Qingdao celebrates at the Olympic Marina

Some hundred boats, and three Longtze Premiers, were on the starting line for the Qingdao Mayor's Cup 2008 in Qingdao, for October’s outset. It is one of the largest regattas organized by the city, following within the wake of the Peking Olympic Games.

It is the Olympic Games final closing event! Some hundred boats were on the starting line, more than 500 participants, waiting lines to sign up, and an Olympic Village open to the public, for the first time. (During the Olympic Games, the marina was reserved for accredited visitors). It is enough to say that, in recent local memory, there has never been such a sailing event so important or popular. To add a little more to the excitement, the preparations took place October 1, during a national holiday, in the middle of 50,000 spectators.

In this event, three Longtze Premiers participated in nautical demonstrations and regattas. The Qingdao tax Agency supported two teams and the National Marines the third, which also brought a women’s team. The regatta, took place over two days, one regatta per day, with a long course, close to 6 miles, stretching along the coast. The three Longtze Premiers, raced between themselves, alone in the sportboat category.
“The first day, was easy, because we didn’t have much wind, but the second day, was more sporting with 12 knots of wind, waves at 1, 50 meters, difficult currents and large wind shifts. This did not really slow us down, as usual.” « The whole fleet was behind us, explained Lei Yang, on board one of the Tax Agency boats. At the end of the course, I could not see the finish line, so I ended up telephoning the committee boat, because I thought I had made a mistake. This is when they answered, that we had arrived too soon, and that they still hadn't set up the finish line... they quickly sped up and we crossed the line in the lead, surprising everyone... it was pretty funny!"

It was a great event, the Longtze boats showing their winning form, three enthusiastic crews… The China homecoming for Longtze was a spectacular success!