Full of confidence

preparing to sail

competing with one another at sea

147 teenagers from cities across Shandong Province, including Qingdao, Yantai, Weifang attended the 2009 Shandong province Sailboat Youth Championship, held in the Qingdao Olympic Center waters today.

The competition will award 21 medals in 8 sailing classes involving OP, 470, Laser, Finn, RS:X, Mistral, T293 and team racing.

As stated by the competition manager, the once-a-year Sailing Youth Championship has so far been successfully held for 25 years. All the competitors are able to represent the top level of their cities.

Since the Olympic Sailing Regatta was held last year, youth sailing as a sport has developed in Shandong Province.

"I am very excited at the thought that here is the venue of the 2008 Olympic sailing Regatta. We are able to enjoy first-class water facilities and I am really eager to win a gold medal here,” said Guo Qian, a competitor from the Dezhou team.

The competition will last 4 days and award medals on the 19th.

Editor Li Jing

By Wang Qian ( China daily Shandong Bureau)