On the 15th, the 5-day intense competition at Gyeokpo Port comes to an end
The 36th Presidential Cup National City and Province Yacht Competition concluded its five-day intense battle with the awards ceremony and closing ceremony at 1 p.m. on the 15th.
Hosted by the Korea Sailing Federation (President Park Beom-gyu) and organized by the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Yacht Association (President Jin Hyo-geun), this comprehensive yacht competition featured a total of 153 boats and 186 professional athletes from the elementary division to the general division. This year, ranking points are awarded for the 2nd national team selection.
On the 12th, the 36th Presidential Cup National City and Province Yacht Competition 470 event took place. The racers are seen fully deploying the spinnaker (the rounded sail at the very front) with the wind at their backs, powerfully sailing down towards the windward mark. [Photo by Kim Geonwan yacht@]
Yachting is the only marine sport held at sea. Recently, as interest in yachting among the public has increased, representatives from 17 cities and provinces competed fiercely, putting their hometowns' honor on the line.
Busan took the overall championship honor with 730 points, followed by Gangwon in second place with 600 points, and Gyeongnam in third with 560 points. The host city Jeonbuk earned 420 points, placing sixth in the upper-middle ranks.
This competition also served as a national team selection event, with intense ranking races held in all categories. The Jeonbuk Yacht Association saw Buan County Office’s Formula Kite athlete Jo Su-cheol take first place, 49er team Kim Geun-soo and Ahn Seon-jin take second place, and ILCA7 Lee Kwang-yeon take second place on the podium.
Buan Bakery’s 420 class athletes Yoon Seo-yul and Song Ah-rin took first place, ILCA7 Yoo Jin-seok took second place, ILCA6 Bang Ki-hyun took second place, and Haseo Middle School’s ILCA4 Choi So-yoon took third place.
On the 14th, the 36th Presidential Cup National City and Province Yacht Competition. On the 4th day, the first race's warning signal is being raised with a flag and sound signal by Choi Cheol-hoe, the harbor master of the Chungbuk Yacht Association. [Photo by Kim Geon-wan yacht@]
In the Formula Kiteboarding category, Jo Su-cheol (Buan County Office) in the men’s and general division secured his national team selection with stable performance. Lee Young-eun (Buan County Office), who won the bronze medal at last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games, is currently participating in the Olympic Work in France (20th?27th), challenging for an Olympic berth.
Jin Hyo-geun, president of the Jeonbuk Yacht Association, said, "We will actively promote the association’s status, which is developing day by day, both domestically and internationally," and added, "I thank all the athletes and officials from each city and province who competed safely and without any accidents over the five days here in Jeonbuk, and I hope everyone returns safely to their respective places."
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