The 2010 Dalian-Qingdao Sailboat Relay will start Aug. 25 at Xinghai Bay in Dalian. Athletes from France, Britain, Russia, Japan and five other countries and regions will participate in the relay.

The relay is divided into one standard relay and one open relay. Participants in the standard relay will use Beneteau sailboats, which are fit for long voyages. Ten sailboat teams from around the world will compete in the standard relay. The open relay features 36-foot keel boats captained by eleven teams from China, the US and Japan.

A grand opening ceremony for the relay will begin at 10 A.M. on the day of the race.

By Xie Fang and Wu Wei