Please select your home edition
Edition
Excess Catamarans

HKSF Int Open Dinghy Regatta 2006

by Guy Nowell / Sail World Asia on 3 Oct 2006
Isamu Sakai and Bryan Tse (HKG, 420) had the Open class sewn up on Day 1 - HK Int Dinghy Open 2006 Guy Nowell http://www.guynowell.com
The last day of the Hong Kong Sailing Federation (HKSF) International Open Dinghy Regatta was bright, hazy, and not nearly as windy as either the competitors would have liked of the HK Observatory had forecast.

Despite moments of breezy optimism, RO Jimmy Farquhar eventually sent the combined Open fleet of 18 starters away in 8 knots of breeze from due north. It was the 470s that led the way to the top mark, only to be overtaken by the 29ers on the trip out to the wing. Richard Knight and Make Halkes, currently running a campaign to represent Hong Kong in the 46er class at the next Olympics, were very realistic about the conditions: ‘We needed more breeze to point upwind, and more breeze to plane downwind. 29ers are rather like those ‘sinker’ windsurf boards – they need a certain minimum windspeed to get going at all.’

Never mind the lack of wind, Halkes and Knight nipped smartly round the course at the front of the fleet, sailing in (some) pressure all the way to the finish. Then the breeze died, leaving almost everyone else struggling, and giving the 29er their first bullet of the regatta.

The leading 420 crew of Isamu Sakai and Bryan Tse (HKG) struggled home in 11th place – their worst of the regatta, and the only one below 3rd.

The Optimist fleet shot off en masse to the right hand side of the course, and rounded the top mark in a tight bunch with Yann Cudennec (HKG) in the lead. Even though they were sailing a substantially shorter course than the Open fleet, the Oppies also got caught by the dying breeze, and their course was shortened at the Committee Boat where Erica Leung sneaked past Akira Sakai on a gasp of air to win by something less than a second – one point that was enough to give her the overall championship.

After a ‘wait-for-the-breeze break’ of 45 minutes or so, the wind piped up to 11 knots, and the fleets were away on a starboard-rounding course. But the promise didn’t hold, and most of the race was sailed in 5-6 knots of breeze only.

The Open fleet split evenly off the start line, with the right handers staying in just a little more pressure to mostly make it to the top first. The trip out to the wing mark led the fleet into a little more breeze, but it was back to the very light stuff for the sausage, with some of the Laser Standard competitors showing remarkable skill in rolling and sculling down the run. Nearly all boats got home before the cut-off.


The Laser Standard fleet decided that there was to be no more racing, but the Race Committee waited very patiently on the off chance that the wind would return. However, at 14.20, and with a mere 4 knots on the clock, the RO fired three guns and hoisted N over A, bringing to an end a well-contested series.

Open class was won by Isamu Sakai and Bryan Tse in a 420. They took a substantial lead over the fleet on Day 1 with three first places, and never looked back. ‘Three third places on Day 2 meant we were being a little TOO consistent’ said Tse. But a 2-point cushion at the end of Day 3 was enough to give them the Championship in front of the Hong Kong 470 crew of Cheung Ka Ho and Tong Ping Shun.

It was tight scoring at the top of the Optimist fleet, with Erica Leung taking the title away from Akira Sakai by a single point, and Yann Cudennec only three point behind that.


It is evident that the amount of work put in by the Hong Kong Youth Squad over the last few months is paying off. It is only a shame that the visitor turnout for Hong Kong’s premier dinghy regatta was not bigger.

Results:
Open Dinghy
1 Sakai/Tse 420 HKG 12 points
2 Cheung/Tong 470 HKG 14 points
3 Liu Ke Laser CHN 17 points
Optimist
1 Erica Leung HKG 09 points
2 Akira Sakai HKG 10 points
3 Yann Cudennec HKG 13 points
Topper
1 Chan Chi Lok HKG 07 points
2 Danny Sum HKG 13 points
3 Kwok Yuen Kee HKG 16 points

Excess CatamaransBarton Marine Pipe GlandsHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup 2025 | D3 Inshore Racing Videos
More light and tricky conditions on the Solent. Three races? More light and tricky conditions on the Solent. Three races?
Posted today at 1:55 am
O'pen Skiff World Championship in Japan
Team USA delivers a solid performance Five US sailors traveled to Nishinomiya, Japan for six days of challenging conditions, hot temperatures, and world class sailing. USA sailor Lucas Doran was in third place in the U17 fleet before the final day of racing.
Posted on 24 Jul
Admirals Cup: Day 4 - All hanging on the Fastnet.
The end of the beginning of the 2025 Admirals' Cup. Rán runs aground - claims redress. Today marked the End of the Beginning of the 2025 Admirals' Cup with the conclusion of Inshore racing on what is known as the "Central Solent". The Baltic teams' TP52 Rán hit a sandbank and has claimed redress.
Posted on 24 Jul
Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49ers Series
Happening for the first time at Hamilton Island Race Week Palm Beach Motor Yachts is proud to be the naming rights sponsor of the Palm Beach Motor Yachts Trans-Tasman 49er Series, which will debut at the 2025 Hamilton Island Race Week, celebrating its 40th edition in August.
Posted on 24 Jul
Less than 48 hours to Rolex Fastnet Race
Battle lines are being drawn up Battle lines are being drawn up for the RORC's centenary Rolex Fastnet Race. As the final day of Admiral's Cup inshore racing took place in the Solent, so several yachts due to take part in Saturday's main event were out training.
Posted on 24 Jul
A Day at the WASZP Games
Video interviews with some of the sailors and supporters of the class The WASZP Games 2025, being held at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy in the UK, has attracted 248 of the foiling dinghies to take part in a week of varied and high intensity racing.
Posted on 24 Jul
Admiral's Cup David Maynard Thursday Gallery
First race of the day, captured for our viewing pleasure David Maynard was out on the water to catch the action from the first on Thursday of the Admiral's Cup Inshore Racing.
Posted on 24 Jul
World Sailing's inaugural Impact Report
Charting a new course for a sustainable future in sport World Sailing, the global governing body for the sport of sailing, today released its first Impact Report, a comprehensive overview of the federation's significant progress in environmental sustainability and social contribution.
Posted on 24 Jul
Yoann Richomme returns to Fastnet
Says Elodie Bonafous' is the boat to beat This weekend's biennial Rolex Fastnet Race - one of the oldest classics in sailing - sees the IMOCA Class return to the racetrack, with eight boats on the startline on Saturday for what is the second round of this year's IMOCA Globe Series Championship.
Posted on 24 Jul
2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior Worlds kicks off
Over 20 races scheduled across eight days, with the world's top young windsurfers chasing the title The world's fastest young windsurfers are arriving in Brittany as the 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships get under way in Brest.
Posted on 24 Jul