The 2025–26 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is heading for Qingdao after the fleet left Subic Bay in the Philippines on Feb 24, en route to the coastal city in East China's Shandong province.

The 2025–26 Clipper Race fleet departs Subic Bay for Qingdao on Feb 24. [Photo/Guanhai News]

The current leg is the seventh of the global route and covers about 1,630 nautical miles (3,019 kilometers) of challenging waters. After a preliminary start on Feb 22, the 10-yacht fleet officially crossed the start line on Feb 24. The teams are expected to navigate the demanding route over the next 10 days, with an expected arrival in Qingdao from March 4–6.

The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center will be the finish line, where a welcome ceremony and cultural events are planned to celebrate the fleet's arrival. As a long-time partner of the Clipper Race, Qingdao has become a regular stop on the global route. This year marks the city's 10th straight time to host the event, reinforcing its reputation as "China's Sailing City" and one of the most anticipated spots on the global route.