Clipper Race CEO, William Ward OBE, has visited Ha Long City to meet with the senior members of the Quang Ninh People’s Committee and its Tourism Department with the partnership agreed at a ceremony held in the city.
This will be the first time the Clipper Race has had a team entry from Ha Long Bay and the global sailing event will be making its debut visit in 2022.
“From September, when our race begins, The Ha Long Bay, Vietnam team will fly the flag of this beautiful Vietnamese destination as they race around the world. And crew in the Clipper 2021-22 Edition will visit this stunning UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site to discover the bay’s iconic islands,” said Ward.
According to vice-chairperson of Quang Ninh People’s Committee Vu Thi Thu Thuy, the race will be a special opportunity for Quang Ninh to promote, on a global stage, the World Natural Heritage and Wonder Ha Long Bay with hundreds of beautiful landscapes, cultural and historical relics as well as the friendly local residents.
Recognised twice as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO, Ha Long Bay is a stunning destination and, unsurprisingly, northern Vietnam’s number one-tourism hub. Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. These are what attract millions of tourists every year to take to the water and discover the region by taking overnight boat trips.
On its partnership with the Clipper Race, Pham Ngoc Thuy, director of Quang Ninh Tourism Department said, “It is an honour for Quang Ninh province to be a Team Partner for the 2019-20 Edition and then both Team and Host Port Partner for 2021-22 Edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
“This is a special opportunity for Quang Ninh province to promote, on a global stage, our destination of Ha Long Bay – the World Natural Heritage and Wonder with hundreds of beautiful landscapes, cultural and historical relics as well as friendly people.”
For the upcoming edition, the Ha Long Bay, Vietnam team will be skippered by 31 year old British skipper, Josh Stickland.
Fifteen nationalities will be represented on the Ha Long Bay, Vietnam team with crew ranging from 27 to 73 years old. There will be eight circumnavigators onboard, taking part in the full 40,000 nautical mile adventure.
