6:04 PM Sun 21 Feb 2010 GMT
At the end of what has been arguably the toughest and closest legs of the 35,000-mile Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, which is contested by crews from all walks of life, Cape Breton Island has arrived in Qingdao to a hero's welcome. Finishing Race 6 in sixth place, line honours went to Spirit of Australia, Jamaica Lightning Bolt took second place and the final podium was claimed by Qingdao, much to the delight of the home crowd who had turned out in their thousands to see the fleet's arrival.
As he stepped on to the pontoon in Qingdao's Olympic Sailing Centre, Cape Breton Island's skipper, Jan Ridd, reflected on the race which delivered some of the most varied sailing conditions so far. 'We were expecting a lot worse then we actually had but it was bad enough,' said Jan. 'I think most of the boats had a hard time of it on the way up. North of Taiwan we had two or three days of conditions that were as bad as I want to see on this race. Because of this I made a conscious decision to sail as conservatively as possible to save us from any damage. It probably cost us a few positions as we were leading the race up until that point but I have no regrets about it as we have arrived here safely and the boat is undamaged.
'The crew coped extremely well with the conditions and I think the seas were a bit of a shock to them - when you actually have waves breaking over your head on the deck it's a little extreme. I don't think any amount of training could have prepared them for what it was like out there.'
As the boat entered the marina, the team was greeted by a cacophony of fireworks and drums and a media scrum fought to get pictures and interviews with the heroic crew. Parading up to a large stage, the team were surrounded by dragon and lion dancers whose performance demonstrated the respect the people of Qingdao had for the crews. Gifts of flowers and scarves were bestowed and the skipper was draped in a red velvet cloak and adorned with a tiger head dress to mark the Chinese New Year. The cape symbolises nobleness and in ancient China it was only worn when emperors and generals set out on battle fields and returned victorious. The tiger hat represents great luck and auspiciousness. The Clipper fleet's arrival in Qingdao coincides with the springtime festival of Chinese New Year and the dull thud of fireworks across the city serve as constant reminder that the 2010 celebrations are in full swing.
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The crew were formally welcomed to the city by Wang Xiulin, Vice Mayor of Qingdao and the Municipal People's Government. He said, 'It is the third time the Clipper Race has stopped at Qingdao and I'd like to extend, on behalf of Qingdao Municipal Government and Qingdao citizens, my sincerest welcome to skipper Jan Ridd and the sailors of Cape Breton Island and my warm congratulations for your wonderful performance in this leg.
'We've been following closely the latest news of the Clipper Race - battling treacherous waves and ferocious winds in this grim winter. You have successfully finished this harsh leg with your strong will, outstanding courage and professional sailing prowess. This remarkable feat allows the Qingdao citizens to experience the splendour and charm of this world prestigious sailing event.
'During your stay in Qingdao, the hospitable Qingdao citizens will hold a series of activities with the sailors in celebration of the Chinese New Year. You will feel in person the atmosphere of this traditional Chinese festival and the friendship of our citizens as well.'
The Clipper 09-10 Race started from the Humber on the north east coast of England on 13 September 2009 and will return to there on 17 July 2010. It is the only event in the world where people from all walks of life can take on the challenge of a lifetime and race around the globe on stripped down 68-foot ocean racing yachts.
by Clipper Ventures
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