A light beacon rising up from the ground, dancers, pyrotechnics and senior dignitaries, including Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister, today welcomed the victorious Clipper 11-12 Gold Coast Australia team to Marina at Keppel Bay, Singapore, this morning.

The Queensland team and the other nine yachts taking part in the world’s longest yacht race made their entrance to the exclusive marina following their victory in Race 7 of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race, their sixth win in the 15-race series.

Dr Lee Boon Yang, Chairman of Keppel Corporation, and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the founder and Chairman of the Clipper Race, ignited the ‘Torch of Passion’, setting in motion the welcome celebrations for the fleet, and guest of honour, Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, presented the Singapore Cup to the winning crew from Gold Coast Australia.  The team is led by Tasmanian yachtsman, Richard Hewson.

The Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race started from Southampton on the south coast of the UK on 31 July 2011. The route will take the crews of the ten, identical 68-foot yachts, each sponsored by a city, state, country or corporation, via Madeira, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Geraldton Western Australia, New Zealand, Gold Coast Australia, Singapore, Qingdao in China, California, Panama, New York, Nova Scotia, Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland and Den Helder in the Netherlands before returning on 22 July 2012 to the south coast of England.

For more information visit: www.clipperroundtheworld.com.