2024 World Bay Area Regatta concludes in Bao'an

The 2024 World Bay Area Regatta concluded on December 8 at the OH Bay and Qianhai Bay water area, with four winners selected across different competition groups.

The regatta, which took place from December 6 to 8, drew thousands of spectators, as reported by Bao'an Daily.

This year's event featured two main sections: the big sailing group, which was divided into FE28R and FE23R categories based on boat types, and the junior sailing (OP) group.

The 2024 World Bay Area Regatta concludes on December 8 at the OH Bay and Qianhai Bay water area. Photo from sznews.com

The big sailing group saw the participation of 20 renowned sailing teams from countries including China, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Russia, while the OP group attracted nearly 120 young sailors from various regions such as Macao, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

After intense competition, the HCP Technology team emerged victorious in the FE28R category under the big sailing group, and Shenzhen Seawolf secured the win in the FE23R group. The OP group winners were Zhang Bocheng and Liao Ziqing.

Notably, the Shenzhen Bao'an Sailing Team, making its debut at home, achieved third place in the FE28 class, setting a new record for the local team since the event's inception two years ago.

Yan Yuye from the Shenzhen Seawolf team remarked, "The competition is fierce; the key to this race is who can catch the wind first to take the lead. Perhaps we were a bit luckier this time, as we managed to control our mistakes better."

Zeng Luopei, a member of the HCP Technology team, stated, "This time, the entire team cooperated exceptionally well. The venue has changed significantly, and one mistake can put you far behind. We seized every opportunity that came our way."

Bob, a Canadian resident of Bao'an for 14 years, competed for the Canadian Voilà! team, which finished fourth in the FE28 class. He said, "The warmth, diversity, and vitality of Shenzhen have drawn me to live and work here for a long time. OH Bay is also my 'home field,' and I often bring my family here to enjoy ourselves.”  

World champion Chen Peina, representing the Peina Wonsea team in the FE28 class, praised the organization of the competition and the comprehensive facilities at OH Bay, which allowed teams to easily go ashore to rest or eat after the race, highlighting a key advantage of Bao'an over other venues.

Team Sailingin's captain, Jim Johnstone from the United States, also told Bao'an Daily in an interview that OH Bay is an excellent place to promote sailing, as it attracts many visitors who come to enjoy food and shopping.

The 2024 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) Shenzhen•Bao'an Final is set to take place from December 10 to 15.