Sailors of the Da Nang-Viet Nam team recently completed the Clipper World Yacht Race’s 8^th leg in Quingdao, Shandong province, China in 8^th place.

The Da Nang-Viet Nam team (Photo: VNA)

Skipper Daniel Smith and his team Derry Londonderry Doire became the winner of the leg. Garmin and LMAX teams came second and third.

To date, the best performance of the Da Nang-Viet Nam team is its victory in the Sydney-Hobart leg last Christmas.

During their stay in Quingdao, the Clipper World Yacht Race fleet attended numerous exchange activities such as visiting residential areas and playing football.

On February 27, the fleet left Da Nang City of Viet Nam for its 8^th journey.

The Da Nang – Viet Nam team comprises 58 members coming from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Qatar, Singapore, Colombia, Sweden, Israel, Mexico, Chile and Viet Nam.

As the world's longest ocean race, the 40,000-nautical mile Clipper Race 2015-2016 is one of the most competitive and challenging sports activities in the world. It started in London on August 30, 2015 and takes 11 months to sail around the world, crossing South America, Australia, Asia and the US.

Up to 240 crew members, aged 18 to over 70 of various nationalities and backgrounds, live together on board each of the fleet's twelve 70-foot racing yachts.

Since 1996, the Clipper Race sailors have visited 55 different stops all over the world, but February was the first time they visited Viet Nam, docking at Da Nang.

According to Minister Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in China Nguyen Hoai Anh, being a host and sponsor of the race, Da Nang will have a golden opportunity to popularise its image to international friends.

The race was initiated by Robin Knox Johnston, the first person who sailed around the world from 1968-1969.

(Source: VNA)