AfiThft-PftffTh Thff BffiftflThffl ̊ J/A ̊fifl 137FOR THE FIRST TIME in its 20-year history, the world-famous
Clipper Round The World Race arrived in the Vietnamese port of Da
Nang on February 17.
Sailing and racing around the world for 11 months, the 12 identical
70-foot yachts completed a four-week journey from Australia to
Vietnam. The next stop was Qingdao in China, before heading
eastwards to Seattle and beyond.
Founder and sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston compares this
marathon event to climbing Mount Everest. It’s the pinnacle of sailing
adventures and the longest yacht race in the world. The crews are mostly
novices and the Skippers are the only professional sailors onboard.
During the 10-day stopover in Vietnam, an evening Parade of
Sail was witnessed by thousands of Da Nang residents who lined the
foreshores of the Han River.
The coastline of Vietnam boasts many spectacular islands, bays and
beaches. The sailing and superyacht communities in Southeast Asia and
VIETNAM HOSTS HISTORIC CLIPPER RACE 2016
40,000 NAUTICAL MILES / 690 SAILORS / 12 TEAMS / 44 NATIONS / 6 CONTINENTS
Text & Photos by Barry J Atkinson ASTW
around the world are eager to include Vietnam in future stopovers.
From Halong Bay to Danang, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc
and more, the doors are slowing opening to this multi-million dollar
commercial and recreational industry. Da Nang City has been the first in
Vietnam to embrace this iconic international sporting and media event.
The significance of the Clipper Race 2016 stop-over means that Vietnam
is now on the global sailing map of destinations to visit, and certainly Da
Nang City provided the necessary infrastructure to make it happen.
On Saturday February 27 the fleet set sail for the next leg of the
marathon adventure. They slipped lines at 1100hrs and motor-sailed
to the race start line (1615hrs), a kilometre offshore from the Vinpearl
Resort & Villas.
Such was the outstanding success of the Da Nang Vietnam stopover,
organisers are hopeful that a repeat performance will take place when
the next race starts again from London in 2017-18.
The sport of sailing and the related industries of boat building,
luxury boat charters and marinas are well established in the region. In
nearby Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong and
Taiwan, this lucrative and competitive commercial sector is booming.
Now it’s Vietnam’s turn. As the affluence of the ‘middle-class’ rises,
so does the interest in importing luxury motorboats and brand-name
sailing vessels. Currently on the Saigon River, small berthing facilities
are being developed with international brands starting to appear.
In Nha Trang two major developments are underway. The ONE ̊15
Marina in Singapore and Vung Ro Petroleum have entered into a MOU
to develop a marina resort in Vung Vo Bay.
The locally based Focus Investment Group has built a 300m
breakwater along Pham Van Dong, Vinh Hoa ward Nha Trang. The Ana
Marina development has been approved for 300 berths.
http://www.clipperoundtheworld.com