China to compete in ISAF Extreme Sailing Series for first time

China will have a representative in the ISAF Extreme Sailing Series for the first time when the second stop of the race takes place in Qingdao next week, organizers said on Wednesday.

The yacht named China Team, which just finished the America's Cup World Series, will join eight other yachts in the April 17-20 competition.

Kiwi Phil Robertson, whose team Waka Racing finished eighth in the 2011 World Match Racing Tour, will captain the China Team in the ISAF Extreme Sailing Series.

"The Qingdao race is a big event for China Team. It is a great opportunity to showcase to our local crowd that we can match it with the best in the world," said Robertson.

"We have a very tight schedule from the America's Cup World Series to Qingdao, but we will put up a good fight. We are looking forward to some home support from the people in Qingdao," he added.

The ISAF Extreme Sailing Series, an annual event which was first launched in 2007, feature will eight stops on the 2012 calendar.