The 2019 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cup Regatta & Macao Cup International Regatta, organized by the Sports Bureau and Across Four Oceans Sailing Event Management, and co-organized by the Marine and Water Bureau and the Macau Sailing Association, will take place at the waters off the south of Hac Sa Beach from 10 to 13 January. It is the first large-scale international regatta to be held in Macao. The two regattas will be held concurrently, with the four-day program including the Course Races at the waters off the south of Hac Sa Beach on 10, 12 and 13 January, and the Round the Island Race from the waters off the south of Hac Sa Beach to near Huangmao Island on 11 January. Interested residents and tourists may enjoy the races at Hac Sa Long Chao Kok, Hac Sa Beach and Cheoc Van Beach.
The Greater Bay Area Cup Regatta features ten IRC (International Rating Certificate) boats from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, including Team Madison Group XT from Hong Kong which has consecutively participated in HKPN division of China Cup International Regatta and obtained five first-place and one second-place finishes, Team Nansha from Guangzhou and Team Wanboyu Sailing and Team Macau Sugram from the host city.
The Macao Cup International Regatta brings together ten Beneteau First 40.7 sailing boats to vie for the title. The participating teams come from various countries and regions, namely China, Australia, Canada, Estonia, the Philippines, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. French sailing legend Lionel Péan, winner of various top tier international sailing competitions such as the Solitaire du Figaro Solo Race in 1983 and the Whitbread Round the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race) in 1986, will lead Team Marenostrum Racing Club to challenge of the title of the International Regatta.
To allow audiences to watch sailing races at near-shore locations, the organizers will also arrange six high-speed NACRA 17 catamarans to take part in near-shore exhibition races from noon to 3pm every day during the 10 to 13 January period, between the sea near Macao Tower and the waters off the south of the Inner Harbor Channel (the waters between Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge and Sai Van Bridge). The high-speed catamarans, which can navigate through shallow waters and are of the same type that are used in the NARCA 17 class competition of the sailing event in the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, allow audiences to appreciate the spectacular skills of world-class sailboat racers in close proximity on shore, and to experience the thrills of sailing and breaking the waves. Besides, a vessel parade will take place between 9am and 11am on 10 and 13 January, before the commencement of the races of the day. The participating vessels will set sail from Macau Fisherman's Wharf, then pass through Macao Science Center, Kun Iam Ecumenical Center and Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge, and turn back at Macao Tower to the race venue through Macao Science Center. Residents and tourists may watch this rare sight of large-scale sailboat parade in Macao at the aforementioned time period along the coastal areas of Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen in Macao Peninsula and Avenida do Oceano in Taipa.
For more information about the 2019 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cup Regatta & Macao Cup International Regatta, please visit the official website www.macaocup.com .
