RHKYC Spring Regatta - Fantastic final day off Kellett Island

by Lindsay Lyons, RHKYC on 19 May 2013 At the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Spring Regatta, RO Simon Boyde scoured the harbour and managed to conjure up a 3 to 10kt Westerly in the central area just off Kellett Island. Sunday dawned with the same overcast and humid conditions encountered on day one of the Regatta.

Setting up the start line in a 100 degree swing, Boyde was prepared to wait for the breeze to settle, however the weather gods smiled on him, the wind stabilised in the west and racing got underway as scheduled in 8kts and sunshine.

89 of the 96 entrants turned out for the second day of racing, with the Flying Fifteen Fleet forming the largest class with 14 entrants. The first race set everyone off on a simple two lap course giving maximum exposure to Hong Kong’s best harbour vantage points. The second race of the day used the same course, with the Flying Fifteens shortened at one lap.

A fantastic day was had by all, with a top breeze of 14kts. There were three protests heard and, after the RHKYC Pipe Band had entertained the masses, a rowdy prizegiving took place on the Lawn with prizes presented by Wellock Lo, distributor of Old Pulteney scotch whiskey and Chang soda water and Emily Wong from Official Regatta Beer sponsor, Heineken.

Class Winners

Big Boat Division one – Peninsula Signal eight / Jamie McWilliam
Big Boat Division two – Red Kite II – Anthony Root
Big Boat HKPN – Happy Hou – Harry Leong
Dragon – Eaux Vives – Joseph Chu
Etchells – Gunga Din – Nick Burns
Flying Fifteen – French Fries – Akira Takada
Impala – Impala one – Mike Burrell
J/80 – Sea Biscuit – David Fan
Pandora – Windfall – Tom Ho
Ruffian – Victory nine – Li Fook Hing
Magic 25 – Fly By Wire – Frank van Kempen