Sailing is a new water sport which has been introduced to Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole. Sailing is a sport that involves moving a boat by using the power of the wind. Da Nang has great potential for promoting further development of this sport on a wider scale.

Da Nang has high potential for the development of sailing sport. Photo: PHI NONG

Sailing is a sport that is open to people of any age or almost any fitness level. The correct setting of the sail depends not only on the wind and waves but also on the sailor's weight, strength and technique. However, sailing is still a relatively new and little-known sport in Viet Nam. Da Nang has created the most favorable conditions for this water sport to develop further through building its sailing team to enable them participate in national championships.

Athlete Ta Ba Trong from the Da Nang Sailing Team said: “Sailing relies on harnessing both physical and mental prowess to move a boat through water using the power of wind. Competitive sailing requires participants to have good fitness and agility, as well as being tactically and mechanically aware. The Da Nang Sailing Team now has nearly 10 crew members, and we attend regular coaching sessions on the Nguyen Tat Thanh Beach to improve our sailing technique and speed on the water. Every day, we do physical exercises from 5:30am until 7:00 am, and practice from midday until 5:00pm in order refine our racing skills, strategy, and boat handling. We practice daily near or far from the shore depending on weather conditions to catch the opportunities looking for the best wind speed for sailing to make our boat faster”.

Mr Dang Quyet Thang, the coach of the Da Nang Sailing Team said that he holds regular coaching session for sailing team members to improve and maximize their athletic performance, along with their ability to compete in national and international championships. Sailing requires athleticism, but not brute strength. Sailing is a sport that demands quick thinking and rapid decision-making. As a sailor, you must constantly analyze the wind conditions and make split-second adjustments to your sails. This requires agility, both mentally and physically. Your body must be able to respond quickly and efficiently to the changing demands of the boat. Balance and coordination are crucial skills in sailing. The constant motion of the boat demands excellent balance, requiring you to stay upright and steady on the deck. This not only strengthens your leg muscles but also improves your proprioception and spatial awareness. Sailing helps improve your agility, endurance, fine motor skills, flexibility, and hand-eye coordination.

Mr Nguyen Hai Duong, the Vice President and General Secretary of the Viet Nam Canoeing, Rowing and Sailing Federation (VCRSF), said that the sport of sailing is still new to Viet Nam, but the country is blessed with over 3,500km coastline that offers spectacular beaches, and it is rich in rivers, streams, lakes and canals. Therefore, Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, has great potential for developing sailing sport. Sailing has been one of the Olympic sports since the first Olympic Games (known as yachting until 2000). Hence, focus should be on promoting further development of sailing sport on a wider scale across the country so that Vietnamese sailing athletes can present their country to compete in international competitions in the near future.

In its efforts to promote the development of sailing sport, Da Nang regularly hosts sailing national championships. Most recently, Viet Nam’s Sailing Youth National Championships 2023 has taken place on the Nguyen Tat Thanh Beach located in Thanh Khe District. Co-organized by the Viet Nam Boat Racing Federation and the Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports, the sailing race saw the participation of 50 male and female sailing athletes from Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Athletes competed in men's and women's events in Optimist boats (male and female competitions), laser boats, and 470 boats. In the end, Da Nang finished top of the medal table with three golds, and four silvers while Ho Chi Minh City were second with three golds, two silvers and one bronze medal, and Hai Phong were third with one gold and five bronzes.

Athlete Bui Nguyen Le Hang from the Da Nang Sailing Team shared: “The team's best achievement at this year’s Sailing National Championship will motivate us to continue our efforts to maximize our performance in the next events. Hopefully, such an event will be held annually in the city, and it will continue in the years ahead, contributing to promoting further development of this sport in the city so that we will have more opportunities to rub shoulders with the country’s best sailing athletes” .

Mr Pham Tan Chu, the Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports, said that with its favorable natural conditions, Da Nang has been chosen to build a Water Sports Training Centre by the Viet Nam Boat Racing Federation. Da Nang has created the most favorable conditions for water sports, including the sport of sailing, to develop further. In the coming time, the city will continue to host Beach Sports Championships in a bid to provide the opportunity for local sailing athletes to participate in, and improve their athletic performance, thereby, contributing to promoting further development of sports and physical activities in the city, as well as promoting the city as an attractive destination for domestic and international travellers.

Reporting by PHI NONG – Translating by H.L