KEY DATES

Leg 4 was won by Telefonica Blue at 07:00 GMT, 29 January 2009 after 11 days and 2 hours of sailing,

The Qingdao in-port race was postponed for two days and finally took place on the 9th February 2009, Ericsson 4 emerged the overall winner on the day, more information about the days racing can be found on the Qingdao in-port race page.

The fleet departed from Qingdao at 1300hrs local time on Saturday 14 February for leg 5 to Rio De Janeiro.

ABOUT QINGDAO

In less than five years, sailing's Olympic host venue, home to China's America's Cup campaign and now host to the Volvo Ocean Race's stopover in China Qingdao has gone from a relatively unknown city on the Shangdong peninsula to a location now synonymous with the world's top sailing events.

Driven by the bubbling Chinese economy, the appetite for inward investment, and rivalry with other Chinese cities, Qingdao has branded itself City of Sailing as it seeks extend beyond next year's Olympic sailing regatta.

Qingdao is a popular Chinese beach resort, a sprawling city of nearly 7.5 million inhabitants, about 350 miles southeast of Beijing, lying on JiaoZhou Bay which faces out to the Yellow Sea.

Since 1984, when Qingdao was one of 14 coastal cities opened to foreign visitors, the city has grown to become the country's fourth largest manufacturing port and a thriving resort city which draws 15 million visitors a year.

The modern downtown Qingdao now boasts a skyline to rival any western coastal city.

For all of the noise, heat and smells of the city's throbbing centre there are long ocean front promenades to enjoy; the historic 440m long Qingdao Pier, extensive beautifully laid out parks and, of course, the bathing beaches.

Typically, when the local residents are not working, they love, in summer, to remain out of doors and enjoy their ocean-side location.

The arrival of the Olympic regatta is having a profound effect on the local downtown area, and the people. Built at a cost of $440m, including the re-siting of the old shipyard, the venue covers 111 acres of land and comprises a new build Olympic village, an athletes' centre, administrative centre, a large media centre and a logistics block. All the main buildings have been sold on for further private or public use, with the exception of the admin block, which will house a comprehensive sailing centre.

A high proportion of locals has been inspired to volunteer as guides and helpers at the Games but many others have been encouraged to learn English. Even the thousands of drivers of Qingdao's taxis have been taking English lessons in a bid to ensure that visitors arrive at their preferred destination.

It is industrial and commercial success which has underpinned Qingdao's ability to vault on to the world's stage.

Out and about in Qingdao, just as in most modern cities, the experiences of traditional and modern cultures can be seen side by side.

Walk through the streets in the heat of the evening and you'll catch the city's older generation crouched beside each other on any convenient step, kerbside, or public square simply passing the time of day over a cup of noodles.

In any open space you might catch individuals lost in their own world or in groups practising 'wushu' - or more often Kung Fu or Tai Chi. Wushu is the correct term for all Chinese martial arts but in effect it has become an aesthetic and athletic performance and competitive sport.

Inside the city centres the Jusco's superstore is in full swing for the evening and the modern cityscape is all but indistinguishable from a big western city. The bars and restaurants offer an increasing range of European style Italian, French, German, Indian Russian and English restaurants and a steadily growing number of cocktail bars.

In Port Race - Useful Links
Download In Port Race Course Information (PDF 482kb)