More than 50 professional sailors from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative gathered in Nansha Marina on July 28 for the start of the Guangzhou Nansha International Sailing Regatta.

Under the theme of "Sailing from Nansha, Renewing the Maritime Silk Road", the three-day sailing regatta is a warm-up event for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 Guangzhou Stopover due to be held in the city next January.

The Guangzhou Nansha International Sailing Regatta gets underway at Nansha Marina on July 28, running until July 30. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 is one of the world's top three major sailing events. All participating teams set off from Alicante, Spain in October last year to travel 45,000 nautical miles in nine months with Guangzhou being one of 12 stopovers.  

More than 10 performances and activities, including a teenager OP sailing show and a sailing cultural corridor were held during the regatta.

Timothy Tsun-Ting Fok, president of Fok Ying Tung Group and member of the International Olympic Committee, expressed his excitement at the international event.

"I wish this event can be a platform not only for sailors from different countries to compete and communicate, but also to deepen the bond among people from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and promote sailing sports," Timothy said.

Peter Ansell, operation director of the Volvo Ocean Race, said, "I am looking forward to the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 Guangzhou Stopover and I hope more people can pay close attention to the event which features human challenging the nature."

Eric Fok, vice president of Fok Ying Tung Group, honorary president of the Guangdong Yacht Industry Association and president of Nansha Marina, said, "We wish to introduce more international competition events to Guangzhou and next year we plan to use these events to promote the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and increase Nansha's global exposure."

Eric Fok, vice president of Fok Ying Tung Group, honorary president of the Guangdong Yacht Industry Association and president of Nansha Marina, gives an interview. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2017 Guangzhou Nansha International Sailing Regatta is an important platform to spread sailing culture as well as an important window to display Nansha as a coastal hub and new name card of Guangzhou, said a spokesperson of Nansha district.

In the future, Nansha will strive to boost its water sports industry, foster its recreational tourism and integrate them with cruise tourism to make itself a more popular international costal hub.

More than 10 performances and activities, including a teenager OP sailing show are held during the Guangzhou Nansha International Sailing Regatta. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]