Korea Cup 2010 – Ulleung-do Offshore Race

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 23 May 2010 It was a cooker down on the beach at Hoopo yesterday morning. Once again the sunshine and blue sky gave the place a distinctly Mediterranean feel, but instead of coffee and croissants it was 3-in-1 and sponge cake for breakfast.

The Jury was still going at it hammer and tongs – had they been there all night? No, but they had started again very early. Apparently in the aftermath of yesterday’s 500-yard merry-go-round scramble, now known as the Hoopo 500, there really were a lot of Protest Forms to deal with. Most contentious item of all was the results for the multihulls, in which Scott McCook finished first but didn’t receive a finish, three Hobie Getaways were awarded finishes without actually racing, and a slew of other boats didn’t get a score. There was a suggestion on the table that that the race be abandoned and re-sailed.

At the Skippers’ Briefing for the Offshore Race, the IJ Chairman reminded competitors that it is a good idea to “look before you tack on to port, even if you are a big boat” – there had been a lot of port/starboards the day before. Referring to the Jury’s unfinished business, the Chairman also promised competitors that the Jury would “try to sort out everything to your compete satisfaction. But please don’t forget to have fun”.

The crews dispersed and went off to race. The tv crew, a pack of photographers, various interested observers and the overseas media - 57 people all told - embarked on the 100ft four-masted tall ship Koreana. The helicopter arrived overhead, so it was obviously time to start. Down came the AP, and the sequence started just as a nice little hole settled over the start area. Somehow First, a Beneteau 40.7, managed to dodge the flat patch and set off at flank speed, leaving the remaining 25 boats to ease their way across the line and begin the game of catch up. It didn’t take long – by the time the boats rounded the light at the end of the harbour wall they were all fetching the finish line, 80 nm away at Ulleng-do, on port. Course 045°.

For half an hour a 10 kt northerly got everyone on their way. Then it eased, and gradually swung all the way to the southeast. It was a flat calm crossing all the way to Ulleung-do (‘do’ means island). The boats with the concentration kept it going through the light stuff, and ended up shy spinnaker reaching on starboard in 12 kts all the way to the finish. It was practically a straight-line course for the yachts.

Meanwhile the Koreana steamed along at a stately 8 kts, covering a great deal more distance than the racers with detours along the way to pay visits to various yachts for the benefit of the tv crew and photographers. Lunch was served on deck (kimchi, dried fish, preserved vegetables, spicy sauces). A card game flourished on the saloon roof. Dinner was served on deck (kimchi, dried fish, preserved vegetables, spicy sauces, crab soup). When we weren’t being treated to ‘My Way’ and ‘The Tennessee Waltz’, the captain kept up spirits with a little unaccompanied karaoke over the ship’s tannoy system.

When darkness fell the ‘visiting’ routine continued as we gradually hunted down the fleet leaders. The technique is simple and effective – come at ‘em from behind, spark up a 2-million candepower spotlight, and then cruise gently past until the tv cameraman has had enough. The waving arms make great footage.

Eventually the lights of Ulleung-do hove into sight, and then the lights on the harbour entrance, and we were ready near the finish line to greet the Line Honours winner. First finisher was the Nelson-Marek 68 Team Drake at 0133 hrs, to be welcomed by a red distress flare as they crossed the line. Second home was Time Machine (Grand Soleil 42), and last into port was a Yamaha 30, Baby, at 1053 hrs this morning.

The Korea Cup 2010 offshore fleet has now arrived at what the tourist brochure calls ‘The Mysterious Islands in the East Sea’. The fleet will return to the mainland via a Parade of Sail to Dok-do, 40 nm away to the southeast, and race from there back to Hoopo. Strong winds are expected tomorrow, and Ulleung-do is in a very exposed position – there’s an ‘L’ notice up saying that the Ulleung-do Inshore race may take place tomorrow (Sunday) - or on Monday, weather permitting.


Provisional results, Hoopo-Ulleung-do Offshore Race
ORC Division
1 First (RUS) Beneteau 40.7
2 Baby Uminoko (RUS) Beneteau 40.7
3 Fantasy (RUS) YOK 40
Open Division
1 Yacht in 350 (KOR) Friendship 32
2 Strannik (RUS) Fransh
3 Stella (KOR) Catalina 30

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