Spectacular send off from Qingdao for Cape Breton Island

1:01 PM Tue 2 Mar 2010 GMT

'Crews getting ready to leave Quingdao' Clipper Ventures PLC &copy

Following their hero's welcome and an unforgettable stopover in the Shandong provincial city of Qingdao, China, Cape Breton Island, one of ten teams competing in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, was treated to a spectacular send off for Race 7 of the 35,000-mile global challenge to San Francisco. As the brave sailors manned their boat and prepared to do battle with the largest ocean on the planet, thousands lined the breakwater of the Olympic Sailing Centre to send them on their way. A 15-knot breeze from the north gave a gentle introduction to the 5,680-mile race to California, the longest leg in the history of the Clipper Race.

Before them lies thousands of miles of Pacific Ocean and speaking ahead of the start, skipper of Cape Breton Island, Jan Ridd, shared his thoughts on how he and his team are going to handle the marathon crossing.

"Mentally we've decided to break this leg down into three races. The race down to Japan, through the Yellow Sea, which will deliver pretty much the same conditions as we experienced on the way up here. Then we're gong to need to watch out for when we go past the southern tip of Japan -there could potentially be some heavy winds there and it's quite confined with strong currents. Once we get into the Pacific we should get some enjoyable downwind sailing and knock out some great mileage.

"We've got to treat this race as a marathon. We've got some good systems on board coming up here to Qingdao on how to keep ourselves dry and warm and so we're fully prepared for what lies ahead."

Round the world crew member on the Canadian entry and Cape Breton Island resident, Elisa Jenkins, has been looking forward to the Pacific leg since joining the race.

"To get out in the big ocean swells as opposed to the coastal and choppy seas that we've been used to for the last while is going to be a nice change. Hopefully we'll have some really good sailing and get the boat going downwind again. I also have a good Cape Breton contingent coming out to California to see us arrive, including my mother and father."

Having taken line honours in the race to Qingdao, Spirit of Australia immediately showed they were a force to be reckoned as they crossed the start line in first place. Hot on their heels were the two North American entries, Cape Breton Island and California with Uniquely Singapore, Hull & Humber, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Qingdao and Jamaica Lightning Bolt completing the order across the line.

As they rounded the first mark Hull & Humber had moved into the lead with Qingdao in second place, much to the delight of the home crowd. California had moved ahead of Cape Breton Island with the Canadian entry rounding just seconds behind Spirit of Australia. Next at the mark was Jamaica Lightning Bolt, the only team to opt for their Yankee 1, followed by Uniquely Singapore and Edinburgh Inspiring Capital.

In a slick hoist manoeuvre, Hull & Humber was first up with their medium weight spinnaker and as the fleet out into the Yellow Sea the English entry had a clear lead on the rest of the teams.

The spectacular welcome ceremonies the individual teams received upon their arrival in Qingdao was outdone by their departure ceremony. Joining the drummers, cymbal players and lion dancers, a 20-strong brass and woodwind military band heralded the skippers' appearance on the stage. Draped in their red velvet ceremonial cloaks and tiger hats, each skipper was presented with a colourful combat flag displaying the name of their team.

Cape Breton Island - Clipper Ventures PLC &copy _.

Amongst the Chinese dignitaries attending the ceremony was Madam Zang, Honorary Chairman of Qingdao Yachting Association, who wished them luck on the forthcoming race.

"Ten days ago the heroes of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race were welcomed by Qingdao's citizens with warm hospitality. Your arrival has added more jubilance to the Chinese Spring Festival in Qingdao and has enabled our citizens to experience the excitement and charm of this prestigious global sailing event.

"Today marks the restart of the Clipper Race to set sail on the new journey to San Francisco. On behalf of Qingdao Municipal Government and the organising committee as well as all our local citizens, I would like to extend our best wishes to all the teams and the crew members. I wish you a safe sail and I wish the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race a complete success."

Spread amongst the boats and bringing some Irish spirit to the International teams are crew members from Cork. They are racing on board the other nine yachts following the grounding of their yacht during the Race 5. Race 7 brings them a step closer to Panama where they will take delivery of their new yacht and race under the Cork colours once more and will be sure of a warm welcome when the fleet arrives in Kinsale at the start of an eight-day stopover in Cork, Ireland in July. Conor Murphy is racing on board Jamaica Lightning Bolt.

The 34-year-old pharmacist says, "I chose this leg of the race because I always wanted to cross an ocean the Pacific is the biggest and therefore presented more of a challenge. The hardest thing about it will be trying to stay focused and warm. The crew have been really welcoming and have really made me feel a valued member of the team."

As the teams head out to sea, one Clipper yacht remained in the marina. Team Finland is delayed leaving Qingdao as the boat awaits her replacement mast. Having lost her rig during the tough race from Singapore, plans are well underway although shipping a 90-foot spar and associated rigging is a complicated logistical process. The mast is being taken by truck from the UK to Luxemburg where an Air China Boeing 747 with the all important opening front nose is set to depart on Friday. The cargo will land in Beijing and the mast will then transported by truck to Qingdao. Following some final assembly, stepping, tuning, testing and adjusting it is expected that Team Finland will depart for San Francisco between 11 and 14 March.

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