The latest sailing news from Asia and the world. |
08 Nov 2016 |
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Gearing up in Asia
| Start 2016 Vendee Globe Les Sables-d'Olonne, November 6, 2016 Vincent Curutchet / DPPI / Vendée Globe © | If you are old enough, and probably English, you will remember The Two Ronnies' introduction line - “And in a packed programme tonight...”
The Season has really started in Asia. In the last couple of weeks we have had the HK Optimist Nationals and Open, the Volvo China Coast Regatta, the Volvo Hk-Hainan race, the China Cup International Regatta, China Club Challenge Match, the eighth Asia-Pacific Sailing Culture Development (Dapeng) Forum, Puerto Galera All Souls Regatta, and the Busan Cup International Womens' Match Racing. Dongfeng Racing Team have declared an entry in the next Volvo Ocean Race, so there's a lot to read (below).
| Overseas visitors get a crack at the wheel. China Cup International Regatta 2016. Guy Nowell © |
Internationally, the Vendee Globe race has started, and the mandarins at World Sailing are deep in discussion in Barcelona at their four-yearly conference at which a new President will be elected (or Carlo Croce will be re-elected). And for a bit of icing on the cake, no less than three Sail-World staffers have made it through to the top 20 of the annual Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image of the Year Awards – Richard Gladwell (Sail-World NZ Editor), myself (Asia Editor) and Eugenia Bakunova (SW contributor).
| Tribute to Guo Chuan. China Cup International Regatta 2016. Guy Nowell © |
We are deeply sad to report the presumed loss at sea of Guo Chuan, who was attempting to break the solo Pacific crossing record. Gou went missing on 25 October. His shore support team noticed a slowing down of the boat, and were subsequently unable to contact him on board the 97' trimaran Qingdao China (formerly IDEC 2). The US Coastguard found the boat sailing by itself some 600nm west of Hawaii, but there was no sign of the sailor. Guo sailed a Clipper Race (2006), was the media crew member on Green Dragon (VOR 2008-09), and set the record for a solo circumnavigation in a 40' boat (2013-14). Ian Walker, skipper of Green Dragon, described him as “the most determined man I have ever met”. I met him many times in the RHKYC boatyard when he was commissioning his boat for the solo trip in 2013. He was modest, quiet and unassuming, and will be sorely missed by the sailing community.
Standing by on 72.
Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia Editor
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