Bart’s Bash 2014 at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in Victoria Harbour

by RHKYC Media on 21 Sep 2014 RHKYC’s contribution to the ‘Largest Sailing Event in the World’ took place on Sunday 21 September in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.

Losing dinghies and big boats to Aberdeen Boat Club’s opening regatta accounted for absent boats and sailors for the harbour event, however 11 enthusiastic boats from the Etchells, Ruffian, Flying Fifteen, Impala and Big Boat fleets turned out for the scheduled warning signal of 1050hrs.


With early signs of six to seven knots northerly available for the race, a 2945m course was laid between Kowloon Bay and PWD mark, using the start-finish line as a gate on the upwind leg in accordance with the Sailing Instructions.

The fleet‘s patience was tested, as Race Officer Sofia Mascia had no choice but to AP the start sequence when the breeze shifted by 20 degrees, then died. It seemed that every time the preparatory signal was sounded, the breeze died to around 1kt, and Mascia was forced to AP a further three times before the start gun coincided with a 5kt breeze and the race was able to get underway nearly 40 minutes behind schedule.

A very fickle breeze coupled with an ebb tide made life extremely difficult for all competitors and there were absolutely no complaints at all when the RO shortened course at the end of the first lap. Etchells Dream On, helmed by Greg Farrell, was first over the line in a fierce contest with Ruffian Scallywag, helmed by Oliver Cully.

After correction with RHKATI handicaps, Scallywag was declared the winner of the first RHKYC Bart’s Bash, with Ruffian Hombre in second and Hong Kong Ffooey in third.

Event website