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Conveniently located and equipped with advanced facilities, the scenic Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre will be officially opened tomorrow (October 24).
Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre is the first water sports centre under the management of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) with a control room. The advanced equipment makes the centre a perfect place for staging large-scale and international competitions. An open windsurfing competition will be held at the centre from October 26 to 30.
With the technologically advanced monitoring systems, staff can monitor the conditions of the water sports players on the beach and in the sea. Water sports activities can be further promoted as enthusiasts are encouraged to hone their skills and share their experience at the water sports centre.
An LCSD spokesman said that at present, the water sports centres managed by the department were all very popular among members of the public. "St Stephen¡¦s Beach Water Sports Centre and Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre are located in urban areas. Due to different geographical features and weather conditions, Tai Tam Bay in Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre is relatively calm and less windy in summer, making it an ideal place for water sports novices to acquire the basic skills,¡¨ he said. ¡§While in autumn, the heavy seas at Tai Tam Bay provide a perfect platform for water sports lovers to display their skills.
¡§St Stephen¡¦s Beach Water Sports Centre provides excellent conditions for water sports enthusiasts to upgrade their skills in the summer, whereas novices can train during the autumn when the waters in the centre are less choppy.
¡§Complementing each other, Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre and St Stephen¡¦s Beach Water Sports Centre provide the best training places for water sports lovers at all levels throughout the year,¡¨ the spokesman added.
Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre offers structured training courses on dinghy sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. Novices can start off with the beginner courses and advance step-by-step at their own pace to the professional levels.
In addition to scheduled training courses, individuals and organisations can also apply to arrange for tailor-made courses, with the course contents and meeting times suited to their needs.
¡§Various models of sailing dinghies, windsurfers and kayaks are also available for hire by holders of corresponding qualification certificates,¡¨ the spokesman noted.
Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre will be open from 8.30am to 5pm daily except Wednesdays. Enquiries can be made on 2813 9117.
The LCSD manages four other water sports centres, namely Chong Hing Water Sports Centre, St Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre, Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre and Jockey Club Wong Shek Water Sports Centre.
More details of the activities of the water sports centres are available at www.lcsd.gov.hk/watersport/en/index.php.
Ends/Sunday, October 23, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:01
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