Starting from the fourth bearer, the torch was getting down from the Olympic sailing prize-awarding platform to the "Qingdao" sailboat, which had sailed around the world to promote Beijing Olympics.

It was then transferred among four bearers in the vessel for 1,000 meters on the sea.

Guo Chuan, captain of the sailboat and the first torchbearer on the sea, held the torch high and waved to the cheering crowds on the banks.

"It is my lifelong honor," said Guo.

Torchbearer Liu Wei carries the Olympic torch on a sailing boat in Qingdao, Shandong Province July 21.

The flame was heading forward for about five minutes before it was passed to next bearer Liu Wei, deputy director of the competition department of Qingdao Olympic sailing committee.

Liu stepped out of the boat cabin, lighted his torch from Guo's and used two torches to form a "V" sign.

Wang Baoqi, vice chairman of Qingdao sailing sports association and Lu Huisheng, captain of China's scientific research ship "Dayang Yihao" which conducted a global oceanic research in 2005, were the third and fourth to carry the torch on the sea.

Local people welcome the Olympic torch in Qingdao, Shandong Province July 21.