The 2019 Fujian Teenagers Sailing and Windsurfing Championships will kick off in Xiamen, eastern Fujian province, on Aug 25-31, according to local media reports.

Participants will be categorized into three groups to fight for the championships.

Sailing originated from waterborne craft used by ancient people living besides the sea or rivers and maritime experts say modern sailing sports started in the Netherlands. In the middle of the 17th century, King Charles II of England brought the sport to the United Kingdom.

The earliest prototypes of a modern sailboard dates back to 1968 when Californians received the first patent for the invention and called their design a windsurfer. The sport quickly spread throughout North America, and by the late 1970s it had become widely popular in Europe.

The 2019 Fujian Teenagers Sailing and Windsurfing Championships is set to kick off in Xiamen, eastern Fujian province, on Aug 25-31. [Photo/taihainet.com]