The Course
680 nautical miles around Hainan Island
The 15th Round Hainan Regatta offers two offshore race courses designed for different levels of sailing challenge. As set out in the 2026 Notice of Race, the Full Round now sails clockwise around Hainan Island — heading west from Sanya, up the western seaboard, across the Qiongzhou Strait, and back down the eastern coast through seven strategic waypoints.
Full Round
680 NM
Sanya → Dongfang → Yang Pu → Haikou → Qinglan → Wanning → Lingshui → Sanya. A clockwise circumnavigation of Hainan Island.
Half Round
280 NM
Sanya → Lingshui → Sanya. A shorter coastal route along the southern and southeastern shores, ideal for crews new to offshore racing.
Inshore Races
Day Races
Multiple windward-leeward and buoy races held in Sanya's protected waters for close-quarters action.
Clockwise Around Paradise
Solid dark blue marks the Racing Route around Hainan Island; dashed orange marks the Non-Racing Route near Haikou.
Official Documents
Full text of the 2026 Notice of Race and supporting documents. Click any card to read the complete document.
Notice of Race
The full 2026 Notice of Race governing the 15th Round Hainan Regatta — rules, entries, schedule, and scoring.
Recommended On-Water Penalties
Umpire observation procedures, flag signals, and how on-water penalties are applied during racing.
Port Information
Coordinates, berths, VHF channels and depths for the host port and all emergency ports of call.
Disclaimer of Liability
Mandatory disclaimer and declaration to be signed by every competitor prior to participation.
Inspection List — Category 3
Full equipment inspection checklist for Race Category 3 (with liferaft) Monohulls per OSR requirements.
KEY WAYPOINTS
Seven strategic points along the clockwise circumnavigation
Race Course Details
Choose your challenge
Full Round
Sanya → Dongfang → Yang Pu → Haikou → Qinglan → Wanning → Lingshui → Sanya
The ultimate test of offshore sailing. As set out in the 2026 Notice of Race, the Full Round takes competitors on a clockwise circumnavigation of Hainan Island, passing seven strategic waypoints — Dongfang, Yang Pu, Haikou, Qinglan, Wanning and Lingshui — before the final run back to Sanya. Teams face varied conditions as they round the island, from the exposed western seaboard, through the busy Qiongzhou Strait in the north, and back down the trade-wind eastern coast.
Key Features
- Clockwise circumnavigation of Hainan Island
- Passing 7 strategic waypoints per 2026 Notice of Race
- Exposed west-coast racing from Sanya via Dongfang to Yang Pu
- Navigation through busy shipping lanes near Haikou
- Trade-wind eastern seaboard sprint from Qinglan home to Sanya
- Multiple nights at sea required for a competitive finish
Half Round
Sanya → Lingshui → Sanya
A shorter but no less challenging course for crews looking for a competitive offshore race without the full circumnavigation. The Half Round takes competitors east along Hainan's southern coastline to Lingshui as the turning waypoint, before the sprint back to Sanya. Certain legs may be run as non-race delivery segments to align with the Full Round schedule.
Key Features
- Southern and southeastern coastal route
- Ideal for crews new to offshore racing
- Stunning coastal scenery throughout
- Tactical wind shifts near Lingshui peninsula
- Non-race delivery segments between certain legs
- Same start and finish as Full Round in Sanya