At 1.00pm local time in London on Sunday, 12 professional teams participating in the 2015 - 2016 Clipper Round the World Race passed under the Tower Bridge and set off from the city with a parade along the Thames River.

Participating teams will spend a year travelling 40,000 nautical miles around the globe, and they are expected to stop off at Da Nang, Viet Nam, in February 2016.

Here are some photos of Da Nang-Viet Nam team's racing yacht at the event.

The St Katharine Docks beside the Tower Bridge in London

Members from the Da Nang-Viet Nam team …

… before setting off to race worldwide.

The Da Nang-Viet Nam team's racing yacht passing under the Tower Bridge …

… with a parade along the River Thames.