The highly anticipated 2025 Shanghai Sailing Open is set to be held from March 25 to 30 at Dishui Lake in Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area. The event was officially announced on Feb 25 during a press conference, aiming to bring the unique charm of sailing to more people.

A poster for the 2025 Shanghai Sailing Open. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]

Building on last year's success, this year's competition promises to be even more international and prestigious. It will feature the J80 class, ILCA6 class, and an additional ILCA7 class, the designated boat for Olympic men's single-handed sailing. With 30 boats each in the J80, ILCA6, and ILCA7 classes, around 300 sailors are expected to participate.

The races will take place at Dishui Lake, while the opening ceremony parade will sail along the Hongkou section of the Huangpu River.

The 2025 Shanghai Sailing Open is set to be held at Dishui Lake in the Lin-gang Special Area. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]

Top sailors from around the globe, including Olympians from Tokyo and Paris, have been invited to the event. Athletes from Spain, Portugal, Israel, Italy, Australia, Egypt, Malta, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Fiji, some ranked among the top 10 in ILCA7 worldwide, will compete.

Chinese sailor Xu Jingkun, the first one-armed captain to complete the MINI TRANSAT solo transatlantic race and a round-the-world voyage, will also join.

Beyond the exciting races, the event will offer interactive experiences for locals. In collaboration with Lin-gang Special Area, visitors can book tickets through the event platform and enjoy discounts at popular attractions like Shanghai L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort and Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park.

The 2025 Shanghai Sailing Open promises a memorable blend of competitive sailing and cultural immersion.