News Conference on Qingdao Stopover of Clipper Race Held at Beijing 2010-02-04 The organizing committee for the Qingdao stopover of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yachts Race held a press conference at Beijing. Vice mayor of Qingdao and vice director of the Organizing Committee for the Qingdao stopover of the Clipper Round the World Yachts Race Wang Xiulin said all the preparation work for the race was almost done. The vice director of CPPCC science, education, health and sports committee and vice president of Beijing Olympic Cities Development Promotion Association Jiang Xiaoyu, as well as the vice director of The State Sports General Administration Water Sports Management Center Liu Gang attended the press conference.  Clipper offers the opportunity of competing in a round the world yacht race to non-professional sailors. It is held every two years. Qingdao has successfully held the Clipper races in 05-06 and 07-08. This being the third time this race comes to Qingdao, it is expected that the yachts fleet would berth at the central dwarf of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center from February 20 to March 2, 2010. Wang Xiulin said at the press conference that the Qingdao stopover of Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yachts Race would be co-sponsored by Qingdao Municipal Government and UK Clipper Ventures Investment Co., organized by the Qingdao Sailing Sports Association, QCCI. It is an important measure of Qingdao municipal government after the Beijing Olympic Games Sailing Regatta, Volvo Ocean Race and Qingdao International Sailing Week to forge "the City of Sailing". The fleet of Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yachts Race left England in September 2009, and the fleet is expected to reach Qingdao around February 20, 2010, and depart Qingdao for San Francisco, USA around March 2, 2010. After the fleet departs Qingdao, "Qingdao" galleon will be renamed to "Qingdao ? Inzone Coast" to continue its race. During the boarding of the fleet in Qingdao, the organizing committee will hold the "Qingdao ? Sina.com Welcomes You" Welcome Ceremony for the  Qingdao Stopover of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yachts Race, "the Night of Inzone Coast" Singapore to Qingdao leg awarding ceremony and the "Inzone Coast ? New Voyage" Launch Ceremony to the Qingdao Stopover of the  Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yachts Race, as well as diversified activities such as the "China Telecom Surfing Cup" Spring Festival - Cultural New Year's event, the "China Telecom Colorful ring" Children Happy Valley, "China Telecom My e Home" outdoor sports meeting and family fun games and "China Telecom Business Navigation".  Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yachts Race has 7 legs with 10 participating yachts. At more than 35,000 miles the Clipper 09-10 Race will be one of the longest ocean races ever. It will berth at 13 harbor cities. Because the Cork yacht struck a submerged reef and subsequently abandoned the race, from the Singapore to Qingdao leg on, 9 yachts will compete in the remaining race.