The Beach Race, Nha Trang

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 22 Oct 2008 There aren’t so many sailing yachts in Vietnam, but nine arrived in Nha Trang from Hong Kong over the last few days – the VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race. And in bright sunshine (mostly) and a useful 12 kts of breeze, five of the boats took on board invited guests and VinaCapital staff for the ‘Beach Race’, a brisk trip round two triangles and a sausage in front of Nha Trang beach, watched with great interest by local government officials.

The fleet was a little reduced in numbers on account of many crew having departed Nha Trang on Sunday morning, and some of the racing boats having sustained damage during the offshore race from Hong Kong – Island Fling is waiting for a new propeller to arrive, having ‘mislaid’ hers on the way south.

‘No spinnakers’ was the rule, and all boats were clear away for a half-mile fetch to the top mark in front of Nha Trang Town Hall, and then a starboard rounding to head towards the sea mark on the opposite fetch. Boats quickly sorted them selves out by size, with FfreeFire 52 in the lead and Thea bringing up the rear, and Mandrake with a small delivery main kept pace very nicely with Ambush. With Shahtoosh in the middle of the pack, the small fleet looked good powering upwind in the short chop, and then bearing away down to the leeward mark. FfreeFire 52 had a substantial lead at this point, and elected to execute a couple of 360s before the next upwind leg – not because she had hit the mark, and not because skipper Russ Parker wanted to show off the crew’s boat-handling skills, but because it seemed like a good idea to wait for the rest of the fleet to catch up – it’s better for the cameras that way.

Following along at the back of the fleet, Thea also got into ‘innovative interpretation of rules’ mode, and cut straight across the triangle to hitch on, once again, at the back of the procession.

A sausage and then another triangle, with Ffree Fire taking another voluntary penalty, Fortis Mandrake changing drivers faster than Lewis Hamilton going through the gearbox (and with a suspicious wisp of exhaust following her along), and Thea gallantly playing catch up by following Sis that had not been supplied to any other boat in the fleet. Russ Parker demonstrated his AC aspirations by performing one last voluntary turn on the finish line, just too late, and allowing Fortis Mandrake to take “Line Honours” by the length of her bowsprit.

As a PR exercise it could not have been a better afternoon on the water. A definite 10. Saigon Yacht Club Commodore Noelle Isles enjoyed it all so much that she has vowed not to sail on any boat under 50’ again – which is going to be interesting on the Saigon River! All the guests and visitors all came ashore full of enthusiasm, having had (dare we say it?) a “cracking” afternoon on the water – Ambush owner Joachim Isler would have said it had he been there, but he was already at Saigon airport, much relieved to hear that RHKYC Marine Manager Roger Eastham had treated his boat kindly – “thank you for not sinking” was the actual message.

There were prizes for everyone: Thea, the Turnaround Trophy for arriving in Nha Trang at 0400 hrs and immediately declaring herself ready to sail that afternoon; FfreeFire, the Roundabout Trophy for all those voluntary turns; Fortis Mandrake, the Pacemaker Prize for going at exactly the same speed as Ambush; Ambush the Handicap Prize for sailing without an owner on board (it actually increases the TCF) and winning on handicap, and Shahtoosh the Concours d’Elegance for looking good (and coming 2nd).

After Sunday night’s Prizegiving party at Nha Trang Sailing Club, nearly all crew have departed, leaving the RHKYC Race Management and delivery crews to say goodbye to Bao Dai’s Viilas until 2010. Those of us who have done this race know that it is destined to be an Ocean Classic – a 650-mile downhill slide that’s hard to beat, anywhere in the world. Roll on the next VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race…