Created in 2010 by the Chinese Yachting
Association (CYA) and backed by the local government, the Round Hainan
Regatta is a key part of the plan to place the island on the world
sailing map and develop yachting-related business, as confirmed by the
two highly successful Volvo Ocean Race stopovers in 2012 and, more
recently, in February 2015. The RHNR regatta is now unanimously
considered as one of China's major international sailing events and the
2015 edition will further consolidate the island's successful project to
become China's sailing capital. Famous for being the only Chinese
tropical island with a tropical monsoon climate, Hainan isn't just one
of the country's top vacation spots, but the surrounding waters and wind
conditions and its world class marinas make it the ideal and natural
venue for international sailing events.
For
these reasons the Round Hainan Regatta has been experiencing a constant
growth, as confirmed by this year's record number of entries, over 45.
Among them some "aficionados" who will come back to Sanya but also some
new boats and classes. Like the brand new RHN Dubois50, a 50 footer
especially designed for this race by renowned UK's based naval cabinet
Dubois, that promises to be a serious contender for the race line
honours. Another rookie class is the attractive one-design sports boat
Fareast 18R, with seven crews registered.
This
year the fleet is divided into three groups, IRC 1/2, IRC 3/5 and the
Fareast 18R class. The biggest boats on the starting line will be both
Nautor's Swan yachts, the 82' Ubox and the 90' GanGef, whilst the
smallest will be a Jeanneau 32 footer flying the colours of hosting
Sanya's Serenity Marina.
The 2015
edition will start on March 21st with one or more in-port races for all
the participating classes, followed by the official opening ceremony. On
day 2 and 3 of the RHNR, the fleet will split with the big boats from
IRC1&2 battling along the island's west coast for their first
offshore race from Sanya to Haikou while the other IRC classes and the
Fareast 18R one-designs will have more in-port races in the bay. The
Sanya stopover prize giving ceremony will close the first inshore part
of the programme and say goodbye to the Fareast 18R class, that will
conclude their participation to the sixth Round Hainan Regatta.
On
the following days the two IRC divisions will take on the offshore
section of the RHNR. The bigger boats will be confronted with a two-legs
challenging route around the island with a stopover and a lay day in
the island's capital of Haikou, while the smaller ones will be sailing
along the east coast between Sanya and Wanning, with a stop at Lingshui.
The two fleets will then convene back in Sanya on March 28th for the closing act of the 2015 Round Hainan Regatta and the final prize-giving ceremony.
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