'Merrymaid' joins the 2013 Aberdeen Boat Club Classic Yacht Rally

by Kevin Lewis on 2 May 2013 In an age when words like vintage and classic are increasingly disappearing from the vocabulary and in a city where old is synonymous with obsolete, Hong Kong’s Aberdeen Boat Club continues to celebrate sailing craft of bygone days. Yachts with classic lines, with character and history, will once again meet together for this annual event held off the South of Hong Kong Island, this year on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May.

'Merrymaid', pictured here, was built by the Camper and Nicholson shipyard in Gosport in 1904. After being fully restored in 2008, she is undertaking an extensive global circumnavigation and hopes to remain in Hong Kong until the end of 2013. She will be joined this year by over 20 classic yachts, including the 118 year old 78 foot ketch 'Rona'.

ABC’s Kevin Lewis is enthusiastic about the event 'it’s a unique celebration of style and design' he says. ' All too often we aim for the latest, newest and often most expensive car, gadget or yacht. There’s more to sailing than being the fastest boat out there; it’s a feeling; an appreciation of character and individualism. The very act of maintaining an older yacht (or car) becomes part of the pleasure in owning her. How often do you see owners of Ferrari’s doing their own maintenance?'

Held annually, the Aberdeen Boat Club Classic Yacht Rally is unique in the region and follows in the footsteps of great classic yacht events elsewhere in the world. 2013 will see some of the Hong Kong’s most unique and impressive yachts taking part. This year’s race starts at 2pm in Stanley Bay, the fleet stays overnight in Tai Tam Bay, takes a longer 'Islands Race' and returns to Deep Water Bay for a prize giving on Sunday afternoon.

Further details are available from: KeelboatSailing@abclubhk.com
Enquiries regarding press coverage: DinghySailing@abclubhk.com
Event details are available online at http://www.abclubhk.com