Countdown to arrival of Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet in the Whitsundays

It is now just 50 days to go until the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race arrives in the Whitsundays for a well-earned break as the participants hit the halfway point of their epic voyage.

When the 11 specialist racing yachts sail into Airlie Beach in mid-January they will have just completed three mammoth races in the All-Australian Leg 4 of the race, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The crews - who are currently heading towards Western Australia and are expected to start arriving in Fremantle today (Friday November 24) - are looking forward to kicking back and enjoying some warm Whitsundays hospitality.

In honour of their arrival and to keep them entertained while here, the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival will take place from January 13 to 29, 2018.

A raft of events has been planned right across the region including a White on Whitehaven Long Lunch, a Progressive Cruise Lunch, a Rodeo by the Reef and a free Clipper Race Welcome Party.

Organisers - who include Tourism Whitsundays, Whitsunday Regional Council and Abell Point Marina, with the backing of Tourism and Events Queensland - are hoping the whole Whitsundays community will come out to welcome the fleet and take advantage of the great event's program. The Australian Government has also contributed funding to the event.

“The Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival will be one of the biggest fortnight’s entertainment the region has ever seen,” Tourism Whitsundays CEO Craig Turner said.

“There is an event to suit everyone and we would urge people to book their tickets soon to avoid disappointment.

“Let’s give the Clipper Race crews, their families and supporters a really warm Whitsundays welcome and celebrate this unique race, where anyone, even if they have never stepped on a boat before, can join in the adventure.”

The Clipper Race fleet is expected to start arriving in Fremantle on Friday, November 24, having just completed the Southern Ocean Leg 3, which saw the teams depart Cape Town, South Africa, and take on the challenging Southern Ocean and ‘Roaring Forties’ in the race towards Western Australia.

After a break in Fremantle, the Clipper Race fleet will commence the All-Australian Leg 4 of the race, sailing first from Fremantle to Sydney, then joining the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day, and then, following a break in Hobart, sailing up the East Coast of Australia to the Whitsundays.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only race of its kind and matches experienced skippers with novice sailors, who can take part in just one leg or every leg of the race, which starts and ends in Liverpool in the UK and takes in Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, China, the USA and Northern Ireland.

Thanks goes to the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival event sponsors Fish D’Vine (White on Whitehaven Long Lunch) and Bendigo Bank (Clipper Race Welcome Party) and the event supporters, including Paradise Outdoor, News Corp, Cruise Whitsundays, Angel Signs, Graphic House and the Boating Industry Association.

For more information and to book tickets please visit www.whitsundayclipperrace.com.au.

Tourism and Events Queensland is proud to support the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival, which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, showcasing Australia’s best live events in Australia’s best destinations.

#lovewhitsundays     #clipperracecarnival     #queensland     #australia