DOZENS of Hampshire sailors have set on an epic round-the-world adventure after the Clipper Race began this afternoon.
The world’s longest ocean race has started in London today as the 12 teams made their way under Tower Bridge in their yachts.
Twenty five amateur sailors from the county are among the teams, which are skippered by professionals embarking on the 11-month challenge.
The crews have been in training for the start of the race for months and the racing will begin in earnest tomorrow as the teams battle to make it to the first stopping point of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
They will then sail to Albany and Queensland in Australia, Vietnam, China, Seattle and New York in the USA and then back to London next July.
The first leg was officially launched at St Katherine’s Dock today before the start of the 6,000-mile stage to Brazil.
This year’s teams are: Unicef, Derry/Londonderry-Doire, Da Nang, Clippertelemed, Garmin, Great Britain, Ichorcoal, Lmax Exchange, Mission Performance, PSP Logistics, Qingdao and Visit Seattle.
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