QINGDAO: Accurate weather forecasts provided by a high-tech meteorological service are ensuring a smooth sailing during the 2007 Qingdao International Regatta.

According to weather monitoring and data compiled at last year's event, weather conditions in Qingdao are currently ideal for an Olympic Sailing Regatta.

State-of-the-art equipments including five island-based automated weather stations, a weather buoy, an observation boat and a meteorological tower, to name just a few, are in place for the event testing readiness for the 2008 Olympics.

During the corresponding regatta last year, 116 competitions across 11 sailing classes were contested and completed, representing a 92 percent completion rate that exceeded both test events for the Athens and Sydney Olympic Games.

Accurate and timely weather forecast and the efficiency of the service have already earned praise from the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and the municipal government.

"Qingdao is ready," vice president of ISAF David Kellett said. "There is no problem to hold 2008 Olympic sailing competition right now.

"Using 2006 meteorological work as reference, we are preparing for 2007 Qingdao International Regatta in light of 2008 Olympics," Qingdao Meteorological Bureau (QMB) deputy director-general Yang Yuqiang said.

More than 60 weather-monitoring staff, including seven renowned experts from China Meteorological Administration (CMA), Shanghai, Anhui and Shandong meteorological bureaux, are communicating quickly and efficiently with the Olympic Sailing Committee during the regatta.

QMB has invested 9 million yuan ($1.2 million) in building a mobile meteorological station to provide timely overall weather information.

"There are no 100 percent accurate weather forecasts in the world, but we will be 100 percent dedicated to the service for 2007 Qingdao International Regatta," Yang assured.

(China Daily 08/14/2007 page24)