Clipper Race finale this weekend in London

As the Clipper Race fleet prepares to race the final miles of its eleven month-long adventure, preparations for the London’s St Katharine Docks celebrations on Saturday 30 July are well underway.

The crew will return to a heroes welcome in spectacular style and pageantry, including live commentary, big screens and a main stage, ready to host the final celebrations of this tenth edition race.

The fleet is set to reach Tower Bridge at 0945, where all teams will parade under its iconic archway and back out again before the first four teams enter St Katharine Docks from 1035.

Teams will arrive in groups of four in reverse overall standings order, with the winning team set to arrive in by 12.50. The final Prize Giving on the main stage, positioned in the front, centre of the main basin, will start at 1300 (all times BST).

Thousands of Clipper Race fans are expected to take over the St Katharine Docks Race Village which will provide the perfect backdrop for the celebrations, with plenty of race partners exhibiting and epicurean food vendors selling some of London’s best street food including Korean, American, Greek and Malaysian for a taste of flavours around the world in celebration of the global race.

Exhibitors at the Race Village include the RNLI and Official Race Charity Unicef, plus Technical Clothing Partner Henri Lloyd will be there to provide the opportunity to learn more about the kit that gets our crew around the world and help you discover its range of Marine Clothing and Lifestyle Apparel.

Visit the Garmin Cycle Challenge to put your fitness to the test or see if you have what it takes to be a crew member on the Harken grinder challenge. To take away memorabilia of the day, visit the Clipper Race Merchandise stand.

Big screens showcasing the Clipper Race TV series will run from Friday to Sunday 31 July as will the chance to get out on the Thames for stand up paddle boarding.

GET ON BOARD OUR SPECTATOR BOATS
If you want to be at the heart of the action, there is limited space remaining to board our Official Spectator Boats on the world famous River Thames.

The Spectator Boats will meet the Clipper Race fleet on the Thames before following its victorious parade all the way up to the iconic Tower Bridge ahead of entering St Katharine Docks. All spectator boats will return to the pier they departed before the Clipper Race teams are due to arrive in St Katharine Docks so there will be time to get to the marina to greet them there too.

Scheduled local timings* for the fleet’s Parade of Sail on Saturday 30 July are:

07:19 – Fleet arrives at the QE2 Bridge at Dartford
08.48 - Thames Barrier (You will rendezvous with the fleet here)
09.01 – Fleet passes the Millennium Dome
09.12 - Fleet passes Greenwich Observatory
09.30 – Fleet passes Canary Wharf Pier
09.45 – Fleet Arrives at Tower Bridge
10.40 – Fleet enters St Katharine Docks after a parade of sail under Tower Bridge

Tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £7.50 for children.

BOAT TOURS
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to race the world’s oceans? Join us from Monday 1 August to Sunday 7 August at St Katharine Docks for the opportunity to get on board the Unicef yacht.

Find out where the crews race, eat, sleep and navigate during their round the world race and speak to crew who have just completed the adventure.

To find out more about St Katharine Docks, click here.

WANT TO RACE?
If you would like to experience the thrill of ocean racing, we are now recruiting for the 2017-18 race.

To find out more in London, come along to our presentation in St Katharine Docks on Friday 29 July. Click here to register or click here.

See you there!