​Podium place for Qingdao on team’s homecoming race

Sailing into its home port for the first time since 2018, the Qingdao team proudly arrived in the city with a Race 9 podium place making for an extra special homecoming.

The Qingdao stopover is one of the most memorable on the Clipper Race circuit due to the longstanding partnership between the global yacht race and China’s sailing city. For the Qingdao team, sailing into the home port is nothing short of extraordinary, and made even sweeter by the team securing its second podium of the race so far as they sailed across the Finish Line in third place.

Image: Qingdao arrives in its home port

Race 9: Sailing City- Qingdao Cup, was a particularly tough race for the entire fleet, as the navigated tough headwinds, wind holes and currents on the 1,350nm route from Zhuhai to Qingdao. For the Qingdao team, which had secured a place at the front of the fleet initially, fell back to 9th place after hitting a wind hole offshore from Taiwan. Fighting hard as the race went on, the team managed to climb back up the leader board as the fleet headed north, and then after using Stealth Mode in the final days of the race, Qingdao emerged in third place. The team was able to hang on to this place until the end as the wind shifted to more favourable downwind conditions, despite some tough competition.

On arrival into the home city, Qingdao Skipper Philip Quinn said: “The race was good! We managed to fight our way back and a lot of work went into this, so we are really pleased. I am so pleased for the crew coming into their home port, it’s something special!

“For I don’t know how long, we were only five nautical miles from UNICEF, but we just couldn’t get them. It was close but not close enough. The crew are really excited, this stopover really does mean a lot to them to sail into their home port because you are representing the whole city, so everyone thinks it’s very special.”

First Mate Henry Hallatt added: “I’m really stoked with third position. It was a really tough race. We had the fortune of leading for the first three days, then some misfortune took us down to 9th. So, from there we just pushed like crazy and managed to climb up place by place. Home port in third position- awesome.

“This is the second podium for this boat, and quite close together, so I think this shows we are going to keep going with these podiums all the way to the end. We are so excited for our Ambassadors, Zack and Doris, to show us around their hometown!”

It was a heroes welcome for the team as crowds lined the marina walls and arrivals stage to welcome the Qingdao crew to the home port. As the boat passed the breakwater of the marina, fireworks were released, and a fanfare of Chinese drummers and dragon dancers was kickstarted.

Image: Qingdao Ambassadors arriving home

Qingdao Leg 6 Ambassador, Xuan Bu (Doris) was incredibly excited to have sailed into her home city. She said: “We are really happy and excited to be back home in Qingdao! I am so proud to be here with our team, we did a great job on an intense race. But everyone was working so hard and taking care of each other, with really good teamwork. I am so proud of myself and my teammates, and so proud of Qingdao.”

Image: Qingdao Ambassador Doris

Ziqi Wang (Zack), the round the world Ambassador on board Qingdao who grew up in the home city said: “I’m really trying to hold back the tears in my eyes, it’s so hard! We are finally here, it feels unreal! This race was quite tricky, as we lost positions in a wind hole but we got back to third place. My parents are on the pontoon, and I really can’t wait to give them a hug.

“This is a race I have dreamed about since I was a kid. I saw the Clipper Race fleet on the 2009-10 edition at this pontoon, welcoming Qingdao in. Now I am on the boat, it’s a dream come true.”

Image: Qingdao Ambassador Zack

On taking to the stage, the crew received a huge welcome from Qingdao Organising Committee Officials and Clipper Ventures Officials, Skippers were gifted a cape, dragon hat and flag and each crew member received a gifting pack. A mass of local media captured the moment as a Champagne spray to celebrate the team’s success closed the ceremony.

Image: Qingdao welcome ceremony

The team will now enjoy all that Qingdao has to offer, as they rest, recuperate and soak up some downtime ahead of Race 10.