QINGDAO, East China, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The first yacht of the 2011-2012 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is expected to arrive in Qingdao on Thursday for a 10-day stopover.

　　The fleet, consisted of 10 yachts, departed Singapore on February 4 and the yachts named De Lage Landen of the Netherlands and Geraldton Western Australia would probably be the first two to arrive in Qingdao, a coastal city of east China's Shandong Province, said Lin Zhiwei, head of the Qingdao Sports Association on Monday.

　　Qingdao is the terminal point of the fifth leg in the race's overall 15 stopovers of eight legs. The fleet is scheduled to leave for California on March 4.

　　While being in Qingdao, sailors of the Cilpper race will be invited to make dumplings in local citizens' homes and enjoy traditional Chinese folk performances, Lin said.

　　Local sailing fans will also be invited to have a tour on the Clipper yachts and communicate with visiting sailors on sailing experiences, Lin told the press.

　　The Clipper 2011-2012 Round the World Race will last for a year, covering 40,000 nautical miles. Departing from Southampton of Britain on July 31 last year, the yachts are expected to return to Britain on July 22 this year.

　　The Clipper race, held every two years, is the largest amateur yacht race in the world and most of its crews are non-professionals.

　　This is the fourth time that the Clipper race visits Qingdao, the sailing venue of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Clipper will come to Qingdao in the coming two seasons as well.