The World On arirang

Despite uncertain weather conditions and rough waves, the sailors' spirits were high as one of the country's major yacht racing events, the 2011 Korea Cup International Yacht Race, kicked off in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.


[Interview : Cho Won-ki, Eeruree Skipper] " We have been preparing for the race since yesterday and now everything is almost ready. After putting this logo on our ship, we will head out to sea. I am very proud to participate in such a great regatta in Korea."

Hosted by the Korea Sailing Federation, the fourth annual international regatta has gathered a total of 69 small to mid-sized keelboats and 350 sailors from 20 countries, including Russia, the US, Canada and the Philippines.


[Interview : Ike Babbitt, US sailor] "Yesterday we got to go out and practice for a little bit, so I think we are definitely more prepared than some teams. I should be very good to get out to Ulleung , and spend a night over there and then continue back in. The inshore races are very good idea for a warm up and I am looking forward to it very much."


[Interview : Bernard Florean, Philippines coach] "I feel good also for Koreans, especially when I go to Dokdo Island. It is a very nice place."

According to the organizer,. the eight-day competition that runs until Monday is emerging as one of the premier yacht races in Asia, with its vast sailing routes, broken up into six races, totaling 600 kilometers, from Pohang to the Dokdo islets via Ulleung Island in the East Sea.


[Interview : Yang Ji-woo
jwyang@arirang.co.kr] "All sailors taking part have headed out to sea for the first official day of the regatta and they will set sail for Ulleung Island and the Dokdo islets from Wednesday."

And Wednesday's event, the Yeongil Bay Inshore Race, was a preliminary round for warm-up before the sailors head off for a tougher ride to their ultimate destinations over the next five days.


[Interview : Park Seoung-ho, Pohang Mayor] "Through this race, we hope to encourage the public to pay more attention to the Dokdo islets and let the world know that Dokdo belongs to Korea, as well as to nurture Pohang as a mecca of marine sports."

After the first practice regatta, an opening ceremony took place at race headquarters and each mariner shared the moment of excitement and showed determination for Thursday's sea journey.
Yang Ji-woo, Arirang News, Pohang.