As the country's first marina and 6th in Asia, the Nansha Marina has stood out by getting involved in the sports field actively.

Eric Fok (R), Commodore of the Nansha Marina talks with a journalist from China Daily on Aug 14, 2011. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Eric Fok, Commodore of the yacht club, said the marina provides a social platform for all like-minded people of all ages, including the country's future sports stars.

"We have already set up Optimistic (O-P) training courses for youths," he said during an interview with China Daily. "And we will set up more nautical classes in the future in a bid to promote China's water sports, maintain the sports spirit and enhance people's nautical knowledge."

The Optimist is a single-handed sailing dinghy, the smallest size of Olympic-class vessels intended for use by children up to the age of 15.

The Nansha Marina is a newly developed luxury marina club located at Nansha, South China's Guangdong province, and operated by the Fok Ying Tung Group. Its total area will be approximately 170,000 square meters, with 352 yacht berths and room for another 100 dry docked yachts. It will be the largest-scale marina in Guangzhou, offering the most docks and berths.