Its stature rising as a yachting city, Zhuhai will debut next year as a Team Partner and Host Port in the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, joining Qingdao and Sanya in the Chinese leg in one of eight rounds.

The Zhuhai and Sanya ports will supply "ambassador" sailors for an exhausting August-July racing fleet of identical Clipper 70 yachts. Among eleven ships sailing last year, Qingdao's red-and-gold dragon landed in a record-setting third place. It followed the winning British and second-place Australian yachts -- both skippered by women whereas over 22 years all previous winners had been led by men.

The Clipper race is a 40,000-nautical-mile endurance test like no other. And, it's dangerous; in the recent contest, a captain was fatally swept overboard during a storm off the coast of South Africa. 

2018 Asian Windsurfing & Kiteboarding Championships [Photo by Zhu Xi / Zhujiang Evening Post]

During the next race, the fleet will berth at Jiuzhou Marina in Jida of Xiangzhou District for a series of activities during their Zhuhai stopover. Elsewhere in Zhuhai, Pingsha in Jinwan District has become China's oldest, largest, and highest-grade yacht manufacturing base. The town in Jinwan District is home to 25 yacht manufacturers.

William Ward, CEO of event operator Clipper Ventures, said Zhuhai had made a deep impression on him with advantageous geographical location, coastlines, and wind and island resources. He said the pleasant climate, beautiful environment, and convenient transportation make the city ideal for water sports and tourism development.

Ward suggested that Clippers' cooperation with Zhuhai in the next three editions will bring international sailors and global sailing enthusiasts unforgettable cultural experiences and promote the city's brand to the wider world.

Global recruitment for the event has begun, according to Su Qinglong, president of Zhuhai Jiuzhou Navigation Culture.

As anticipation builds for the Clipper race, another exciting contest is winding down in Zhuhai. The 2018 Asian Windsurfing & Kiteboarding Championships ends today, Nov 30.

The eight-day event has seen 200 competitors pit their skills in 13 categories. So far, the Chinese have dominated in windsurfing.