HKODA Nationals and Open 2016. A Curate's Egg - good in parts.

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 9 Oct 2016 Another full day of six races today completed the Qualifying Series in the HK Optimist National & Open Championships 2016.

There was plenty of sunshine to start the proceedings today, and wind as well, but the swinging breeze was a repeat of yesterday, and the start of racing was delayed while RO Charlie Manzoni waited for the direction to settle down. Which it did, long enough to get two races away in good order. Duncan Gregor (HKG) made the most of the light to moderate breeze, and drove home two more first places to extend his lead in the series.

The first flight of the third race went off, and then ran into almost no breeze at all on the second (reach) and third (run) legs. With a strong tide running across the course between the second and leeward marks. Meanwhile, the second flight never even made the first mark before their race was abandoned.

Back at the gate, the leading boats squeaked round, but most of the fleet found themselves swept across the course, and then having to reach for the leeward mark in almost zero pressure against the tide. It was a painful process. Those that escaped then had a very slow beat back up to the finish line – and it really was slow. The RO was considering abandoning the race, but was saved the decision when the leading boat missed the 1-hour time limit by a mere 90 seconds, and it was All Over, Rover.

The second attempt at today’s race 3 was more successful. The breeze was still light, but perfectly sailable, even if the afternoon was getting gloomier and the shadows longer by the minute. It was past 4.00pm by the time the last boats finished and sailed home to Middle Island.

Back at base, and in spite of an exceptionally long day on the water, energy levels among the young sailors seemed to be undiminished – one of the Safety drivers remarked, “I’m tired, and I wasn’t even sailing!” After a parade of national teams and flags, a surprise addition to proceedings was a lucky draw over seen by David Witt, skipper of the 100’ Scallywag that is now a ‘Hong Kong’ boat – and five lucky Optimist sailors won a day’s sailing on board the supermaxi (which is presently just south of the Philippines, en route to Hong Kong and the Volvo China Coast Cup regatta).

Followed up with a barbeque, and the young sailors, Race Management and volunteers were at Middle Island until gone 8.00pm. Tomorrow, based on scores to date, the fleet will be split into Gold and Silver for the last day’s racing. The seven Australians in the top ten are probably hoping for some stronger conditions to wrap up the event, but the HK Observatory is currently offering ‘more of the same’.

Top Ten after 6 races (*Discard):
1. Duncan Gregor (HKG) 1,1,2*,1,1,1 (5)
2. Jack Ferguson (AUS) 2,2,3,8*,2,2 (13)
3. Ryan Littlechild (AUS) 3,1,5,8*’4,1 (14)
4. Axel Fleet (AUS) 7*,2,1,4,6,2 (15)
5. Fletcher Walters (AUS) 7*,5,1,1,4,5 (16)
6. Daniel Links (AUS) 11*, 5,5,2,2,6 (20)
7. Jasmine Scholer (HKG) 17*, 3,13,5,3,4 (28)
8. Quinn Auricht (AUS) 5,3,6,3,13*,12 (29)
9. Jania Ang (SIN) 1,10*,9,7,5,8 (30)
10. Mina Ferguson (AUS) 10,7,6,6,1,47 UFD* (30)