Record turnout expected at Royal Hong Kong YC Spring Regatta

Spring Regatta 2017 © RHKYC / Guy Nowell

Spring Regatta 2017 © RHKYC / Guy Nowell

It has been an incredible sailing season for the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) and the traditional closing regatta, the Spring Regatta, is expected to see a record turnout on the coming weekend of 19 and 20 May.

Highlights of the RHKYC's 2017-2018 sailing season were the Volvo China Coast Regatta and the Volvo Hong Kong to Vietnam Race, the Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championship, the Hong Kong 29er Open, the 29er World Championship, Hong Kong Race Week / ASAF Youth Cup and the Rolex China Sea Race. And of course, RHKYC organised the on the water race management for the Volvo Ocean Race Stopover. In addition to this activity, regular class racing has been held at the Club's three venues on most weekends, totaling more than 300 races in the season.

In a normal year RHKYC members usually volunteer over 900 days to run all of the races and events – as an indicator of just how busy the RHKYC has been, this year early calculations show this figure has exceeded 1,700.

In addition to organising racing, RHKYC has a strong focus on youth sailing and developing the champions of tomorrow – over the last year 12 schools have participated in its comprehensive after school sail training programme and c. 250 sail training courses were held for youth and adults. All of these programmes are open to non-members. Over 65 youth sailors also took part in the RHKYC Sharks Racing Team - high performance training for 10 to 18-year old - and they have achieved great results both here at home and internationally.

To cap this incredible season, last month RHKYC was awarded Best Asian Yacht Club and Best Asian Regatta (Rolex China Sea Race) at the Asian Boating Awards.

Reflecting on the last year, Commodore Robert Stoneley said, "As one of the most well-established sports clubs in Hong Kong, we have a clear mission and strong passion to promote our sport. This sailing season we have organised and been involved in more sailing events than ever before. I am very grateful to our members and staff who have given so much to ensure their success. With over 100 boats expected to compete in it, the Spring Regatta promises to be hotly contested and will be a fitting end to an amazing year."

The Spring Regatta is open to entrants from all of Hong Kong's sailing clubs, with over 100 keelboats expected to compete in ten classes. The Regatta will feature three races over two days and will take place in the Eastern harbour.

The start line and courses will be set on the day by the Race Officer after determining wind and tidal conditions. On Saturday the Big Boat class starts the action at 1350hrs, while Race 2 starts at 1110hrs on Sunday, with Race 3 to follow as soon as possible.

A prize giving will take place on Sunday night starting at around 1830hrs.