Sail-World Asia's 'got a bit on'

by Guy Nowell www.sail-world.com on 28 Sep 2015 ‘Got a bit on’ over the next few weeks: tonight heading out of Hong Kong to Genoa (via Munich) for the Genoa Boat Show (29 Sep – 02 Oct).

Sure, it’s smaller than it used to be before the GFC, but for someone brought up on a steady diet of Asian boat shows, something with 500 boats in the water and another 1,000 exhibitors indoors looks pretty impressive. The real difference of course is that Asian boat shows are shop windows for agents and brokers, and the European shows are showcases for the manufacturers with new models and complete ranges of boats on display.

Then it’s straight back to Hong Kong for the RHKYC’s China Coast Regatta (9-11 October), something I look forward to every year. Partly it’s loyalty (heck, I’ve been a member of the Club since 1982… 33 years!) but also because when the northeast monsoon gets pumping this regatta produces the best and most testing racing conditions of any inshore event in Asia. And that means great photos, too. Fingers crossed for LOTS of breeze.

The very next day I am back on a plane Hong Kong-Singapore-London-Bermuda (just over 33 hours in Economy… going to need anaesthetics) so as to be there in time for the next Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event (16-18 October).

The AC and the ACWS always attract attention, not all of it favourable, so let’s go and see what it’s all about. And anyway, I’ve never seen a boat ‘fly’ and I’ve never been to Bermuda. And then back to Hong Kong. It would be a glamour trip if I could persuade Bermuda Tourism or ACEA to spring some First Class tickets, but the catch is the ‘if’.

Straight back to Hong Kong via London (another 33 hours) for the start of the Etchells Worlds on 31 October. There’s the Around the Island Race on 15 November, and then it’s back on airport duty and the big shiny bird to get to and from the Raja Muda in Malaysia (20-28 November), the Phuket King’s Cup (Thailand, 7-12 December) and the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous, also in Phuket (16-18 December). Sail-World coverage is pretty much global!

If only I were doing all the trips on the same airline... think of the miles!

PS. What Guy does not tell you, is that he was at Hamilton Island in Australia for Race Week last month too!! (RK)