This initiative emphasises connecting countries through sports, culture, infrastructure, and trade. The first leg of this year's regatta took place in Beihai, Guangxi on 8-13 October, at the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, making the regatta a key tool for promoting cultural and commercial ties between China and Southeast Asia, according to the organisers.
Established in 2019, the regatta brings together sailors from around the world, and with the support of the Chinese government, it has gained international recognition as a leading sailing event. It is endorsed by World Sailing, the international sailing federation, and is a way to foster cultural and economic relations between China and its partners.
A team from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County participated in the regatta in cooperation with the county's Sailing Federation, finishing 10th among 30 competitors as the highest-ranked European team. This year, the Belt & Road International Regatta will also be held in Malaysia and Turkey.
After its success in Southeast Asia, the goal is to elevate the Belt & Road Regatta to an international level, with its European journey starting in Punat on the northern Adriatic island of Krk, where the competitive portion and closing ceremony will take place, while the opening ceremony will be held in Rijeka.
The regatta will feature 14 teams from Austria, Finland, Italy, Croatia, China, Norway, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, all of whom will be provided with identical J-70 sailboats by the organisers.