11-year-old sailor braving the sea

Shanghai's 11-year-old sailor, Yang Jixin, has made a notable entry in the sailing records by completing the 2024 Rizhao-Qingdao Island Hopping Race, navigating 66 nautical miles, around 77 miles in the ocean. Yang also set a new benchmark by being the youngest Chinese youth to complete such a long voyage.

The race, which started on Aug 10 from the Rizhao World Sailing Base and ended at the Beijing Olympic Sailing Training Base in Qingdao on Aug 13, presented a series of challenges over its four-day span. Yang, the youngest national record-holder for kayaking across the Qiongzhou Strait, demonstrated her resilience and sailing acumen amidst the hot and humid weather, periods of calm, headwinds, and the complex interference of waves.

The organizers took prudent steps to ensure the safety of sailors, implementing measures such as maritime rescue, medical support, and navigation monitoring throughout the event.

Upon her arrival at the Silver Sea Yacht Marina in Qingdao, Yang was welcomed by several figures from the sailing community, including Dai Zhiqiang, a former member of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Vice Chairman of the China Yachting Association, and Principal of the National Sailing School. Their presence recognized the significance of her accomplishment.

Dai greeted Yang with a congratulatory smile and rang the bell in her honor, a customary mark of a successful sailing journey. His actions reflected the encouragement and support for the emerging generation of sailors that Yang represents.

Yang's achievement is more than a personal triumph; being an inspiration for young sailors and highlights the potential for future developments in the sport of sailing. By setting a new record for the youngest Chinese youth in long-distance sailing, she has opened doors for others to follow and has shown that age is no barrier to ambition and skill. Her journey across the waves will undoubtedly encourage others to chart their courses, to seek out the horizon, and to embrace the challenges that lie beyond the known shores.