Taiwan-Ryukyu Regatta sets sail from Keelung

Taipei, June 8 (CNA) The Taiwan-Ryukyu Regatta opened Sunday in Keelung, with competitors from 14 countries sailing 31 boats in the three-stage race that ends June 12, according to the race's organizers.

The race's first stage -- an inshore race around Keelung Islet -- took place Sunday, and will be followed by a leg from Keelung to Miyakojima in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture and a marker race off the coast of Miyakojima, organizers said.

Officials from both Keelung and Miyakojima -- roughly 330 kilometers off of Taiwan's northeastern coast -- said the event not only offers a sporting challenge but also can strengthen ties and foster cooperation between the two cities.

Miyakojima Mayor Noboru Kakazu, who led an eight-member delegation to attend the race, met with Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) on Saturday, and they reaffirmed the sister-city relationship established in 2007 that was in part sparked by the regatta's success.

The Taiwan-Ryukyu Regatta was first held in 1998, with the inaugural route running from Ishigaki Island to Hualien City on Taiwan's east coast.

Initially organized by the Ryukyu islands in collaboration with the eastern Taiwan city, the event gradually expanded in scale.

Since 2004, Keelung has become a key partner in the annual event, with the host cities rotating between Keelung and Okinawan islands such as Ishigaki and Miyakojima. After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race resumed in 2023.