Christmas in Australia will be a new experience for crews from the Northern Hemisphere. Instead of trudging through snow and icy wind to walk off the excesses of a Christmas dinner, they could be testing the warm surf after a barbeque on the beach. The first part of the leg will see some of the highest deck temperatures of the race - often reaching 40 degrees centigrade on deck and through seas that have a reputation for pirates! Ironically, as they leave Singapore, they will see temperatures plummet and by the time they reach China it will be late winter with snow and sub zero temperatures. The transition will be both physically and mentally draining. Light relief will be available as they cross the equator for the second time but those who missed the first crossing will have to answer to Neptune for their sins; a fine tradition on the clipper racing boats that largely appeals to those with a dubious sense of humour!!
There are potentially two pit stops on his leg. The first, in Indonesia is still being finalised whilst the second will be at Singapore and will be a real treat for the crews - and not just because of the opportunity to try a Singapore Sling in the Raffles Hotel. Singapore is an island of some 700 sq km and is surrounded by 63 surrounding islets. Although it is one of the 20 smallest countries in the world only Monaco is more densely populated. For the tourists, there is an incredible array of attractions from nature reserves, museums and art galleries to beaches and shopping.
Singapore's real claim to fame is the way it has become a major centre for commerce and industry with a growing manufacturing base. It is a major transportation hub for Asia and boasts the busiest port in the world with over 600 shipping lines sending their super tankers here.
Also vulnerable to rising seas the big engineering project in Singapore has been the Marine Barrage currently under construction ($226million) to create freshwater reservoir from the Marina Basin, Kallang Basin and Singapore River. It will provide flood control and provide fresh water supply for many years to come.
Qingdao is also a major manufacturing centre undergoing something of a rapid growth period with some strategic twinning in Europe including Southampton. It is surrounded on 3 sides by the sea making it a very attractive tourist destination with great beaches and, for this part of Asia, a fairly unique blend of architecture heavily influenced both by Japan and especially Germany following their occupation in the second world war.
Oh yes, and it is home to the famous Tsingtao beer!
Benchmark data for the 07-08 race shows them leaving Fremantle on 1 January to arrive in Singapore around 19 January. Race 6 to Qingdao is scheduled to leave Singapore on 27 January with an anticipated arrival around 13-15 February. With an extra stopover in Indonesia, I would expect the 09-10 fleet to arrive around 19-22 February.
Christmas in Australia will be a new experience for crews from the Northern Hemisphere. Instead of trudging through snow and icy wind to walk off the excesses of a Christmas dinner, they could be testing the warm surf after a barbeque on the beach. The first part of the leg will see some of the highest deck temperatures of the race - often reaching 40 degrees centigrade on deck and through seas that have a reputation for pirates! Ironically, as they leave Singapore, they will see temperatures plummet and by the time they reach China it will be late winter with snow and sub zero temperatures. The transition will be both physically and mentally draining. Light relief will be available as they cross the equator for the second time but those who missed the first crossing will have to answer to Neptune for their sins; a fine tradition on the clipper racing boats that largely appeals to those with a dubious sense of humour!!
There are potentially two pit stops on his leg. The first, in Indonesia is still being finalised whilst the second will be at Singapore and will be a real treat for the crews - and not just because of the opportunity to try a Singapore Sling in the Raffles Hotel. Singapore is an island of some 700 sq km and is surrounded by 63 surrounding islets. Although it is one of the 20 smallest countries in the world only Monaco is more densely populated. For the tourists, there is an incredible array of attractions from nature reserves, museums and art galleries to beaches and shopping. 
Qingdao is also a major manufacturing centre undergoing something of a rapid growth period with some strategic twinning in Europe including Southampton. It is surrounded on 3 sides by the sea making it a very attractive tourist destination with great beaches and, for this part of Asia, a fairly unique blend of architecture heavily influenced both by Japan and especially Germany following their occupation in the second world war.