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17 March 2006, 11:19 am

Qingdao Wins The Race To Re-launch

Clipper Round The World Yacht Race 2005-2006

Subic Bay, Philippines

At 1432 local time (0630 GMT) Qingdao won the race to be the first Clipper to be re-launched following over a month of rectification work at Subic Bay Yacht Club. A crowd of workers, media and locals gathered to watch the first of the ten yachts carefully lowered into Subic Bay, Philippines.

Overseen by Skipper Danny WATSON and the Green Marine team managing the work on the fleet, the first Chinese entry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was put back in the water ahead of her sea trials.

Although WATSON will be aware of the 'home port curse', that has never seen a boat winning into its home port in the history of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, he will be glad that his boat is back in the water and getting set for restart of the race to Qingdao, China next weekend.

As soon as Qingdao was in the water, a team jumped on board to secure the engine back in place, and to prepare to step the mast and to prepare her for the race restart on 25 March.

The yard is a hive of activity with keels moving back and forth on low loaders to the machining yard, and teams busy working on each yacht preparing them for the newly drilled keels to be attached. The machining yard is now operating 24 hours a day to make sure that all the keels are ready as soon as possible.

Another boat is due to be launched later this afternoon. Check later to find out which boat will get the second podium spot in the re-launch stakes.