April's Blossoms, Sailing on the Blue Waters

The 16th City Club International Regatta (CCOR)

will set sail grandly from April 9 to April 13, 2026

at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre,

riding the deep blue waves and embarking on a new journey.

This year's regatta is jointly organized by the Water Sports Management Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Yachting Association, the Shandong Provincial Sports Bureau, the Qingdao Municipal Sports Bureau, the Qingdao Major International Sailing Events (Festivals) Organizing Committee, and the Qingdao Nautical Sports School of the General Administration of Sport of China. It is co-hosted by the Qingdao Nautical Sports School of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Qingdao Sports Development Centre (Qingdao Sailing Sport Management Centre), and Qingdao Tourism Group Co., Ltd.

Sixteen Years of Dedicated Cultivation

Forging a Benchmark for Local International Sailing Events

Since its inception in 2010, CCOR has steadily advanced with the care, support, and nurturing of many parties, growing into one of the most influential international sailing events based in China. This year's regatta will continue its professional essence, highlight the city's unique character, and gather sailing friends from across the seas, coming together for a maritime feast that blends top-tier competition with cultural heritage. Under the theme "Deep Blue · Chasing Light," CCOR will not only focus on the vast blue realm—emphasizing marine technology and the blue economy, aligning with the maritime power strategy, and safeguarding the harmonious coexistence of humans and the sea—but also symbolize the pursuit of dreams and the journey to the future. This theme reflects the regatta's and the city's shared commitment to forging ahead, chasing light, and leading a new course in the sailing journey.

The regatta features three classes: FE28R, J80, and ORC. The appeal continues to rise, with 38 teams and 247 sailors registered. Participants come from Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Macau, as well as Russia, New Zealand, and other places around the world. With passion as their sail and experts gathered, the regatta is set for a high-level competition.

Adhering to International Standards, Creating a Professional Arena

CCOR has always based itself on international competition standards, adhering to the principles of"world vision, international standards, Chinese characteristics, and high positioning," striving to build a high-level, professional sailing event. To ensure the professionalism, fairness, and authority of the regatta, an International Jury has been formed for this edition, and for the first time, all members of the Jury are international arbitrators. Five international jurors will work together to guarantee the fairness, impartiality, and orderly conduct of every race.

Prior to the regatta, the organizing committee specially arranged a 2026 Sailing Rules Seminar, inviting Qu Chun, Director of the CCOR Jury and Director of the Chinese Yachting Association Referee Committee, and Kang Peng, a national-level coach and national-level referee, to provide participants with cutting-edge, professional rule explanations and case studies. Through systematic teaching, the seminar helps sailors thoroughly understand new rules and apply new cases, enabling them to face various competition situations more confidently and calmly on the racecourse, thereby comprehensively enhancing their competitiveness. At the same time, the power of the rules further elevates the professional standard of this year's CCOR.

Safety and security work has been given even greater prominence. At the end of March, the organizing committee conducted a man-overboard rescue drill for all coaches, using realistic scenarios to sharpen emergency response capabilities and consolidate the safety foundation for the water event. Before the regatta, the committee will also hold safety meetings and provide specialized safety training, implementing all safety measures meticulously to further strengthen the regatta's safety defenses.

ORC Class Returns, Boosting the Promotion of Keelboat Sailing

A major highlight of this year's regatta is the return of the ORC class, with the addition of an ORC Open Division, further enriching the event's classes and promoting the popularization and development of keelboat sailing in China. The ORC International Rating System is the world's most widely used scientific scoring system for offshore racing. It reshapes sailing competition with algorithms, overcoming the core challenge of fair racing by customizing a"fairness formula" for each boat. This transforms sailing competitions from"who has the faster boat" to a comprehensive test of team tactics, coordination, and real-time decision-making. Sailors in the ORC Open Division at this year's regatta will experience a different kind of"sailing fun."

During the regatta, the organizing committee will specially organize an ORC sharing session, inviting Zoran Grubisa, ORC Technical Representative and Chief Measurer, to come and share his insights. As the ORC office in China, the Qingdao Nautical Sports School is continuously committed to promoting the application of the ORC International Rating System in domestic events, further enhancing the professionalism and fairness of sailing competitions in China.

Old and New Friends Gather, Sharing Sailing Spirit through Friendship

Sailing knows no borders, and friendship endures. Every April, old and new friends of CCOR gather at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre, using sailboats as a bond and the ocean as a stage to begin a sailing rendezvous that blends competition and camaraderie. This year's registration has again been enthusiastic, featuring both long-time participating"old sailing friends" such as the Xiamen City Vocational College Sailing Team, the Shanghai Worldwide Logistics Sailing Team, and the Qingdao University Sailing Team, as well as"new faces" making their debut, like the Beijing Central Axis Sailing Team. This demonstrates the regatta's inclusiveness and influence. They exchange sailing skills, learn from each other's strengths, share sailing culture and stories, and pass on maritime passion. At the core, they delve into the sailing spirit, forging willpower and unity amidst the wind and waves. Bound by shared love and perseverance, they make friends through sailing and embrace all rivers, allowing the sailing spirit to be passed on through interaction and friendship to be elevated through riding the waves.

A Sailing Feast at the Olympic Sailing Centre, Showcasing the City's Maritime Vitality

Rooted in Qingdao, CCOR has grown and matured through 16 editions. The event's brand culture and Qingdao's urban culture have merged, making CCOR one of the key nautical sports cards of Qingdao, the"City of Sailing." The organizing committee will continue to implement the requirements of"bringing sports events into scenic spots, neighborhoods, and commercial areas," leveraging the comprehensive benefits of sailing events. At the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Marine Culture Tourist Area, the sight of thousands of sails racing, coupled with spectacular"water flying" and motorised surfboard performances by athletes from the Qingdao Nautical Sports School, will attract citizens and tourists to watch and check in. This will boost the vitality and prosperity of the Olympic Sailing Centre area, further unleash consumption potential, and inject new maritime sports energy into Qingdao as a"Vibrant Maritime Capital, Wonderful and Livable City," allowing more people to experience the charm of the ocean, the passion of sports, and the splendor of the city.

This year's CCOR further enriches the event's periphery with upgraded cultural products. The organizing committee has integrated event elements, educational concepts, and the sailing spirit into the design, offering limited-edition exquisite regatta pins, themed fridge magnets, and preparing luggage tags for participating team members. These items convey friendship and commemorate the moment, deepening the commercial development of the event IP while promoting the inheritance and innovation of sailing culture, widely spreading maritime passion and gathering oceanic vitality.

Riding the Deep Blue, Setting Sail in Qingdao.

The curtain is about to rise on the 16th City Club International Regatta (CCOR).

Let us look forward to all the participants

riding the wind and waves, chasing the light,

and writing a chapter of responsibility and glory for the sailing community

on the blue waters of Qingdao!