2015 Audi China Coast Regatta – Big breezes for Day 3 + Video

by RHKYC Media on 12 Oct 2015 2015 Audi China Coast Regatta – With boats on fair warning that their journey to the start line east of Po Toi would take some time, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Middle Island sailing centre was a hive of activity from early this morning, with may boats taking the opportunity to put in a reef before venturing out to the limits of Hong Kong waters.

Race Officer Sofia Mascia was on the race area early and, finding 25 knots plus of solid northerly and a very lumpy sea state, displayed the AP until the breeze softened enough to anchor the committee boat and lay a start line. Having originally planned to give the IRC Racer divisions one, or possibly two quick windward leewards, Mascia elected instead to set them an islands course along with IRC Premier and HKPN in order not to compromise any of the boats intending to compete in the Hong Kong to Vietnam on Thursday 15th October.

Several boats dropped out of the running before the start, preferring to return to the calmer waters of Victoria Harbour, but when the starts finally got underway in 20 knots, an hour and 20 minutes behind schedule 29 boats were still keen to continue racing.

The heavier breeze caused a few upsets at the start, with ARK323 from Racer 0 crossing the line early before exonerating herself. Racer 1 were all clear, then Premier had a punchy start with Xena and Lighthorse both over early, Xena exonerating herself and Lighthorse retiring for the day.

Syd Fischer’s Team Ragamuffin retired with a headsail problem after reaching the first Club mark, while in IRC Premier, Clove Hitch also decided she had seen enough.

After an islands course taking in Waglan, Sung Kong, Steep, Ninepins and Basalt, Ray Roberts on Millenium Racing lifted his third consecutive China Coast Regatta trophy with a picket fence of five wins, ahead of Sam Chan’s Freefire. In Racer 1, Marcel Liedts’ Zannekin held off Steve Manning and Anthony Roots brand new Black Baza while in Racer 2, William Liu’s Seawolf pipped Lowell Chang’s Dexter II by two points and Rob Berkley and Gaston Chan’s Calamansi claimed Racer 3 ahead of Lady Butterfly, helmed by J.C. Broyelle.

Having completed their scheduled five races, both IRC Premier Division and HKPN enjoyed a discard, with Peter Forsythe and Jing Lee lifting the IRC Premier trophy for Xena just one point ahead of Moonblue 2 and Herman Wong’s Kiasu beating Dean Chisholm’s Darling on countback to claim the HKPN silverware.