Huge finale to be held at London's Royal Docks to celebrate Clipper Race finish

Trophy and Clipper Race fleet © Clipper Race

A huge celebration is in store for Race Finish at London's historic Royal Docks on Saturday 30 July in honour of the teams competing in the Clipper 2019-20 Race.

The teams will motor up the River Thames on 30 July, performing a Parade of Sail along the river. The parade will continue into Royal Docks, before the teams are reunited with friends, family and Race Crew from earlier legs on the 2019-20 edition.

To celebrate the grand finale of the Race Crew's epic journey there will be a buzzing programme of live music, food and entertainment from 12pm until late. Kicking off the event, will be Miss DJ Candy, North London based indie pop artist Natalie Shay and international saxophonist, songwriter, and composer Tyler Rix with his band.

The music on stage will take a pause as the fleet arrives in the Royal Docks from 1400. Once the teams are back on shore, the highly anticipated Race Finish Prizegiving will follow at 1600, where the winning team of the Clipper 2019-20 Race will be crowned.

Then the celebrations will get under way with an after party, featuring live music on the main stage by singer song-writer Rita Campbell and multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Alle Pearse who make up PARC, one of London's funkiest and busiest showbands. Groove Empire and the incredible award-winning Abba tribute act ARRIVAL are on next and rounding off the evening, the amazing Brit and Ivor Novello award-winning singer, songwriter, producer Betty Boo will take to the stage between 2000-2100.

Aside from the live music and partying, there will be plenty of fun for all the family, and opportunities to find out more about the Clipper Race. At the Clipper Race Dome, open 1100 until 1700, you can meet some of the team and find out more about taking on the world's biggest ocean adventure. There's also a chance to test your knot tying skills at one of the Marlow Ropes stations and view footage of the teams at sea on the interactive Dell big screen.

Throughout the day with roving performances from the hilarious Comedy Sailors, Roller Skating Crews and The Silver Darlings, a 6-piece, all-female shanty crew singing sea shanties. There will also be a selection of delicious street food for all to enjoy and a bar, managed by the Old Street Brewery offering a selection of craft beers, ales and more. For those wanting to get creative, there will also be workshops, face painting and craft activities focussing on the theme of sustainability, put on by Emergency Exit Arts.

Key Timings for Clipper Race Finish - 30 July:

• 0900 - 1245 - Clipper Race yachts parade from finish line at Southend to London's Royal Docks
• 1200 Public Race Village opens
• 1245 Clipper Race fleet at Royal Docks entrance
• 1300 Clipper Race yachts enter lock
• 1400 Clipper Race yachts exit lock and enter Royal Albert Dock
• 1415 Parade of Sail in Royal Albert Dock
• 1500 Yachts berth alongside
• 1530 Race Crew from previous legs muster at holding area to join their teams on stage
• 1535 Race Crew to parade to stage
• 1545 Prizegiving - All teams on stage for celebrations and photos
• 1630 Public Festival and Crew Party
• 2045 Last orders bar and food
• 2100 Event Close

The Royal Docks Finale Celebration has been organised by the Royal Docks Team in partnership with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The event is part of the Royal Docks summer season 2022.

Full information can be found here.