The Coast Guard Commissioner’s Cup Yacht Race Kicks Off in Yeosu on the 8th

Early summer dinghy yachts fill the Gamak Bay sea in Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do with white waves.

The "20th National Yacht Competition, hosted by the Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard," will spectacularly open on the 9th at the Soho Yacht Stadium in Yeosu.

A magnificent yacht race will be held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Yeosu Port opening and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Korea Coast Guard, the guardian of maritime safety.

This competition will be held for five days from the 8th to the 12th under the supervision of the Jeonnam Yacht Association (President Kang Byung-seok) at the Yeosu Soho Yacht Stadium and the Gamak Bay area.

In the Laser class yacht race at the 35th Presidential Cup National City and Province Yacht Competition, a sailor is seen rounding the mark.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

The opening ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on the 9th at the Soho Yacht Stadium. A large number of distinguished guests, including Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, Park Beom-gyu, President of the Korea Yacht Association, Jeong Ki-myeong, Mayor of Yeosu, and Kim Young-gyu, Chairman of the Yeosu City Council, are expected to attend.

Co-hosted by the Korea Coast Guard and the Korea Yacht Association, this competition will involve about 400 athletes and officials from 17 cities and provinces nationwide. Approximately 160 yachts will participate across 11 events.

On the final day of the competition, the 12th, rankings for each event will be determined after the 9th race. At 3 p.m., the awards ceremony and closing ceremony will conclude the event.

This competition will operate spectator boats for citizens and tourists to enjoy. In particular, the thrilling yacht races held at sea can be viewed up close.

Yacht Optimist event competition scene. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]

The spectator boats will be operated by the Koreana, the only domestic tall ship, from the 9th to the 12th. Departure times are daily at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Citizens wishing to watch the competition can board on a first-come, first-served basis after registering on the boarding list at the event site.

During the competition, the Jeonnam Yacht Association plans to do its best to ensure maritime safety and prevent marine pollution in close cooperation with the Yeosu Maritime Police Station and the race operation boats.

Meanwhile, Yeosu City plans to take the opportunity to prepare thoroughly for the 104th National Sports Festival, scheduled for October, by renovating the aging facilities and reinforcing insufficient facilities at the Soho Yacht Stadium, designated as the yacht venue for the festival.

Kang Byung-seok, President of the Jeonnam Yacht Association, said, "We will accelerate preparations for the upcoming National Sports Festival with this competition," and added, "We hope that the beautiful natural scenery of Gamak Bay will become widely known and that Yeosu's status as a center for marine leisure sports will be further elevated."