By Xie Chuanjiao(China Daily)

QINGDAO: After two days of competition at the 2006 Qingdao International Regatta, International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Vice-President David Kellett praised the pre-Olympic preparatory efforts by the city, after working closely with the local organizing committee.

"The sailing centre is excellent! The venue, converted from a dockyard is impressive," David Kellett, ISAF Vice-President, told China Daily yesterday, "It is a credit to China and Qindgao that they have achieved their targets. Never before has an Olympic Organizing Committee been so far advanced in preparing the venue, and we can already see that this will be a magnificent facility."

With an impressive 3.28 billion yuan (US$410 million) input, built from scratch over the last two years, the sailing centre, sparkling with the best equipment money can buy, can berth up to 800 yachts, with new luxury apartment high rises surrounding the centre. Only the Olympic village is yet to be completed and is expected to be finished by next August.

In commenting on the first two days` operations, David said: "Everything is running smoothly. The idea of the test events is to give the organizing team time to practice. There have been a few minor problems but they dealt with them immediately."

He also added with satisfaction, "Volunteers are very helpful. Everyone is very supportive. It will be a friendly Games."

According to David, over the past several years, ISAF has worked with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and Qingdao Sailing Committee to ensure all the facilities exactly meet the standards for the 29th Olympics.

As an inexperienced nation in hosting regattas, China lacked the experts and professionals to aid them in organizing sailing events, and ISAF has provided a number of people involved in education programmes to train more officials.

A new format for the Olympic sailing competition adopted by the ISAF last year is being used at the regatta and features a medal race, providing a climax to each of the 11 events.

"We are testing this event for the first time," David said.

And two new boat types have also been introduced for the first time during the competition.

"Everyone will get used to the new equipment. The one with laser radial for women allows many more countries to participate, because the laser is a very popular class. It is fair because everyone starts together," the official said.

Responding to some sailors` criticism that winds are fluky and currents are tricky in Qingdao, David said, "That is part of the challenge. Climate and water conditions are always different, whether in Sydney, Athens or Barcelona."

"It just depends on how good you sail."

Yachting economy soars

By Ju Chuanjiang(China Daily)

QINGDAO: The Clipper 05-06 - The Round-the-world Yacht Race arrived in Qingdao in April, the National Yachting and Sailing Championships followed in July, and now the 2006 International Regatta is underway in the coastal city.

A host of major sailing and yachting events spice up the beautiful city and help boost the emergence of yachts and sail boats and the related economy.

The number of yachts and sail boats in the city is a symbol of how well a coastal city`s economy has been developed by embracing remarkable commercial opportunities.

Thanks to the successful bid to host the 2008 Olympics regatta events, the sport-related industry has been taking giant strides.

Qingdao has joined Dalian, Rizhao, Suzhou, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beihai in setting up sailing clubs, while Qingdao along with Shenzhen and Guangzhou have become production centres for sail boats and yachts.

Production, dissemination of basic knowledge, yachting consumption, the construction of yachting clubs and promotion of the sport are all making rapid progress.

One of the highlights is a successful bid from a Qingdao-based company to provide sailing boats for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The catamaran, named "Son Of Dragon" is produced by the local-and-South Korean joint venture company Tsingdao Leehang Enterprise Ltd and lives up to top international standards.

The company`s products include a jet propulsion outboard engine, a pressure boat, working boat, rigid inflatable catamarans and other recreational and sporting watercraft, among which the company owns 11 worldwide patents.

Also appointed the boat manufacturer for the Olympics, the company will offer 200 boats and yachts for referees, technicians, arbitrators and security staff.

A sailing vessel will also be produced to meet the demands of the Games.

The company is just one of 20 yacht builders in Qingdao. With the market getting bigger, companies from Japan, South Korea, Australia and Europe have turned their attention to the booming city and started to produce a series of yachts and boats from the area.

Managers from clubs attribute the rising market to increasing attention and interest from people worldwide.

"As more people become involved in the sport, we have made more of an effort to set up platforms for enthusiasts to exchange their ideas and interests in the sector. The club has set up a yacht training school," said Guan Jun, assistant chief manager of Qingdao Yinhai International Yacht Club, the first yacht club in Qingdao.

So far, 105 people have graduated from the training centre and now hold their yachting license.

In 2006, Qingdao also signed some big deals to expand the yachting industry.

Local sailors go backwards in weak winds and dense fog

By Xie Chuanjiao(China Daily)

QINGDAO: French sailors took a commanding lead in three of the eight events after a foggy second racing day at the 2006 Qingdao International Regatta.

Weak winds also meant that the fourth rounds of all classes were cancelled.

After a strong opening day local sailors struggled yesterday, with most of them dropping out of the top ten.

After a total of three rounds of competition, French sailors are leading in three classes, with Emmanuel Dyen and Yann Rocherieux heading up 49er, Sarah Steyaert Laser Radial and Xavier Revil and Christophe Espagnon Tornado class.

Also representing France, Ingrid Petitjean and Nadege Douroux stand second in 470 Women.

"The wind is light and changing a lot, but it is fine. The water here was tricky to start with but I am becoming more familiar with it," said Steyaert.

Sailors from Britain, Greece, the Netherlands, Japan, Poland and Italy share the leading positions in the six other events.

Britons Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield ranked first in 470 Men while Greece`s Evagelos Chemonas led in Laser. The Dutch trio of Mandy Mulder, Brechtje van Derwerf and Janneke Hin were the leaders in Yngling while Japanese pair Yuka Yoshisako and Noriko Okum were the only Asian leaders, topping the 470 Women.

Polish windsurfer Lukasz Grodzicki was the leader in RS:X Men, while Italy lead the eight-team Star Class competition.

Chinese sailors were influenced by the overcast climate yesterday morning and could not continue Monday`s good form.

Chinese team had two top rankings on Monday, but now only the Yngling crew remains in the top three, with Song Xiaqun, Li Xiaoni and Zheng Chuanshuang placed second behind the Netherlands.

In 470 Men, Zhen Feng and Fu Zhiqiang dropped to 10th place, while starlet Xu Lijia suffered a seven-place drop to 14th in Laser Radial. Although she managed to come back slightly after an under-par performance in the opening race, she could not find her best form in the third round yesterday.

"My technique was not good enough and I made mistakes," said the Shanghai sailor. "Competing in weak wind doesn`t suit my style."

Since arriving in Qingdao last week, the 19-year-old World Champion has been the centre of attention.

"Xu sailed very well. I think she is under lots of pressure because she is competing in China. That is very difficult," said Steyaert, who placed sixth in the recent World Championships in Los Angeles which Xu won.

In Tornado, China`s Chen Xiuke and Luo Youjia currently rank 15th, but team leader Xin Lei remains upbeat, saying it is still a good result considering the two athletes had less than two-month training in the class.

"They are faster than three pairs and that is very encouraging. Many other athletes in this class have been doing this for more than 10 years already," he told China Daily.

Win or lose, most Chinese athletes said the regatta was above a chance to learn from the world`s best.

"I`ve learned so much in the last two days. We are making big progress, and learning from our competitors," said Wan Xiangjin, Chinese sailor in 49er.

Eight events will be held today: RS:X, 49er, Laser, Laser Radical, 470 Men, Tornado, Finn and Star.

Qingdao sailing towards international city status

By Lao Ju(China Daily)¡¡

QINGDAO: With the 2006 International Regatta in full swing in Qingdao and regatta events at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games edging closer, slogans saying "Meet in 2008, Set Sail From Qingdao" and "New Olympics, Great Qingdao" are flying high at home and abroad.

"To host Olympic regatta events is a big challenge for the city, but it is an opportunity for the city to step outside China and develop into an international city," said Xia Geng, mayor of Qingdao.

"Three years ago, there was just a big dockyard. The dockyard has now been transformed into a top level sailing centre."

In a bid to build the International Sailing Centre, officials and experts visited over ten countries to learn about the sport`s development, sailing facilities and other infrastructure.

"During the centre`s construction, renovations were made in Qingdao`s transportation system, environment and urban construction," Xia added.

Meanwhile, promotion of the city as a brand has been launched around the world. Since 2005, Qingdao has carried out six promotions in relation to brand merchandising and tourism in neighbouring countries Japan and South Korea.

Through photographic exhibitions, videos of the city and press conferences, the city`s popularity is increasing, leading to a large number of tourists, sailors and enthusiasts from Japan and South Korea paying a visit to Qingdao.

During October 22 to November 14 last year, promotions on the Olympics regatta and the city`s presence were launched in Europe and US.

The city left the impression of being a beautiful seaside area and favourable investment environment in Paris, Amsterdam, German`s Mannheim and Stuttgart, New York and Miami.

Consistent promotional efforts have paid off.

More overseas tourists and investors are choosing Qingdao as their destination. More than 1.5 million foreigners visit Qingdao each year, while passenger flow at Qingdao International Airport increases 30 per cent annually.