National

Regional

Taiwan, HK, Macao

Special Coverage

Focus

Society

Profiles

Cross-Straits sailors reach destination

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-31 23:38

TAINAN: All 15 sailing boats from the both sides of the Taiwan Straits competing the first Cross-Straits Cup Sailing Competition arrived at their destination port of Tainan in Taiwan Friday.

The race, co-organized by the Chinese Yachting Association and the Chinese Taipei Sailing Association, started in the mainland's Xiamen, Fujian province, on Thursday.

Related readings:  Hot air balloon to make flight across Taiwan Straits next year  Fuzhou opens first direct sailing between mainland and Taiwan  Top rescue ship for Taiwan Straits  New economic zone west of Taiwan Straits to broaden cooperation  Executive Yuan approves Tainan upgrade

A total of 138 sailors from both sides of the Straits, and 13 boats from the mainland and two from Taiwan, took part in the sailing competition crossing the Taiwan Straits for the first time.

The "Haifeng" from the mainland's Shenzhen won the 150-nautical-mile race.

The teams set out from Wuyuan Bay, Xiamen, to cross the Taiwan Straits via Dadan Island, Jinmen, and south of the Penghu Islands, and arrived at Anping Harbor, Tainan, more than 20 hours later.

"It is a historic moment since people on both sides have hoped for the competition for six decades", said Wang Chin-chung, president of the Chinese Taipei Sailing Association.

Li Quanhai, vice-president of the mainland's Chinese Yachting Association, said the two associations had prepared for the race for five years.

Zhang Qi, captain of the mainland's yacht, "Maibo," said the boats were escorted by mainland vessels for about 40 nautical miles after departure and by two Taiwan vessels from then on.

The two associations agreed the race should become a regular event.

"The success of the first competition is a good start," Li Quanhai said. "The organizers will consider more courses between the mainland and Taiwan."