Clipper Race Sails for London

Clipper Race Sails for London
18/07/2014 editor

Clipper Race Fleet Returns to London In The Last Leg of 2013 – 2014

Sir Robin Knox Johnstonand Dame Ellen McArthur will welcome home the 12 yachts of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race on Saturday the 19th of July from the Thames Barrier to St Katharine Docks. The event will give spectators a chance to meet the crew and even step onboard some of the 70ft sailing boats.

Clipper race

670 crew from 40 different nations took part in this years round the world Clipper Race which tests competitors to their limits on a 40,000 mile journey. On each leg of the race a different person would join from the project and on the final one, Lebalang Molobelle, 22, came onboard. Living in a crowded house in Soweto, South Africa with 10 of her family, Lebalang had never been sailing before she won her place on the Clipper race but now she says that she loves it. “The main challenge has been living with people from different backgrounds. In Soweto I know everyone and we are all the same, it is very different on the boat,” she said.Clipper Race

Teams have triumphed some of Mother Nature’s toughest tests, including; giant waves, hurricane force winds and tornadoes; coast guard assisted medical evacuations; and the terrifying, miraculous rescue of a man overboard who was lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for 90 minutes. To Join the celebrations see the schedule for the weekends festivities bellow.

10:00 – Clipper Race fleet parade starts at Thames Barrier

12:00 – Fleet reaches O2 Arena

12:30 –  Fleet reaches Canary Wharf Pier

12:45 –  Tower Bridge will lift for the top three winning teams as the remaining  teams parade in front of     the Race Village at St Katharine Docks.

12:45 – 13:00 – Teams dock in St Katharine Docks.

14.00 – 16.00 – Final Prizegiving Ceremony at St Katharine Docks.