Organisers of the ongoing Clipper Round the World Yacht Race have been forced to change the route to avoid China ©Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Organisers of the ongoing Clipper Round the World Yacht Race have been forced to change the route to avoid China, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The event was scheduled to return to Qingdao for an eighth consecutive stopover, during leg six of the 2019-2020 edition.

But the Clipper Race and Qingdao Organising Committee have jointly confirmed that the stopover has been cancelled.

"Since the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Clipper Race and Qingdao Organising Committee have been working together to monitor the situation as it has developed," a statement from the Clipper Race reads.

"With the outbreak continuing to develop across the globe, the situation remains complex.

"For the safety of the Clipper Race crew, supporters, staff and all related parties, after extensive discussion and careful evaluation, the Clipper Race and Qingdao Organising Committee jointly confirmed that the upcoming Qingdao stopover has been cancelled and the race will not stop in Qingdao this edition.

"The health and safety of the Clipper Race crew, supporters, race partners and staff remains paramount, and in light of the ongoing health concerns, the longstanding race partner, is in agreement that though difficult, this is the best course of action."

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race officials have had to take into consideration the outbreaks of COVID-19 in Japan and South Korea ©Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race officials have had to take into consideration the outbreaks of COVID-19 in Japan and South Korea ©Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The race route has been amended to take into account the decision. 

The race office has had to take into consideration the outbreaks of COVID-19, the official title given to coronavirus by the World Health Organization, in Japan and South Korea.

Due to the limited options of alternative ports in Asia at this time, the decision has been made to make Subic Bay in the Philippines the leg six departure port for races nine and 10.

The Clipper Race fleet is due to depart Subic Bay Yacht Club tomorrow and head out for a day of refresher training for the benefit of all new and re-joining crew. 

"Once the teams have further honed their practical skills and carried out various sailing evolutions, including full MOB (Man Over Board) training drills, they will rendezvous in an area approximately 6nm (nautical miles) outside of Subic Bay to the south west at 1530 LT," the statement adds.

"At 1700 LT, race nine will begin with a Le Mans start directed by the nominated lead skipper (Rich Gould on WTC Logistics). 

"The forecast is for light to moderate north westerly breeze at the start so the fleet should get away well."

The race nine arrival window back into Subic Bay is scheduled to be Saturday and Sunday (March 14 and 15).

Race 10 is then set to depart Subic Bay for the North Pacific Ocean on March 21 and the arrival window into Seattle remains - at the moment - unaffected and stands as April 19 to 24.