Lianwei Zhang makes a splash in the Volvo Ocean Race

China’s most successful golfer Lianwei Zhang made a splash in the Volvo Ocean Race by jumping off the stern of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team’s yacht.

The epic round-the-world challenge takes the racing yachts from China to New Zealand 

At the start of each leg a celebrity or notable person jumps off into the water at the final marker point of the inshore section.

After a short inshore section at the start of leg 4, close to the Sanya Race Village, ADOR’s celebrity guest made his spectacular jump.
I was a little nervous about jumping but in the end I just stepped up and went for it” Zhang – the first pro-golfer from China to play a tournament in Abu Dhabi – said he had never experienced anything like sailing on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team’s yacht ‘Azzam’. 

The 49-year-old, who had one win on the European Tour to his name, said: “The crew are amazing. 

“I didn’t realise how hard these boats are to sail. The crew really has to be super fit and there is a lot all going on at the same time. I was a little nervous about jumping but in the end I just stepped up and went for it.”

Leg 4 is expected to take the fleet about 21 days to complete with the leader predicted to cross the finish line in Auckland on or around March 1.

Click the video to see Zhang’s jump

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