New Zealander Mike Sanderson has been appointed skipper of the first Chinese team to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race later this year.

Sanderson, twice a winner of the round-the-globe sailing competition, will skipper Team Sanya which will include experienced sailors and relatively raw Chinese debutants.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to race under the flag of such a great country and culture,” said Sanderson, 40, at the Team Sanya launch in Beijing.

“We’re assembling a very strong team for the race and we’re all ready to take on this exciting challenge.

“Our approach will be one of compelling intent, working fast and smart, representing this great country and team with ambition and colourful energy.”

The world’s most gruelling offshore yachting event starts in Alicante, in Spain, in autumn 2011 and includes stopovers in Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya (China), Auckland, Itajai (Brazil), Miami, Lisbon and Lorient in northwestern France.

The race will finish in Galway, Ireland, in summer of 2012.