Vistra Hobie Asian Championship - World’s best catamaran sailors race
by Peter Frauchiger on 23 Oct 2014
Impression from the starting line - VISTRA Hobie Asian Championship 2014 Peter Kuoo
2014 Vistra Hobie Asian Championship - Many top international catamaran sailors competed in the Vistra Hobie Asian Championship (HAC) 2014 held on 18 -19 October in Hong Kong in strong winds that often exceeded 20 knots.
Winning all races on both days was Damrongsak Vongtim and Kitsada Vongtim from Thailand who recently came second in this year’s Asian Games. The current Hobie Asian Champion 2014, Damrongsak is a two-times Asian Games winner, Asian Sailing Champion 2014 as well as multiple Thai national champion.
In hot pursuit securing second place were Hong Kong stalwarts Tong Shing and Kit Tong who came third in the recent Asian Games.
Third place went to 2007 Hobie 16 world champion and 2011 Australian champion Mick Butler. Local girl Kate Lai was his crew for the two days.
A total of 27 teams competed in the HAC including entrants from Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines, together with Hong Kong’s own Hobie 16 regulars.
As the 20th year that such an international event has been organized by the Hong Kong Hobie Club (HKHC), this was an important anniversary for Hong Kong’s thriving catamaran scene.
Says Mick Butler, 'the standard of racing, the water and the wind conditions were all fantastic. It was a real honour for me to compete and help support the Hong Kong Hobie 16 scene.'
Running in tandem with Vistra HAC on both days was the IAE Open Catamaran Cup which – as the name suggests – was open to all other sports catamarans, mainly spinnaker-flying F18s and F17s.
All races on both days were won by Michael Scantlebury and David Harris sailing a Hobie Wildcat.
Held near Tai Tam Bay, the event featured a series of geometric courses. A full program of social events including beachside barbeques was laid on for sailors and guests.
Says Hong Kong Hobie Club Commodore Peter Frauchiger, 'it was a fantastic event. The wind, and the weather played along real well, and sailors had to be constantly on guard with huge gusts that could capsize boats and dash dreams of winning in an instant! All participants had a fanatastic time on and off the water – greatly enjoying each other's company. The international crowd from all over Asia really spiced up the event.'
This exciting competition was made possible thanks to our two main sponsors Vistra Hong Kong – provider of trust, fiduciary, corporate and fund services – and the Institute of Accountants Exchange (IAE).
Located on To Tei Wan Beach in Tai Tam Bay, the Hong Kong Hobie Club has a diverse membership of local and expat sailors of all ages. Open to anyone who wants to sail Hobie Cats, the club offers a low-cost, grass roots approach to sailing and a welcoming community of enthusiastic sailors who race regularly.
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