Penghu Regatta 2015 - And now for something completely different

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 28 May 2015 Last year we took a trip on Hairy Airways and went across to the Magong in the Penghu Islands, less than 30nm off the west coast of Taiwan, in the Taiwan Strait. For security reasons the Penghu Islands have been pretty much off-limits for a long time. The windsurfing world knows all about the area, which has a reputation for good (better – great!) and consistent wind, but the sailing fraternity hasn’t got there yet.

Access to the coast of Taiwan is no longer an issue. Not even the islands in the Taiwan Strait. So for the last two years Simpson Marine have been instrumental in organising a small regatta for the purpose of getting some boats across to the Penghu Islands in the first place, and having some fairly light-hearted racing in the second. Magong is the ‘capital’ of the little collection of Penghu islands, and the cruising in the area is pretty pretty pretty.

This year the programme is as follows:

Thursday 18th June
Passage from Tianan to Wang’an (Penghu Islands)
16:00 Boats arrive at Wan An Beach, party and Skippers’ Briefing

Friday 19th June
11:00 Race Wang’an to Magong
20:00 Skipper’s Briefing (Location tbc)

Saturday 20th June
10:00 Inshore Race in Penghu Bay.
Evening: Gala Dinner and Prizegiving

Sunday 21st June
10:00 Round The Island Race Beneteau Cup.
Evening: Gala Dinner and Prizegiving

Interested parties should contact:
Penghu County Sailing Association - Tony Chen
E-mail: polarstar02@gmail.com
Tel: (06)926-3111;Fax: 06-9267416