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Sailing Week charts course for boating enthusiasts
By Nie Xin |
August 26, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE ongoing third Qingdao International Sailing Week will continue until September 4 at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. During the 16-day event, many sailing celebrities are expected to attend. They will speak to young sailors, give interviews and participate in a sailing challenge.
The lineup of celebrities includes: Goran Petersson, president of ISAF; Kjell Erik Borking, vice president of the European Sailing Federation; Rochelle Botin, former vice chairman of the European Sailing Federation; and Patrick Lindquist, chairman of the Special Rules Committee of the ISAF.
During the Sailing Celebrities and Future Stars Dialogue, Anders Lewander, former skipper of Ericsson 3 in the Volvo Ocean Race, spoke to more than 300 young sailors, aged from nine to 13, from around the world.
"All boats have something in common. They have a goal, mission and tolerance. Sailing is a combination of learning, enjoying nature and making friends. We all live together in one world," Lewander said. "To be a sailor, you should have two professions - be a sailor doctor and a sail maker."
Zhai Mo, the first Chinese to successfully complete a solo trip around the globe in an unpowered ship, attended the event as a distinguished guest.
As both an artist and navigator, he said the best part of the voyage -- from 2007 to 2009 - was seeing art works from around the world and making new friends.
"Sailing gives me the chance to see more art around the world. I met so many friends," Zhao said.
Last Sunday, he participated in the Celebrity Sailing Challenge on Qingdao Fushan Bay.
The competition invited captains of former race teams in a friendly race to raise awareness of the charms of sailing in Qingdao.
Yin Jian, gold medalist in the women's sailing RX at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, has retired from her athletic career. But she attended Sailing Week to share her professional experience.
"I am so happy and touched that sailing has become more and more popular in China," Yin said.
During the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Yin said there were few Chinese media and spectators at the sailing events.
"But now the situation is so exciting. With more and more big sailing events held in China, the general public and the media pay more attention to this sport," Yin added.
She gave some advice to young sailors.
"To be a professional sailor, you should have a brave heart, which will help you face difficulties in training. It will also help as you must experience failure before succeeding," she said.
Sailing as a sport has developed quickly in China.
However, Pang Hui, former president of Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club, said: "The training of Chinese sailors here is not good or professional enough compared with foreign countries in Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea."
Pang suggested that young sailors start training from the age of nine.
"Providing more opportunities is excellent. We hope that Sailing Week and other similar events can be held more frequently," Pang added.
During Sailing Week, 515 pieces of work on navigation from around the world are on exhibit at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Museum.
They demonstrate the development and evolution of modern sailing in different parts of the world.
The works include 211 posters divided into 14 groups from Kiel Week in Germany, the Brest Maritime Festival in France, the World Match Racing Tour, the Bermuda Race Argo Group Gold Cup Regatta and the Phuket King's Cup Regatta.
Other items include picture albums, souvenirs and photos from other important international sailing events.
Wang Xiulin, vice mayor of Qingdao, said: "It is a distinguished international sailing event blended by sports and culture, passion and dreams, competition and amusement.
"Sailing Week will strengthen the role sailing plays in developing a marine economy, building an international image for the city and creating an exchange platform for international sailing events."
Highlights of the activities
? "Mayor's Cup" Qingdao International Sailing Regatta (Qingdao-Weihai) 2011
Date: August 29-September 4
Venue: Qingdao-Rushan-Weihai
? National Funboard Championship 2011
Date: through September 1
Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
? National Laser, Laser Radial Elite Regatta 2011
Date: through September 1
Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
? "Welcome Aboard" Activities
Date: through August 28
Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center's Xinhai Square
? Remote Control Sailing Friendly Competition
Date: September 3
Venue: Outdoor Plaza of Olympic Sailing Museum
? "Impression, Sailing Capital" Qingdao Sailing Photographic Culture Works Exhibition
Date: through September 4
Venue: Media Center of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
? Beers and Cheers in the Summer Days in the Sailing Capital
Date: through September 4
Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
The lineup of celebrities includes: Goran Petersson, president of ISAF; Kjell Erik Borking, vice president of the European Sailing Federation; Rochelle Botin, former vice chairman of the European Sailing Federation; and Patrick Lindquist, chairman of the Special Rules Committee of the ISAF.
During the Sailing Celebrities and Future Stars Dialogue, Anders Lewander, former skipper of Ericsson 3 in the Volvo Ocean Race, spoke to more than 300 young sailors, aged from nine to 13, from around the world.
"All boats have something in common. They have a goal, mission and tolerance. Sailing is a combination of learning, enjoying nature and making friends. We all live together in one world," Lewander said. "To be a sailor, you should have two professions - be a sailor doctor and a sail maker."
Zhai Mo, the first Chinese to successfully complete a solo trip around the globe in an unpowered ship, attended the event as a distinguished guest.
As both an artist and navigator, he said the best part of the voyage -- from 2007 to 2009 - was seeing art works from around the world and making new friends.
"Sailing gives me the chance to see more art around the world. I met so many friends," Zhao said.
Last Sunday, he participated in the Celebrity Sailing Challenge on Qingdao Fushan Bay.
The competition invited captains of former race teams in a friendly race to raise awareness of the charms of sailing in Qingdao.
Yin Jian, gold medalist in the women's sailing RX at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, has retired from her athletic career. But she attended Sailing Week to share her professional experience.
"I am so happy and touched that sailing has become more and more popular in China," Yin said.
During the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Yin said there were few Chinese media and spectators at the sailing events.
"But now the situation is so exciting. With more and more big sailing events held in China, the general public and the media pay more attention to this sport," Yin added.
She gave some advice to young sailors.
"To be a professional sailor, you should have a brave heart, which will help you face difficulties in training. It will also help as you must experience failure before succeeding," she said.
Sailing as a sport has developed quickly in China.
However, Pang Hui, former president of Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club, said: "The training of Chinese sailors here is not good or professional enough compared with foreign countries in Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea."
Pang suggested that young sailors start training from the age of nine.
"Providing more opportunities is excellent. We hope that Sailing Week and other similar events can be held more frequently," Pang added.
During Sailing Week, 515 pieces of work on navigation from around the world are on exhibit at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Museum.
They demonstrate the development and evolution of modern sailing in different parts of the world.
The works include 211 posters divided into 14 groups from Kiel Week in Germany, the Brest Maritime Festival in France, the World Match Racing Tour, the Bermuda Race Argo Group Gold Cup Regatta and the Phuket King's Cup Regatta.
Other items include picture albums, souvenirs and photos from other important international sailing events.
Wang Xiulin, vice mayor of Qingdao, said: "It is a distinguished international sailing event blended by sports and culture, passion and dreams, competition and amusement.
"Sailing Week will strengthen the role sailing plays in developing a marine economy, building an international image for the city and creating an exchange platform for international sailing events."
Highlights of the activities
? "Mayor's Cup" Qingdao International Sailing Regatta (Qingdao-Weihai) 2011
Date: August 29-September 4
Venue: Qingdao-Rushan-Weihai
? National Funboard Championship 2011
Date: through September 1
Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
? National Laser, Laser Radial Elite Regatta 2011
Date: through September 1
Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
? "Welcome Aboard" Activities
Date: through August 28
Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center's Xinhai Square
? Remote Control Sailing Friendly Competition
Date: September 3
Venue: Outdoor Plaza of Olympic Sailing Museum
? "Impression, Sailing Capital" Qingdao Sailing Photographic Culture Works Exhibition
Date: through September 4
Venue: Media Center of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
? Beers and Cheers in the Summer Days in the Sailing Capital
Date: through September 4
Venue: Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center
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