The Volvo Ocean Race, one of the world's top-tier regattas, is coming to China's coastal city of Qingdao next year with all eyes set on the potentially huge sailing market the Middle Kingdom offers.

Other than the America's Cup and the Olympic Games, the Volvo race is probably the world's most prestigious sailing competition. It will make its first-ever stopover in China when the fleet arrives in Qingdao next February. Qingdao is also the host city of the Beijing Olympic sailing competitions.

Organizers have been active in promoting the event here. Their ambitious promotion plan includes the launching of a Chinese website, an online sailing game and a 10-day celebration with a high-level in-port race once the fleet arrives.

The nine-month, 30,000-nautical-mile race will appeal to Chinese sailing fans, in other ways, as well. The regatta will include a boat built by McConaghy International, a Sino-Australian joint venture formed by China's JinLi Composites and Australia's McConaghy Boats. The fleet may also feature a Chinese crew, which would be the first such crew in the race's history.

"We expect to attract more Chinese youth to take part in sailing when the Volvo Ocean Race comes to China," said Li Quanhai, vice-president of the Chinese Yachting Association. "Although sailing is a relatively new sport in China, its growth is amazing."

Chinese sailors are currently busy preparing for the Beijing Olympics, where they have a legitimate chance to win a medal or two. Whether one of those sailors can join the Volvo race remains to be seen.

But organizers believe China has already made an impression in the sailing world.

"Judging by its technical level of boat-building and ability to hold high-level sailing events, China has made a big impression," said Yan Xinmin, China's media manager for the Volvo Ocean Race. "We also appreciate the Chinese Yachting Association for its vision and efforts of bringing Volvo Ocean Race to China."

The 2008-09 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will start in Alicante, Spain, on Oct 4 and will make stops in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America and Europe before finishing in St Petersburg, Russia, on June 27, 2009.

So far seven teams, including the Green Team, which will use the McConaghy International boat, have confirmed entry.

Qingdao is one of the stopovers selected to hold the Extreme 40 Series, a part of the on-the-water entertainment package held during the fleet's stay. The series will also be held in ports in Alicante, Singapore, Boston and Stockholm.

(China Daily July 24, 2008)