Eight crew of a competing boat have lost contact with the headquarters at the Circum-Hainan Island international sailing event, the Chinese organizers confirmed on Tuesday.

The missing sailors, all from the boat named "Freedom Fire", were met with stormy waves about three meters high off Basuo harbor of Hainan Island, in the very south of China, Monday night when they started off with other four boats, according to the Hainan Salvage at Sea Center.

"Three salvage ships have been searching for the missing boats since Monday,"said an official of the Center. "Till this morning, 'Freedom Fire' is still out of touch with us while two of the five competing boats are about to pull over ashore with another two waiting astrand for rescue."

The Freedom Fire from Hong Kong, winner of the just-concluded Hong Kong-Sanya international sailing tournament, entered the five-day regatta with other four boats.

The three-phased competition attracted 50 sailors from Australia, Canada, England, Hong Kong of China, Macao of China, the Philippines as well as host China at ages ranging from 25 to 70.

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