Private yachts ready to sail
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2005-04-13 09:44

The day when the city's rich and the famous will be lounging on their private sailboats to enjoy their leisure hours is not far as Shanghai begins to open up local waterways to yachts and related sailing courses make their debut.

The local maritime safety administration said yesterday that private yachts will soon be allowed on local waterways, including the Huangpu River and waters at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

At the earliest, the luxurious boats will sail along local waters in three months as the Shanghai Maritime University plans to launch courses for training yacht sailors at the end of next month.

The maritime authority also unveiled regulations concerning the new policy. Anyone aged between 16 and 65, including foreigners, can apply for a yacht sailing license to cruise in waters within local jurisdiction, according to the regulations.

The administration will hold exams and issue the licenses.

"Some local docks will also open accordingly as anchors for the private yachts," said Chen Yu, a maritime official, adding the applicants also need to have a command of local maritime rules.

The regulations limit yachts to sailboats that are at least 5 meters long and only used for recreational and non-profit purposes.

The maritime university plans to enroll 10 to 20 locals for the training program as its first batch of licensed local yacht sailors by the middle of May. But the five-day course won't come cheap, officials hinted at a figure of between 15,000 yuan (US$1,807) to 20,000 yuan.

Students will go through both theoretical classes and driving practice on board a vessel during the course, learning how to navigate a boat with small power but high speed.

"Unlike large vessels, the professional skills requirement for riding a yacht is pretty low," said Xue Jing, a college director with the university. "But the key lies in mastering the yacht's physical features and the condition of specific water areas."

If learners pass the qualification test of the local maritime authority, they will become the city's first-ever batch of licensed yacht sailors, Xue said.

The university expects to see about 20 yachtsman programs, with 300 to 400 students trained each year. "Market demand for yacht sailors won't be too large, but the training program reflects the city's role as an international navigation center," Xue said.