The Road Towards the Internationalization of China's Offshore Race, Round Hainan Regatta

SANYA, China, March 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Round Hainan Regatta (RHN), hosted by Hainan Ocean Race Co., Ltd., is one of the three Chinese regattas which are listed in the ISAF regattas calendar. The regatta is held by the government of Hainan Province. Since its initial event in 2010, the number as well as the level of participated teams have grown conspicuously, from 14 teams in 2010 to 43 teams in 2015, the race distance has also increased from 228 miles to 580 miles.

A milestone in the history of this young but promising regatta was its being accepted as an annual race into the ISAF regattas calendar in 2013, made the race China's unique international offshore race.

The short-term goal of RHN is to become the best off-shore race in South-east Asia. Taking advantage of their geographic locations and sailing cultures, some Asian countries such as Thailand and Philippines lead the development of sailing sport and sailing races in Asia. ISAF classified off-shore races into 5 categories according to their difficulty level (0 the most difficult and 4 the easiest).

RHN is now classified as a Category 3 off-shore race because of its course around and near the coast of Hainan Island. But the race has the potential to be a Category 2 even Category 1 offshore race. Firstly, the course around Hainan Island means that the sailors must deal with different wind directions and wind power at different stages of the race. Secondly, the unpredicatable weather in Hainan in March, when RHN is held, increases the difficulty and uncertainty of the race. With these geographic conditions, the race can become the top off-shore race in South-east Asia so long as the race course, safety precautions, teams skills and the organizing ability of the hosts are improved.

The long-term goal of RHN is to be a world's top offshore regatta like Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Fastnet Yacht Race and Newport Bermuda Race. A top yacht race is not only about awareness and reputation, good sailing culture is also important. RHN still has much to improve to attract more Chinese people to start sailing and form a distinct sailing culture. The commercialization of the race also needs to be enhanced. By building stronger cooperation with commercial sponsors, the race can not only get good promotion but also powerful financial support.

How to become a successful international yacht race? There are 3 key elements.

First and most important is policy, which provides convenience in immigration, border pass, customs and maritime to attract high levels participants to join. 2014/2015 Vovol Ocean Race couldn't run so successful without policy support and highly efficient execution, which touched in 11 cities in 5 continents.

Then, improving the level of related sides to make it a better event, such as a race committee that combines local and international experts, crews with higher skills, courses united with challenge and safety support, etc.

Last is business promotion which relies on media and marketing. Besides promotion in China,  advertising in foreign media and cooperating with international brands is also required to create overseas awareness.

RHN has had a very clear goal from the beginning: to be a long range race that is sustained for over 100 years. To achieve the goal, many efforts have been made in the past seven years:

1. Sought government support with policy benefits. It was and still is a very important program which follows the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road of Hainan government;

2. Built it's own marina;

3. Provided lots of green passes for participants;

4. Invited many people to join its public-good sailing activities.

In the future, RHN will be the top race in South-east Asia, as well as the world's leading offshore race. It will create it's own unique brand to become a comprehensive platform combining industries such as sports, marine culture, tourism and others . 

RHN will closely around the states and related policies of China and Hainan province, to improve  market running mode, to pay more attention on its brands and services industry chain, to build RHN into an internationalization, specialization, standardization competition system. It will also develop the interests of teenagers into sailing and marine, expand a larger group of popularization to sailing sports in Hainan provinces, promote the construction of Marine culture, sports, tourism, culture and other related industrial integration development. RHN is trying to contributes more value to the world's ocean culture, tourism, sports, etc, to help build RHN as a hundred-year race brand for China and the world.

Enjoy the wonderful video of RHN: http://www.iqiyi.com/u/1241670242

Organizing Committee email and phone number: [email protected], +86-18689951257

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160301/339024

SOURCE Hainan Ocean Race Co., Ltd.