The event is the fifth regatta of the 2016 series and marks the start of the road to Tokyo 2020 after the Olympic action in the Brazilian city last month.

In all, 142 sailors from 21 countries are due to compete across seven Olympic classes, on water which was used for the Beijing 2008 competition.

The laser event will be among the most keenly contested classes, with Rio 2016 silver medallist Tonci Stipanovic returning to competitive action for the first time since becoming the first Croatian to win an Olympic medal in Brazil.

He will be joined in the fleet by Cyprus' London 2012 laser silver medallist Pavlos Kontides, who won his country's first-ever Olympic medal with his second place performance four years ago.

Competitions will also be held in the 470 and RS:X for both men and women, as well as men's finn and women's laser radial.

One to watch in the laser radial will be Hungary's Maria Erdi, who competed at Rio 2016 after participating in the World Sailing Emerging Nations Programme.

Her 14th place finish at the Games made her the highest place Hungarian laser radial sailor in Olympic history.

Ranking points are available for the 2016 Sailing World Cup final, which will be held in Australian city Melbourne from December 4.

Racing in Qingdao will begin tomorrow and will finish on Sunday (September 25) when champions will be crowned.