Sanya, located in the south of China on Hainan Island, is making its debut as a host port and team partner for the 2017-18 and 2019-20 editions of the Clipper Race which started from the Mersey

At the weekend 12 sailing vessels set off from the Mersey for the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race.

Among those seeing them off was a very special guest who had travelled thousands of miles.

Mr BAO Jian, the vice-mayor of the Chinese city of Sanya was at Liverpool’s Albert Dock to officially name the Sanya yacht before it embarked on its 11-month voyage with all the other yachts to visit 12 global destinations on six continents.

It is the fourth time the race has started and finished in Liverpool, making it the event’s most frequented start and finish destination.

The city of Sanya, located in the south of China on Hainan Island, is making its debut as a host port and team partner for the 2017-18 and 2019-20 editions of the Clipper Race.

The Sanya-branded yacht, which includes a carefully selected Sanya crew, will represent the city and China on the race route around the world.

The race provides the city with an influential business platform to build its reputation as an international sailing destination and further enhance the city’s long-term development strategy of combining sports and tourism.