​QINGDAO CLAIMS WIN IN NAIL-BITING FINISH

Qingdao has secured a spot in overall Clipper Round the World Yacht Race top three after beating out home team Liverpool 2018 and Garmin to win Race 13 from Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, to Liverpool, UK.

Qingdao crossed the finish line at 10:04:04 UTC on Friday 27 July to secure first place and its fourth podium overall.

The team was strong right from the start on the River Foyle on Sunday 22 July and didn’t drop any lower than second throughout the 900 nautical mile dash around Ireland to Liverpool. Qingdao Skipper Chris Kobusch says: “It has been a fantastic race and I am extremely happy and proud of the effort my team has put in.

“To be able not only to secure the Race 13 victory but also guarantee our Race Team Partner Qingdao its first every overall podium is extremely satisfying. The entire team has been working towards this goal for the past year and it is amazingly to realise that we have done it.”

Vicky Song, who became the first Chinese woman to sail around the world when she raced on board Qingdao in the Clipper 2013-14 Race, congratulated the team and said: “I have been following the race for the last eleven months so I excited to know that both Chinese teams are doing so well this time!! I wish I was there to celebrate with them.

“It is a big sailing year for China. The Dongfeng won the Volvo Race and now two Chinese boats will finish on the overall Clipper Race Podium. It brought sailing in front of the Chinese media and it is a great encouragement to all Chinese sailing fans!”

The Qingdao Major International Sailing Events (Festivals) Organizing Committee added: "Congratulations for successfully finishing Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race and winning first place with your bravery and efforts, which is the best result of Qingdao Yacht in its history. Secondly, on behalf of Qingdao Major International Sailing Events (Festivals) Organizing Committee, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, the ambassadors of the Sailing City Qingdao, for your contributions to promoting Qingdao to the world, which has further enhanced the international influence and reputation of the city. We are pleased to welcome you to Qingdao. At last, wish you all a successful career and a happy life in the future."

Just 28 minutes after Qingdao finished, Liverpool 2018 crossed the finish line to complete what will be a fairy tale homecoming for the team after eleven months racing around the world. The pink boat did have to fight hard for second, with Garmin just six minutes behind, crossing the finish line at 1038 UTC. The result caps off an amazing Leg 8 for Garmin with the team also finishing third in the race across the North Atlantic from New York to Derry-Londonderry.

You can follow the progress of the rest of the Clipper Race fleet on the Race Viewer. Sailing fans will also be able to tune in live and watch Qingdao compete in the exciting river sprint tomorrow via the Clipper Race website.