A parade of the Clipper Race yachts started on the Han River at 7.35pm yesterday.  By that time, the Han River Bridge had already been swung open to allow the racing yachts to go up and down the river.

The parade was led by the Da Nang-Viet Nam yacht, skippered by Wendy Tuck, the first female Australian skipper in the history of the Clipper Race.

Here are some photos, taken by DA NANG Today’s reporter Dang No and Vietnam News Agency’s reporter Tran Lam, which reflect the exciting atmosphere of the evening.

Clipper Race yachts passing through the open Han River Bridge

Riverside crowds watching the parade

The three leading yachts had drummers on board from the Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theatre

A view from above

The dragon's head at the eastern end of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge squirting water as the yachts neared the bridge

Yachts turning back at the Rong Bridge