Perfect Sails! The 2023 China Family Sailing Regatta and the 3rd Lushan West Sea International Grand Sailing Regatta Concluded Successfully at Lushan West Sea.

2023-09-25

From September 23 to 24, the 2023 China Family Sailing Regatta—Jiujiang Lushan West Lake Station, together with the Third Lushan West Lake International Grand Sailing Regatta, was successfully held on Lushan West Lake. A total of 49 family teams comprising more than 150 sailors from China, the United States, Russia, Hungary, and other countries competed fiercely over the two-day event aboard Hobie T1, Hobie T2, and FE28 sailboats.

Attending the opening ceremony were Liu Weidong, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese Sailing and Windsurfing Association; Zhang Songtao, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Sports Bureau; Chen Jitian, Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Jiujiang Municipal People’s Government and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Lushan West Sea Scenic Area; Fu Danqing, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Sailing and Windsurfing Association; Huang Xiaobing, Deputy Secretary-General of the Jiujiang Municipal People’s Government; Liu Jinmei, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Jiujiang Municipal Sports Bureau; Zhu Ning, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of the Lushan West Sea Scenic Area; Peng Hao, Director of the Water Sports Center of the Jiangxi Provincial Sports Bureau; and Yang Jun, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Jiujiang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Tourism.

At the opening ceremony, the water-drum performance “Drums Soaring with Passion” was full of energy and vigor, while the solo female vocal rendition of “The Girl from Zhelin Lake” was tender and melodious, allowing guests and competitors alike to experience the warmth and gentle beauty of Lushan West Sea.

In her address, Fu Danqing, Vice Chair of the Chinese Sailing and Windsurfing Association, stated: “Lushan West Lake boasts excellent water quality and breathtaking scenery—its myriad islands scattered like pearls, creating a truly poetic and picturesque landscape. We hope that by hosting the National Sailing Regatta, Lushan West Lake will further strengthen its brand as a premier destination for water-sports tourism, deepen the integration of sports and tourism, develop more high-quality sports-and-leisure offerings, and attract even more visitors and sailing enthusiasts to come to this beautiful lake to check in and enjoy a relaxing getaway.”

Zhu Ning, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of the Lushan West Sea Scenic Area, stated: “Lushan West Sea boasts stunning natural scenery, a profound cultural heritage, and deep integration between sports and tourism. Taking this event as a starting point, Lushan West Sea will continue to promote the development of sports tourism, strive to write a new chapter in the sector’s growth, and make an even greater contribution to Jiangxi’s efforts to establish Jiujiang as a regional cultural and tourism hub.”

Subsequently, the distinguished leaders and guests took to the stage together to sound the horn, officially launching the event.

In addition to song-and-dance performances, Lushan Xihai has also prepared a series of dynamic and thrilling water shows, including aquatic ballet, acrobatic somersaults on the water, human pyramids, and jet-ski stunts. “Spectacular and beautiful!” the performers soared above the emerald waters amid lush green mountains, earning repeated praise from the guests in attendance.

As one of the most widely attended sailing events, the China Family Sailing Regatta is setting sail on Lushan West Lake for the third time.

As they rowed with vigor and set sail, the athletes savored a one-of-a-kind racing experience while taking in the breathtaking scenery of thousands of islands scattered like pearls. Pushing through the waves and vying for the lead, they showcased exceptional skill and maintained peak competitive form.

On September 24, following two days of thrilling and intense competition, the Pearl River Friends Team and the Morning Star Brain Axe Team emerged as champions in the Hobie T1 and Hobie T2 classes, respectively. The COFCO Prestige Estate Team claimed victory in the FE28 class and also took home the Long-Distance Race Excellence Award. Yang Haichuan and Yang Hui, father and son from the Fearless Team, were honored with the “Best Family Collaboration” award, while Tao Jiaqi, a young sailor from the Jiangxi Beyond Dragon Team, was presented with the “Best Young Sailor” award.

At the closing ceremony, Liu Weidong, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese Sailing and Windsurfing Association, and Li Yuanqing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Lushan West Sea Scenic Area, presented awards to the top three teams in each division. The winning crews then posed for a group photo with the guests. With this, the 2023 China Family Sailing Regatta and the 3rd Lushan West Sea International Big Boat Race came to a successful close!

Zhang Lingyun, skipper of the COFCO Prestige Wine Team, winner of the FE28 sailing class

Zhang Lingyun, skipper of the COFCO Prestige Estates team, winner of the FE28 sailing class, told reporters: “Our team was founded eight years ago. Including this year, this is our third time competing in the Lushan West Lake Sailing Regatta, and we’ve taken two championships and one runner-up finish. Thanks to this race, our team’s coordination has improved even further, and we plan to keep participating in the future.”

Tao Jiaqi, who won the “Best Little Sailor” award, said, “It was really fun to take part in this sailing race with my dad. The scenery here is beautiful, and I’d love to come back next time.”

Yang Haichuan (right), recipient of the “Best Family Collaboration” award

Yang Haichuan, who traveled from Jiujiang to compete in the Hobie T2 and won the “Best Family Collaboration” award, said in an interview: “Participating in this family sailing regatta has strengthened our coordination and rapport with my parents, deepened our emotional bond, and brought us closer together. Although we made a few minor mistakes during the race, that’s no big deal—after all, enjoying the process is what really matters.”

This year, the promotional theme for the China Family Sailing Regatta is “One Event, a Family Journey.” During the regatta, the Lushan Xihai Scenic Area has thoughtfully curated a unique “Sailor’s Night” event in Zhelin Old Town, featuring a lawn music festival, specialty touring performances, sailor-themed cosplay, and a host of other exciting activities. These events are designed to enhance the spectacle of the regatta, allowing more sailing enthusiasts and tourists to experience the passion and allure of sailing while enjoying a delightful and relaxing getaway at Lushan Xihai.

According to reports, Lushan Xihai has been consecutively recognized as a “National Premium Sports Tourism Scenic Area” for seven years running and is now making all-out efforts to establish itself as a national-level demonstration base for sports tourism. The Lushan Xihai Skeet Shooting Range was selected as the training base for China’s national skeet team ahead of the Rio Olympics, while the Lushan Xihai Shooting, Hot Spring, Health & Wellness, Sports, and Leisure Town has earned such prestigious titles as “National Characteristic Town for Sports and Leisure,” “Jiangxi–Lushan Xihai Station of the National Youth Sports Winter and Summer Camp,” and “National Self-Drive Automotive Sports Camp.” In addition, the Lushan Xihai (Jinkou) Sports and Leisure Town was named among the Top 50 Most Beautiful Characteristic Towns in China. The area has also successfully hosted major events such as the Chinese Fishing Championship, the National News Media Go Elite Tournament, the China Lure Fishing Golden League, and the 9th Chinese Middle School Tennis Championships. The successful staging of these events has propelled the integrated development of sports and tourism at Lushan Xihai to a new level, continuously enhancing its reputation as a premier sports tourism destination and helping the scenic area further refine its strategy for year-round, all-season, comprehensive tourism development.

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