HAIKOU, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 Hainan Regatta (RHN Regatta) will be held from March 15 to 23 in the seas around Hainan Island, organizers said on Tuesday.

The start and finish lines will be in Haikou, with Sanya, Wanning, and Lingshui serving as stopover cities.

The Regatta is open to Dubois 50 One-Design Class ships and IRC Class ships. IRC Class ships include IRC Full-Round Groups (F) and IRC Half-Round Groups (H). Racing teams in the Dubois 50 One-Design Class can participate in the Haikou-Sanya-Haikou Offshore Race, while IRC Class crews can choose to participate in either the Haikou-Sanya-Haikou Offshore Race or the Haikou-Wanning-Lingshui-Haikou Offshore Race.

The top three overall winners in the IRC (F) Class and the Dubois 50 One-Design Class will receive trophies and total prize money equaling RMB 300,000 (44,000 U.S. dollars).

Founded in 2010, the Hainan Regatta forms a key component of plans to place Hainan Island on sailing's world map, and to develop yachting-related businesses in the region.