The CHINA TEAM finished up their first sailing session in China with two days of match racing on 76-foot maxi yachts in Hong Kong. Of the 15 Chinese sailors who participated in the first part of the sailing camp at Shenzhen, nine were chosen to take part in the racing on the two maxis belonging to Frank Pong, owner of UK-Halsey Sailmakers Hong Kong. These nine Chinese sailors quickly found their places on the CHINA TEAM crew. �We were very lucky to be able to train on this huge boat,� said skipper Pierre Mas. �After spending the week in Shenzhen, we needed to see how the sailors we chose would work out on a boat that is more or less similar in size to an America Cup Class boat. On this kind of yacht, everyone has a very precise role to play, and a specific job to do. It is totally different from a dinghy or even the smaller match racing boats. We can now begin to pare down our selection for the America�s Cup regatta in Valence in May and June.� Over the next couple of weeks, CHINA TEAM will put to sea the refurbished CHN79 beginning of April, and present its crew for the upcoming LOUIS VUITTON ACTS.
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