Qingdao and OC Sport partner to deliver China's first international Flying Phantom foiling event
by Extreme Sailing Series 17 Sep 2018 14:04 UTC
30 September - 3 October 2018
Extreme Sailing Series Cascais 2018 - Flying Phantoms © Anna Zykova
OC Sport, the global pioneer in event creation and management, is delighted to announce the creation of a new event that will see the international Flying Phantom fleet compete in Qingdao, China, from 30 September to 3 October this year to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
For the first time in history, twelve of the two-man foiling catamarans representing six nations will descend upon Chinese waters for a four-day festival of foiling at the Qingdao Mazarin Cup powered by Extreme Sailing Series™, an event that will bolster the city's reputation as the home of Chinese sailing.
Stars from the prestigious 2018 Flying Phantom Series, including Series winners Antoine Rucard and Solune Robert from Team France Jeune, will compete in this high-octane Stadium Racing tournament, foiling around the Olympic waters of Fushan Bay at speeds of up to 31 knots. Spectators can expect to witness a similar foiling spectacle to the world-renowned Extreme Sailing Series, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as they enjoy watching adrenaline-pumping racing just metres from the shore.
OC Sport has long been committed to sailing development in China, as emphasised by Qingdao's longevity as an Extreme Sailing Series host venue – the city having hosted the event every year from 2011 to 2017 – and through OC Sport's management of the Chinese flagged entry and Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 winners, Dongfeng Race Team.
Speaking of this new partnership with the Qingdao Administration Centre of Sailing Sport, Executive Director at OC Sport Sailing, Andy Tourell, said:
"This will be the very first time that we've taken the international fleet of Flying Phantoms to the Far East. OC Sport has an impressive history in Qingdao, and this is the eighth consecutive year that the city will host one of our events. We are delighted to announce this extension to our partnership with the Qingdao Administration Centre of Sailing Sport, to continue supporting the city's reputation as the home of Chinese sailing and the development of sailing in China."
Mr. JI Gaoshang, President of the Qingdao Sports Bureau and Secretary in General of Qingdao International Sailing Events (Festivals) Organising Committee commented, "The Extreme Sailing Series has been hosted in Qingdao for the past seven years now. As owner of the Extreme Sailing Series and as the world's premier sailing event organiser, our partnership with OC Sport is important to the growth and development of sailing in Qingdao as the 'City of Sail' in China. We look forward to the excitement of this event which will be brought to the public, once again, over the upcoming national holiday."
For more information on this Flying Phantoms event, please visit the Extreme Sailing Series website.