Sir Robin Knox Johnston, 75, and Dame Ellen McArthur will welcome home the 12 yachts of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race, this Saturday, from the Thames Barrier to St Katharine Docks.

670 crew from over 40 different nations have participated in the 40,000 mile Clipper Round The World Yacht Race since it departed London on 1 September 2013. 396 are from the UK, and 86 specifically from London. 40% of crew had never sailed when they first signed up for the challenge.

Teams have triumphed some of Mother Nature’s toughest tests, including; giant waves, hurricane force winds and tornadoes; coast guard assisted medical evacuations; and the terrifying, miraculous rescue of a man overboard who was lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for 90 minutes.

The Clipper Race has taken on some of the planets toughest, most remote waters in its route across six continents via Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Australia, Singapore, Qingdao – China, San Francisco, Panama, Jamaica, New York, and Derry Londonderry. The final part of the race departs Den Helder for London.
 
For those who want to join in the festivities, the schedule is as follows:

10:00 – Clipper Race fleet parade starts at Thames Barrier
12:00 – Fleet reaches O2 Arena
12:30 – Fleet reaches Canary Wharf Pier
12:45 – Tower Bridge will lift for the top three winning teams as the remaining teams parade in front of the Race Village at St Katharine Docks.
12:45 – 13:00 – Teams dock in St Katharine Docks.
14.00 – 16.00 – Final Prizegiving Ceremony at St Katharine Docks.