Sanya delegation in Liverpool for Clipper 2017-18 Race Start

A Sanya government delegation, led by Mr. Bao Jian, Executive Vice Mayor of the Sanya Municipal People’s Government, recently arrived in Liverpool, England to participate in a series of events for the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race, which started on August 20th.

The 2017-18 race is the largest Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in history. The day of the start of the race began with crew farewell ceremonies. Family, friends, and supporters looked on from the Albert Dock colonnades as each team took a moment on stage before all 247 crew members boarded their yachts, ready to leave land behind for approximately four weeks.

Mr. Bao Jian took to the stage and bid farewell to the Sanya Serenity Coast crew. He wished them a safe voyage in the year-long round-the-world ocean race. In their outward appearance during the ceremony, the crew of the Sanya Serenity Coast Team seemed well prepared, in high spirits, and good at working together.

After the farewell ceremony, Mr. Bao Jian attended a luncheon hosted by the Liverpool government at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool, where he met with Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson. Mr. Bao briefed Mr. Anderson on Sanya’s tropical and seaside tourism resources, the international events Sanya has hosted, and the progress on the city’s goal of developing into an an international boutique tourism resort city. Both representatives said they were looking forward to future cooperation on trade, commerce, and tourism between the two cities.

At 12:30 p.m., a cannon blast fired, marking the start of the race. Conditions were sunny with a strong tide. Sanya’s debut Clipper Race team yacht entry, Sanya Serenity Coast, along with eleven other matched Clipper 70-foot ocean racing yachts, raced around a tight circuit in front of the crowds on the River Mersey, before heading out to the Atlantic Ocean towards Punta del Este in Uruguay, their next port of call in this year-long, 40,000-nautical-mile ocean race around the planet.

The opening leg of the eleven-month series will take approximately 35 days to complete and is the longest ever in the race’s 21-year history.

The Clipper Race fleet is expected to reach Sanya Serenity Marina towards the middle or end of February 2018. During that period, the Sanya authorities will take the opportunity to organize a series of events to showcase the city’s excellent marina facilities and strong sailing heritage to global sailing fans and spectators.