For the first time, London will play a host to the start of this year’s Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, kicking off this Sunday. A fleet of twelve 70ft racing yachts will leave London’s St Katherine docks and take part in an amazing procession down the River Thames before starting the grueling 11-month race.
Yachts are gathering at London's Tower Bridge ahead of the world's longest yacht race
Following on from the success of last summer’s Royal River Pageant and the London Olympics, when the capital became temporary home to some of the world’s largest superyachts, the UK continues to establish itself as a major destination for maritime events.
Mark Upton, at London based superyacht advisory service MGMT Yacht says ‘the yachting industry recognises that the UK has the experience and knowledge required to oversee major maritime events. London is one of the world’s great and iconic cities and the River Thames provides a fantastic backdrop for yachting events such as the Clipper Race.
The competition’s sailors are mostly novices, although each yacht has a professional. Once the flotilla departs from the Tower of London it will take in Brazil, South Africa, Australia, China, the US and Jamaica, before ending back in London in July 2014.
