Some of the world's most famous and accomplished sailors will assemble in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, to compete at the seventh China Cup international regatta, which starts with a passage race on Oct 25 and concludes on Oct 28 after three days of short-distance racing.

With 100 boats representing 35 nations and regions racing across four divisions, the international fleet will see everyone from virtual beginners to Olympic champions.

In the SOTO 27 one-design class, Xu Lijia, China's 2012 Olympic champion in the women's singlehander, is sailing with skipper Ji Yusheng's CYA Vatti team. In the Beneteau 40.7 fleet, the helmsman of Lake of Constance is Achim Griese, a silver medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.