HK Optimist Sailors battle for the Championship in 20 to 25 knots

by Richard Knight on 13 Dec 2010 This year the Hong Kong Optimist Class Championships consisted of 12 races over two weekends. The first six races were sailed as part of ABC’s South Side Regatta 4 and 5 Dec and the second weekend was hosted by the RHKYC 11 and 12 Dec.

The Championships attracted over 40 sailors including sailors from Poland and India using it as part of their preparation for the World Championships later this month in Malaysia. With 15 to 25 knots this weekend, the visitors weren’t disappointed. It was a huge effort by all the sailors who managed to get through all six races in these conditions over the second weekend.

On Saturday the fleet raced in Stanley Bay. The first race was around a trapezoid course with a windward/leeward loop on the outside using a leeward gate to match the Worlds course. With the breeze building to 20 -25 knots Greg Sinclair the Regatta’s PRO opted for the single lap of the trapezoid. This still gave the sailors a 10 to 12 minute beat but it meant a short race and the fleet could save some energy for the following day.

The forecast came true and there was 20 to 25 knots from first thing on the final day. The fleet was kept onshore as the Race Management Team setup the course in Repulse Bay. With a 30 minute postponment the fleet were launched from Middle Island in what seemed to be slightly lighter conditions, 15 to 18knots. That lasted only for the first race of the day (Race 10) and by the start of the penultimate race the breeze was back up to 20 -25 knots. The conditions clearly suited the sailors from Poland with Maksymilian and Adrian sharing first and second in each of the three races demonstrating some great skills on the race course.

Wan Chi Wai from Hong Kong Sea School won the Championships counting results all that were in the top five, proving once again that consistency pays off. Cosmas Grelon from Hebe Haven Yacht Club sailed well on the last day to close the gap with Wan Chi Wai but had to settle for second. Only one point behind Maksymilian Jablecki from Poland took third.

In the Under 12yrs division Clara Krantz from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht finished first while Calum Gregor from HHYC was second and Sophie Tulloch also from RHKYC was third. With 21 sailors (half the fleet) in the Under 12yrs Division it is clear that the coming years are looking good for the Hong Kong Optimist Class.

There were also five sailors for whom this was their first major regatta and Kam Chung Man (HHSS) finished first from this group, Julian Kam (Aberdeen Boat Club) was second and Jacqueline Truhol (RHKYC) was third.

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