The Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race officially restarted on March 24 after a two-year wait. The Qingdao branded yacht, which has represented the eastern coastal city of Qingdao in East China on the race route around the world, has made a strong comeback, ranking first in the total points in the first half of this season.

The Qingdao branded yacht sails during the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race. [Photo/Guanhai News]

"We're all looking forward to the Race 10 trip across the North Pacific. We've all worked so hard to get back to the tournament, and we can't wait to get going again," said Chris Brooks, captain of the Qingdao yacht, in an interview before the race.

According to the captain, one of the biggest challenges of the tournament is playing against 10 other Clipper teams. On top of that, they will also face difficult weather conditions and high winds and waves.

Crew of the Qingdao yacht [Photo/Guanhai News]

"It feels great to be back in the race. Everybody gets back together and takes their places. It has been an honor to be captain of Qingdao and it is great to lead such an outstanding fleet," Brooks said.

Qingdao first sponsored the Clipper Race in 2005, and used the event as an important opportunity to build its credentials to host the Beijing 2008 Olympic sailing events and cultivate itself as a leading city for hosting international sailing events in China and Asia.