Eighteen Zhuhai Ambassadors selected on March 15 include Wu Kefu, who recently graduated as a research assistant from an unnamed Zhuhai university campus. Wu is said to have gotten into sailing a year ago before participating in amateur competitions in the city.

He said he hopes to let more foreigners feel the charm of the "Islands & Sailing" city through this cultural exchange event. There reportedly are a professor and engineer among those who will go to the Britain Clipper Race Training Base in June and July. 

The 18 representatives from around China will promote Zhuhai in the 2019-20 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Aged 21 to 55, they were shortlisted from 48 applicants based on interview, physical fitness, sailing theory and skills, communication, and coordination assessments.

After intensive training on the basics of yacht maintenance and management, racing tactics, survival at sea, and weather routing, 16 ambassadors and two alternatives will return from the UK in July. They will help sail the yacht "Zhuhai" in pairs during each of eight legs of the 40,000-nautical-mile stamina-testing race before arriving by March 2020 and returning to the UK the following July.

Ambassador Crew

"To be able to give the opportunity to such a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and professions is what this global challenge is all about. I look forward to seeing how everyone progresses through their training back in the UK. There will be a lot to learn, but the reward will be racing across an ocean -- something that very few people have done," said Robin Knox-Johnston, founder of the race.

Jury members [Photos by Zhu Xi / Zhuhai Daily]