to be part of the Seattle stopover and so it was decided the team would sail to San Francisco as its finish port for Race 10.

Says Chris Brooks, Qingdao Race Skipper: "My job as Skipper and navigator is to firstly look for conditions that will get us across the North Pacific Ocean nice and quickly but also not put us into too much pressure of wind. So we looked at systems of weather coming through and our aim was just to pass in enough wind to keep the boat moving really fast but not too much that it would be a problem. The conditions in the North Pacific were at times really strong but we kept just to the south side of some really big low pressures - so we managed to keep out the worst of it."

Before commencing Race 11: Seattle Pacific Challenge down to Panama, the Qingdao team will spend the next few days getting some R&R and then preparing the boat for its departure on 10 May. Ahead of this, eight Race Crew joining Qingdao for Leg 7 will have a really unique Refresher Training day on Monday (9 May), sailing around the Golden Gate Strait, with one of the most world famous bridges as its backdrop.

For more information visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com.

Related Articles

Clipper 2025-26 Race to return to Puerto Sherry
After tourism boosting debut visit The Finish Line of the opening stage of the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race will be set against the backdrop of El Puerto de Santa María as Puerto Sherry returns as a Host Port Partner for the international sailing event. Posted on 25 Jun
Punta del Este announced as Clipper host port
4th time the city will host the Round the World Yacht Race fleet The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is set to return to Punta del Este, as the Uruguayan city is officially announced as a Host Port for the Clipper 2025-26 Race. Posted on 17 Jun
Clipper Race announces Official Logistics Supplier
Warrant Group offers a deep understanding of the complex operational demands As it gears up for its 14th edition, the Clipper Race has announced that Warrant Group will be the Official Logistics Supplier for the upcoming circumnavigation, with the UK-based firm also making its racing debut with a team entry named in its honour. Posted on 13 Jun
Clipper Race & UNICEF mark a decade of partnership
Fundraising efforts from race crew will continue to support UNICEF's work globally Today, the leading child rights organisation, UNICEF, was announced as a Team and Charity Partner of the Clipper Race once again. Posted on 6 May
Clipper Race announces line up of First Mates
Each First Mate will assist their Race Skipper in leading their teams of non-professionals The Clipper Race First Mates who will be helping to lead a team in the toughest endurance challenge on the planet have been announced. Posted on 26 Apr
Seattle set to host Clipper Race stopover
Tenth anniversary of first visit, returning with team entry Seattle is set to host the Clipper 2025-26 Race as the global sailing event has announced the city will feature on its race route. Posted on 4 Apr
Clipper Round the World Race to return to Oban
After tourism boosting debut visit last summer The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will be returning to Oban to "bring global focus on the area as a great place to visit and invest" as the West Coast town is announced as a port on the event's 2025-26 edition. Posted on 31 Mar
Clipper Race announces its new line-up of skippers
“Sailing is a level playing field – with the ocean an equaliser” The next roster of eleven Clipper Race Skippers taking on one of the toughest jobs in sailing has been announced. Each will lead teams of non-professionals, making six ocean crossings on the 40,000 nautical mile, eleven-month race around the globe. Posted on 28 Mar
Clipper Race celebrates 30 years of adventure
One of the secrets to the success and longevity of biennial event is the highly experienced team This month marks 30 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world, founded the Clipper Race. Posted on 7 Mar
Clipper Race to return to Portsmouth
On the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city When its fleet departs from Gunwharf Quays this August, the event will be celebrating two milestones - the 25th anniversary of its first departure from the city and 30 years of training people to cross oceans and sail around the world. Posted on 3 Mar
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERLloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px BOTTOMV-DRY-X