China's legendary navigator Zheng He (1371-1435) headed a fleet on a global expedition in the early 15th century and is believed to have set foot in the "new world".

Six hundred years later, China is once again on a voyage of discovery after agreeing to host two stopovers on the 2008/9 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, the world's premier round-the-world sailing race.

At a press conference on Wednesday organizers from China Water Sports Administration Center, China Yachting Association (CYA) and Volvo Event Management announced that they will select two cities to host the prestigious event.

Wei Di, director of the Administration Center, hailed the arrival of the race: "It's a new voyage for Chinese sailing. We are going to write a new chapter in China's sailing history."

The event is another step forward for Chinese sailing, coming in the wake of the nation's Americas Cup debut two years ago.

The overall level of the sport remains low, however, as despite the booming economy in coastal cities investment in sailing infrastructure has been virtually non-existent.

Along 18,000 kilometers of coastline there are just 10 yachting clubs, the biggest of which only has a dozen boats.

'This is a good opportunity for China," Wei said. "As a beginner in the sport, we can learn a lot."

China stops

The race will start from Alicante, Spain in October 2008 and will make stops in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America and Europe before finishing in a yet-to-be-decided Baltic port in June 2009.

The 10-member plus media crews will sail 39,000 nautical miles and visiting up to 12 ports.

The fleet will arrive in China around Spring Festival in 2009. It will stay for about three weeks, during which various activities such as an in-port race will take place, before the boats head across the Pacific Ocean.

The identity of the Chinese host cities will be decided once organizers have inspected port facilities in seven candidate cities.

"Nothing is decided yet," said Glenn Bourke, CEO of Volvo Event Management. "Negotiations with all ports are still going on."

Considering the high standards the host city has to meet in terms of economic development level, construction of facilities and cultural influence, financial hub Shanghai and Qingdao, host city of the Beijing 2008 sailing competition, are seen as frontrunners in the bidding race.

"We have to make sure the local government supports the stopover. Qingdao and Shanghai are (among) those we are looking at," Bourke said.

Officials hope the race can give the sport's development a shot in the arm.

"Our focus used to be on the Olympic Games all the time," Wei said. "But that's not enough."

Chinese sailors have started to make waves in the international circuit led by Xu Lijia, winner of the women's Laser Radial World Championships in the United States last year. But the overall level stills lags well behind world leaders such as Great Britain and France.

"We will assist Chinese Yachting Association in training from entry to elite level," said George Blake, commercial director of Volvo Event Management.

Cooperation deal

Moves are afoot to enter a Chinese team in the race following the signing of a cooperation agreement between CYA and Volvo.

However entering a team in the world's most demanding ocean race is a major endeavor, not least because of the finances involved.

The 21x6 meter yachts cost in the region of 200 million yuan ($25.6 million), and then there is the cost of running the crew.

The Chinese team raised about $19 million to participate in the America's Cup, but this was still the lowest budget among the 12 boats.

"The entry fee for the Volvo race is definitely much higher than the America's Cup," said Li Quanhai, vice-head of CYA. "We need to raise the funds from sponsorship and commercial interest."