Sailing instructors urge beginners to master the basics on artificial waterways before hitting the ocean. Photo: CFP

Pan Ting had a forgettable maiden voyage the first time she sailed. Aged 13, she struggled to control the sails and was swept overboard by a strong wave off the coast of Qingdao, Shandong Province.

"The boat capsized suddenly, trapping me underneath its sail. The sail stuck to the water's surface like glue and the ropes became tangled. I had to struggle to swim up for air," recalled Pan, now aged 24.

But her determination to stick with the sport would pay off eight years later when she was selected to represent China at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, even though Pan narrowly missed out on a medal in the J-80 open event.

Pan now spends most of her time on calmer waters at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park, where she is a sailing instructor. Despite her own baptism of fire in sailing, she insists it is better to learn on an artificial waterway.

"Sometimes even when your technique is right, the yacht doesn't react how you want it to because of the wind and other factors. [Sailing at the park] is a bit like learning to swim at a pool instead of the ocean," Pan said of her club, which charges 3,500 yuan ($570) for a 10-hour course that teaches basic sailing skills.

Sailing is picking up speed in China, where the number of yachts is predicted to increase to about 100,000 in 2020, the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association said in its annual report released in May.

Those in Beijing wanting the authentic experience of conquering the sea have to travel slightly further to Qinhuangdao, a port city in Hebei Province.

Li Xiaoheng, 50, has sailed at Qinhuangdao regularly since 2011. A member of the Beijing Sailing Center, Li insists nothing beats the feeling of wind blowing in your sails.

"I feel like a fish skimming over the sea. When the wind causes waves to swell and sea spray hits you ... it feels exciting," he explained.

Away from the water, Li works at an architectural firm. Sailing allows him to forget about pressures of work because the sport demands intense concentration, he said.

"If you're absent-minded even for a second, your sailboat can lose speed or even capsize," said Li.

One of Li's fondest sailing experiences took place in March, when he and six other crewmen were followed by a pod of dolphins for half an hour as they sailed their 40-foot yacht from Haikou to Sanya in Hainan Province.

"It was around dusk when we were joined by two dolphins," he said. "Gradually, more joined us until there were 40 dolphins leading our vessel. We were so excited that we shouted like kids. It was the first time any of us had seen so many dolphins."

Li claimed the dolphins were an auspicious omen, saying days later he won a local IRC sailing competition.

Kyle Hurst began his job as an instructor at the Beijing Sailing Center in April. The 26-year-old said Qinghuangdao's weather and sailing conditions are more favorable than in his native Scotland.

"Today the temperature is about 35 degrees Celsius, but in Scotland it's 15 degrees this time of year," he said.

Hurst claims 15 hours of sailing lessons divided over two days is usually sufficient for beginners to master basic sailing skills.

"I always tell people learning [to sail] to enjoy the sport. I have always enjoyed ... the freedom of choosing where to sail, as well as enjoying the sounds of the wind, waves and boat," he said.