Asia’s Largest J80 One-Design Class
On the morning of May 22, the opening ceremony of the 2026 Ningbo International Regatta was held at the Xiangshan Asian Sailing Center. The regatta stands as Asia’s largest J80 one-design class event and is China’s first keelboat regatta to be simultaneously included in the official race calendars of both World Sailing and the Asian Sailing Federation. A total of 48 teams from four continents, with nearly 300 high-level sailors, will compete for the championship over three days.
On May 24, the 2026 Ningbo International Regatta came to a successful close at the Xiangshan Asian Sailing Center in Ningbo. Featuring high-level competition, technological empowerment, quality services, and integrated development, the event established itself as a benchmark J80 one-design regatta in Asia, adding a brilliant chapter to Ningbo’s journey of building a modern marine city and becoming a world-class sailing event destination.
1. Thrilling Finals and Outstanding Results
After three days of intense racing, 48 elite domestic and international teams successfully completed all races. The regatta awarded the overall top six finishers and the top three in the women’s category. Zine Solar PV Sailing Team claimed the championship with consistent performance and excellent tactics. Old Boys Dream Team took the runner-up spot, and Australia’s Sandringham Sailing Team finished third.
In the first-ever women’s category, the Polaris Women’s Sailing Team secured first place, demonstrating the strong capabilities and unique spirit of women’s sailing.
2. World-Class Organization and Professional Support
This year’s regatta excelled in both competitive standards and event organization, becoming a marquee sailing event in Asia.
– Elite Teams Gathered: The regatta attracted high-level teams from 10 countries, including Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, the United States, Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The participant roster included international champions, professional sailors, and national team members, making it the largest J80 one-design regatta in Asia.
– Excellent Venue Conditions: The Xiangshan sea area offers stable winds and complex currents, providing both challenge and spectacle- a natural racecourse that tests team capabilities. Leveraging the Asian Games legacy, the Asian Sailing Center meets world-class standards in venue facilities, marina management, and safety support.
-Thoughtful Hospitality Services: The organizing committee innovatively offered Xiangshan specialty intangible cultural heritage boat meals. Warm local delicacies such as bamboo shoot dumplings, mugwort custard pastries, and Xiangshan steamed rice cakes replaced standard boxed lunches, allowing athletes from around the world to experience the “Taste of Xiangshan” during race breaks, earning widespread praise.
-Breakthrough in Live Broadcasting: For the first time, the regatta featured live online video streaming. The technical team overcame challenges such as offshore signal transmission and image stabilization, creating a second viewing space that allowed both online and offline audiences to immerse themselves in sailing. The broadcast invited seasoned hosts from Star Sports and the international top-tier sailing event SailGP to provide commentary that was accessible and engaging, lowering the barrier for the public to understand and fall in love with sailing.
3. Integration of Sports, Culture, and Industry
The event fully utilized the resources of the Asian Games Sailing Center, continuously polishing the Asian Sailing Center brand and promoting its upgrade into a top-tier sailing base, training center, and competition hub in China and beyond.
During the competition, the organizing committee, together with Xiangshan Culture and Tourism, launched immersive intangible cultural heritage and travel experiences. International teams visited Shipu Ancient Town and the Qi Jiguang Wengcheng Fortress, participated in fish rubbing, carving, and other heritage craft workshops, and enjoyed nighttime cultural performances, experiencing the profound traditions of this thousand-year-old fishing town. The sports event became a window to showcase Xiangshan’s charm.
Concurrently, the Ningbo Leisure Boat Industry Development Seminar was held, bringing together industry experts, corporate representatives, and investment institutions. Exchanges and collaborations focused on boat manufacturing, leisure sailing, and coastal tourism, establishing a platform for industrial synergy. The top-tier event IP boosted the development of coastal sports, cultural tourism consumption, high-end manufacturing, and other related sectors, injecting new momentum into Ningbo’s marine economy.
4. Looking Ahead–Setting Sail for a New Journey
The regatta was organized by the Chinese Yachting Association, Ningbo Sports Bureau, Xiangshan County People’s Government, and the Samaranch Sports Development Foundation, and was hosted by the Ningbo Sports Exchange and Competition Center, Xiangshan County Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports, and Xiangshan Tourism Group.
As a key part of Zhejiang Province’s“Strong Marine Province”strategy, the Ningbo Xiangshan Asian Sailing Center continues to upgrade its event quality, driving rapid growth in Ningbo’s coastal sports industry and helping to establish the city as a world-class sailing event destination. A representative of the Ningbo Sports Bureau noted that in the future, the city will continue to use sports events as a bridge to deepen the integration of sports, culture, tourism, and industry, inviting more friends from home and abroad to visit Xiangshan and fall in love with Ningbo, and making blue sails one of Ningbo’s most iconic calling cards.
