The second annual China Cup International regatta was sailed Oct. 24-27 in Shenzhen, a city of 14 million people just north of Hong Kong. Fifty boats in three classes raced under IRC, a local handicap rule (HKPN) and in a 33-boat Beneteau 40.7 one-design class. Thirty of the 33 Beneteaus sailed with UK-Halsey Tape-Drive sails and the Tape-Drive powered boats won all the top spots. Sailboat racing has grown quickly in China thanks to the country�s booming economy.
A recent article in sail-world.com about the growth of boating in China stated, �Ten years ago China did not have a single yacht club. It now has 58, with the largest one having more than 600 berths. More than 50 marinas are under construction around the country and Expo 2010 Shanghai will support both the development of the industry's infrastructure and the construction of five marinas to be finished by 2010.�
The Chinese Yachting Association organized the Beneteau fleet where the boats were chartered by teams across China and around the World. Competition in this class was fierce with four teams vying for first going into the last race. TEAM KARASU from Japan won the tie-breaker with TEAM NORMAR from Norway to take the China Cup. Third went to KOUFU, also from Japan.
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