Extreme Sailing Series Helps Qingdao Grab World Attention

A sailor making preparations at the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series in Qingdao, which runs from Apr 28 to May 1, 2017.[File Photo: sports.sohu.com]

The Extreme Sailing Series is one of the premier events of its kind. This year, it's taken the city of Qingdao by storm.

40 sailors from nine countries have gathered in Qingdao, attracting tens of thousands of local citizens to the Olympic Sailing Center in May.

Shen Ting has more.

There are some serious competitors among the participants at the Qingdao leg of the Extreme Sailing Series. The field boasts Olympic champions, as well as World Championship and America's Cup winners. This year, the Swiss sailing team Alinghi took the honours in Qingdao.

The Land Rover BAR Academy Team won second place in the team category.

Rob Bunce is leader of this sailors' team from the U.K.

"We just came in with a really open mind to be patient in the light winds and then take our time with it and then as the breeze got higher throughout the day, we just kept raising our game more and more."

Since Qingdao began cooperating with the Extreme Sailing Series in 2011, the city has held seven races, providing a unique experience for those involved.

Phil Robertson is the head of the Oman Air team.

"Here is very exciting because it's a very hard racecourse. The wind coming through the buildings is very difficult, so it makes the racing very exciting."

A team of Chinese sailors who've consistently challenged at the Extreme Sailing Series helped arouse enthusiasm among local citizens.

24-year-old Liu Xue is head of the team.

"Since we are a new team, I have to observe their different character and also learn to get along with them one by one. As a captain, I focus on two things: one is our speed while another is how we kick off. Both my families and friends have come to watch our race, which is great but also adds to the pressure. We always want to be better, so we can continue to promote the development of sailing races in Qingdao."

Unlike traditional sailing events, the sail boats involved in the Extreme Sailing Series are usually a lot lighter, with giant sails. The boats can often get up to speeds of 80 kilometers per hour. During the event the fierce competition combined with vibrant music ensures that spectators are entertained. A thrilling scene took place on the final day of the Extreme Sailing Series, when the New Zealand team collided with the Land Rover BAR Academy Team. Fortunately, no one was injured. The dangerous elements of the sport have left some spectators quite nervous.

"This event happens at an international level. Under the blue sky and white clouds, I think the race injects life into the city and also leads us to live healthier lives."

In addition to the professional racers, this event also allows ordinary citizens to board their watercraft and smell and feel the charm of the sea.

Mr. Zhai is one of the lucky ordinary citizens who joined the Oman Air team on board their sailboat.

"I have to try my best to hold the mesh armrest. The inertia is quite strong, but the crew members are all professional and very strong. They are all very friendly."

Zhang Rui is the lucky person who joined the Land Rover BAR Academy Team.

"It's quite dangerous on board. A crew member designated a small space for me and cautioned that I shouldn't move in big steps. Each moment when the watercraft turned in a direction, it would fly four or five meters high above sea, which really unsettled me."

Within four days, more than 20 media organizations around the globe dispatched their journalists to cover the extreme sailing series, making Qingdao the centre of the sailing world.

Andy Tourell is Event Director of the Extreme Sailing Series.

"This is the 7th year that the extreme sailing series has been in Qingdao. And every year we've seen a significant growth in terms of the number public that come down, in terms of the racing caliber and also in terms of the media return—including Chinese media. So this year what we've found is all sea sports."

Roman Hagara first arrived in Qingdao in 2008 for a sailing event at the Olympics. As a winner of two Olympic gold medals, he's participated in the event seven years in a row.

He has seen a lot of progress.

"The first time when we came here, there was almost nothing. We had just harbor like down the road and a yacht club where we were based from. And then they start building here the Olympic harbor, the Olympic village with the hotels and its growing since then. And you see a much more sailing going on like more sailing events, some youth sailors sailing. So it's growing, and that's good."

Qingdao's tourism sector has been helped by the fact that the Qingdao International Sailing Centre has become a busy tourist destination for travelers.

Zhao Fei is the general manager of a local yacht club.

"Sailing activities have a deep sense of involvement. We hope to combine the sport of sailing with tourism. Our goal is to enable each traveler not only to appreciate the picturesque landscape but also to enjoy a chance to feel the maritime culture and charm of the sailing sports here."

Qingdao is widely regarded as the cradle of Chinese maritime history.

Following the Extreme Sailing Series, Qingdao will also be the host city for many big events related to sailing, including an international sailing expo, a sailing race between China and Europe, as well as sailing adventure camps for college students.

As these sailing activities are increasingly being held in Qingdao, they are helping more people both in and outside of the city to build an active and healthy lifestyle.