First cross-Straits sailing competition to be held

BEIJING, July 16 -- The first Cross-Strait Cup Sailing Competition, which is jointly organized by the Chinese Yachting Association and the Chinese Taipei Sailing Association, is scheduled to run from July 30 to Aug. 4, Xinhua learned from the Sports Bureau of Xiamen City, Fujian Province.

According to the organizers, the preparation works have already been ready. Up to now, some 19 teams with more than 200 athletes from mainland cities have signed up for the competition to sail across the Taiwan Straits.

On July 30, the teams will set out from Wuyuan Bay, Xiamen City, to cross the Taiwan Straits via Dadan Island, Jinmen, and south of Penghu Islands, to arrive at Anping Harbor, Tainan City, the destination of the competition.

The organizers have made careful preparations on immigration check, personnel exchange and security since it is the first large scale sailing competition jointly held across the Straits.