Nationwide youth sailing aces brave the wind in Zhanjiang

The 2018 National OP Sailing Championship, known as the most prestigious youth sailing competition in China, concluded in Jinsha Bay, Zhanjiang on Sept 20.

About 150 athletes from Guangdong, Shandong, Shanxi, and Fujian provinces, as well as Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, competed under the amateur and professional categories during the five-day event.

The southern coastal city of Zhanjiang has a long history of water sports. It has nurtured a great number of divers, sailors, and swimmers that have had a strong presence in international competitions.

This is the first time that Zhanjiang has hosted a state-level sailing competition. Zhang Xiaodong, deputy director of the Water Sport Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, returned to her hometown to attend the event.

The event is sponsored by the Chinese Yachting Association and Zhanjiang Municipal People's Government, and is aimed at promoting sailing in the city and bolstering Zhanjiang as a coastal sports & leisure tourism destination.

In January 2019, the association will invite teams from all over the world to attend the international yachting winter camp held in Zhanjiang.