ITALY’S Guido Cappellini won the Shenzhen race of the F1 Powerboat World Championship yesterday at Shenzhen Bay, with a time of 57 minutes and 39.11 seconds.

The powerboat race was one of two international water sports events which concluded in Shenzhen yesterday, with the three-day China Cup International Regatta (CCIR) ending in Daya Bay on the same day.

The Australian boat Quantum Racing won the CCIR title yesterday, followed by Hong Kong boats Jelik and Mandrake.

Al Qamzi Thani from the U.A.E. finished second in the powerboat race with 11 minutes and 50 seconds, while Selio Sami from Finland came in third with 14 minutes and 53 seconds in the fourth round of the F1 powerboat race.

China’s Peng Linwu crashed out in lap 29 to end the host nation’s challenge in the race.

The race was almost marred by an accident which took place when French driver Philippe Chiappe of the Atlantic Team and Swedish driver Jonas Andersson collided. However, both drivers escaped serious injury.

“The success of the powerboat race is a precious experience for Shenzhen to host international games and a rehearsal for the coming 2011 Universiade,” Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng said yesterday after the awards ceremony.

引用：“The success of the powerboat race is a precious experience for Shenzhen to host international games and a rehearsal for the coming 2011 Universiade,” Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng said yesterday after the awards ceremony.

City plans to set up water sports school

SHENZHEN, which has 230 kilometers of coastline, will speed up the development of its water sports industry by setting up a water sports training school.

The city is working on detailed plans for the school, which will be located in Dapeng, Longgang District.

The school, the second water sports training base in China, following the Qingdao sailing school in Shandong Province, will train sailors and athletes, according to Shenzhen Vice Mayor Liang Daoxing ,Liang said the school will help popularize water sports such as sailing, wind surfing and water skiing.

Shenzhen has more than 200 yachts, the largest number in China, according to Liang.

If Shenzhen is chosen by the Union Internationale Motonautique as its Aisa headquarters Sunday, the city will kick off projects to develop the Shenzhen Bay area into a center for water sports, tourism and leisure.