The 2019 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cup Regatta & Macao Cup International Regatta, organized by the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and Across Four Oceans Sailing Event Management, and co-organized by the Marine and Water Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and Macau Sailing Association, will be held from 10 to 13 January 2019.  A press conference was held today (9October) at the Sports Bureau headquarters to announce the details of the event.

The 2019 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cup Regatta & Macao Cup International Regatta is the first international regatta hosted by Macao, heralding a new era for Macao’s international sailing competitions. With a coastline of 76.7 km, Macao is endowed with the extraordinary geographical advantages in hosting international sailing events. Through hosting the regatta, the organizers are looking to nurture marine sports in Macao, to enrich local sport events, and to support the work in consolidating Macao as the “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure”.

The four-day event, including Round the Island race and Course race, will take place in the waters to the south of Hac Sa Beach. The regatta will bring together about twenty teams from China, Australia, Russia, USA, France, Germany and Spain etc. to compete at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cup Regatta (IRC) and Macao Cup International Regatta (Beneteau First 40.7). International judges and umpires of World Sailing will also be invited to officiate the regatta.  Side activities, such as vessels parade and exhibition match in the waters between Macao and Taipa, as well as public’s visit to sailboats, will also be held to get people familiar with the regatta and to promote marine sports in Macao.

Guests attending the press conference included: Mr. Pun Weng Kun, President of the Sports Bureau; Mr. David Zhong and Mr. Ma Man Wai, Directors of Across Four Oceans Sailing Event Management; Mr. Wu Chu Pang, Head of Maritime Activities Department of the Marine and Water Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; and Mr. Li Yue, Vice-chairman of Macau Sailing Association.