RHKYC's 'game of two halves'

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 13 Sep 2016 Drag out the old chestnut: “What a difference a day makes.” Heck, it’s true! On Saturday afternoon there were sailors hanging back in the Main Bar at the RHKYC, peering gloomily out across the harbour, with the rain coming down like stair rods. Someone swore that they had just seen the ark being swept towards Lei Yue Mun on an ebbing tide.

Then it eased off a bit and everyone – including your scribe with his cameras heavily wrapped in rain sleeves and locked inside a waterproof Pelican case – felt brave enough to go sailing. But when the rain stopped, dammit, so did the breeze.

Full marks to RO Barry Truhol for perseverance as non-existent puffs and gasps (you know what I mean) appeared from 130 degrees and then dropped into the magician’s hat and reappeared from 270. It was the sort of lottery in which someone was actually rearranging the numbers as they were drawn. After three APs and a General Recall the RO decided that discretion was the better part of exasperation, and signalled N over A to the immense relief of all.

Down near Tsim Sha Tsui, the Impalas and the Flying 15s (who were actually racing – sort of) hadn’t heard the call, and were immensely relieved to be brought the news. Back to the bar, Alt+Ctrl+Del, try again tomorrow.

Curiously, and discouragingly, Sunday’s forecast was even more off-putting than Saturday’s, which may have accounted to a number of boats failing to reappear for a second slo-mo soaking.

BUT! By the time the fleet went afloat the sun was shining and there was a steady and strengthening breeze. The Ro started everyone over near Hung Hom as quickly as possible with short courses to Shau Kei Wan and back, and the intention of getting a race on the card and starting another as quickly as possible. 6kts sent everyone round the track fairly smartly, with the Big Boat divisions going all the way up to Tai Koo Shing and then back to E1, Tai Koo Shing and repeat.

As the first race ended, the breeze was sitting at a pleasant 8 kts, and the RO was able to start another sequence at 12.20, with everyone on slightly longer courses between Hung Hom. Shau Kei Wan, E2 and eventually Gate buoy. It was all over by 14.30, and (definitely) a good time was had by all. Yup, what a difference a day makes!

After a few mandatory protests (there’s always someone…), newly-installed Commodore Robert Stoneley graciously handed out the silverware, looking a little bemused (he’s an oarsman, not a sailor) and reminding everyone that the perpetual trophies were not to leave the premises. Happily, what looked like a disaster on Saturday turned itself around on the Sunday, and the RHKYC’s 2016-17 racing season is now well and truly launched.

The next big RHKYC event will be the China Coast Regatta, 22-24 October (http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/chinacoastregatta.aspx) followed by the Hainan Race starting on 02 November (http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/hkhainanrace.aspx).

Full results of the Autumn Regatta can be seen at: http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/aur2016results.aspx

Short Results (first three places only)

Big Boat div 1
1. Signal 8
2. Free Fire
3. Ambush

Big Boat div 2
1. Lighthorse
2. Sea Wolf
3. Talkinghead

Big Boat div 3
1. No One Else
2. GA
3. Zam Zammah

Dragon
1. Zephyr
2. Maiden Hong Kong
3. Celine

Etchells
1. Quest
2. King of the Pin
3. Gunga Din

Flying 15
1. Tom Ffoollery
2. Puff n Stuff
3. Kerfuffle

Impala
1. Taxi
Boss Hogg
3. Also Can

J/80
1. Footloose
2. Invictus
3. Sail La Vie

Pandora
1. Solstice
2. Panopae
3. Windfall

Ruffian
1. Larrikin
2. Schannuleke
3. Bandolero

Sportsboats
1. R2B2
2. Merlin
San Long

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