El Oro enters RHKYC's VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race 2011

by RHKYC Media on 6 Oct 2011 At 68 feet (20.72m), the cutter-rigged ketch El Oro is the second largest yacht entered into the 2011 VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race 2011 starting on 19 October. This Offshore Category One race is a 656 mile, biennial ‘downhill' fast passage to Nha Trang, on the south eastern coast of Vietnam and rightly earns the title of Asia’s longest blue water race.

Winner of the HKPN Division and HKPN Overall in the 2007 San Fernando Race on his yacht Cordelia, Tim Wilson, who has been racing for more than 40 years, first brought El Oro to Hong Kong last year when the Race was originally slated to take place but was postponed due to Typhoon Megi.

'We are looking forward to the VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race because we got a feeling of how good this race could be with 30kts win speeds last year and 20kts boat speed down the waves (with reefs in!). We blew our genny last year, and we have a larger more durable sail this year, so I am hoping we can show our full potential if the weather conditions allow. Our biggest challenges will be light weight flyers in light airs, however I am told this is unlikely at this time of year - but one never knows. Whatever happens, we aim to have fun and do our very best!' says Tim Wilson.

Also on board is Stephen Wall who is no stranger to racing on the South China Sea having competed in three of RHKYC’s China Sea Races from Hong Kong to Subic Bay (2004/2006/2008) as well as the RHKYC San Fernando Race from Hong Kong to San Fernando in 2007. Stephen’s last foray into the South China Sea was during the 2008 Rolex China Sea Race aboard Strewth which was forced to turn around and return safely to Hong Kong after losing her keel about 170nm south east of Hong Kong, en route to Subic Bay.

Barbara Pegna, the sole woman on board, was part of the original El Oro crew entered in the 2010 VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race. Barbara who had to be medically air-lifted off the yacht after a fall down the main hatch onto the navigation desk in lumpy post-typhoon conditions 'has bravely put up her hand for this year' says Tim and she is looking forward to racing.

Derek McDonnell joins the mighty El Oro as the least experienced member of the crew. An old hand at Sydney 'twilights' on much smaller boats; this will be his first ocean race.

Tim Wilson adds 'I have a great collection of intrepid ocean sailors who are all past the meridian. We are ably abetted by a professional sailing master, Simon Blundell, and crew from our Burmese work force.'

El Oro is presently on passage from Kota Kinabalu to Hong Kong.

About El Oro
El Oro was commissioned by Baron Bich following the exciting performance of her sister ship Kriter in the first Whitbread race in 1975. Whilst she was built as a cruiser / racer with the aim of competitive ocean racing, the Baron's interest quickly focused on 12 metre racing and he gave her to his CFO.

Her new owner sailed her in the Caribbean and Mediterranean for three years and then sold her to an English construction family who cruised extensively in the Mediterranean and North Africa. Tim Wilson, her current owner, found her in a rundown state in Majorca and sailed her to Yangon, Burma, where she was virtually rebuilt (2008/2009).

Well known in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand where she has competed successfully in the Raja Muda and King’s Cup regattas, El Oro spends part of her cruising year in the Bali / Lombok area. She is a fast downwind boat with a massive rig and sail area. El Oro is British registered and her club is the Royal Yacht Squadron.

About the Owner, Tim Wilson
Tim is the owner of a yacht repair and construction company in Yangon specializing in the restoration of important classic yachts such as his own Cordelia and El Oro. Tim’s workforce was involved in the restoration and construction of the Fyfe original Moonbeam V and Fyfe replica Sunshine; both well known on the European racing circuits.

About the VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race
Pioneered by RHKYC in 1996 and sponsored since 2004 by Vietnam investments and real estate company, VinaCapital, this 656nm race is described by 2008 winner and regular competitor, Neil Pryde, as 'One of the great ocean races, combining an exhilarating downhill slide with a very interesting tactical challenge that unfolds as the fleet approaches the Vietnam coast. It's a race that nobody should miss'.