Ladies Helm Day at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

by RHKYC Media 5 May 2019 05:27 PDT

Ladies Helm Day 4 © Isaac Lawrence / RHKYC

The only diva on the start line of RHKYC's Ladies Helm Day (title sponsored for the first time by Luxury Lodges of New Zealand), was an Etchells named Diva Deux one of an impressive 57-strong fleet of boats competing across seven classes.

In recent years the various classes within the Club have separately held their own ladies races; albeit at different times of the year. The genesis of this bigger all-encompassing event came last year when the classes decided to band together to have their ladies races scheduled on the same day. "I think it's a really good thing that the Club pulled together the ladies helm races from across the classes into one big event. We all saw how well it worked for the first time last year where everyone had a lot of fun and that's why this year we are seeing more sailors take part." said Violette Fung, helming Etchells, Shrub.

Ladies Helm Day 4 - photo © Isaac Lawrence / RHKYC

Today, each class of boat were set two races. The first race of the day lasted about an hour in a good steady 12kts of breeze across the harbour along with white caps and light rain. The J/80s, Sportsboats, Etchells and Impalas were sent on easterly course #306 which started the fleet in the harbour between North Point and Hung Hom and then sending them eastwards to Shau Kei Wan, back down to Kowloon Bay and a short leg eastwards again to end just off the old Kai Tak runway. Race Officer Brenda Davies described the Etchells' first start as "enthusiastic" after four of them went over early at the start and only two of them coming back.

The remaining classes were designated an easterly course #328; also starting in the harbour between North Point and Hung Hom, this course took the fleets eastwards as far as Tai Koo Shing, back down half way to the start, up again to Tai Koo Shing and then also finishing off the old Kai Tak runway.

Ladies Helm Day 4 - photo © Isaac Lawrence / RHKYC

As soon as the boats got back to the start area, the race sequence for Race 2 got going. The Sportsboats and J/80s were sent off on course #304 which saw them doing two laps around Shau Kei Wan. The Etchells followed suit on the same course. All had clear starts this time in the Etchells. The Impala fleet then got going on course #325 which was sending them around Tai Koo Shing. The Flying Fifteens and Dragons also sailed around Tai Koo Shing and then the last to start were the Ruffians and Pandoras on a simple one-lap course around Shau Kei Wan. The wind held in and the tide turned into a slack tide. There were a few lulls but sailors enjoyed an average of about 12 to 14kts across the race area. The races were a little bit shorter allowing the fleets to finish closer to the Club. There were some very close finishes as there had been in Race 1. Said Davies, "It was good harbour racing today and it was a good day out for everyone."

Ladies Helm Day 4 - photo © Isaac Lawrence / RHKYC

The event encouraged female sailors of all experience levels to take part. Adrienne Walder helming Etchells, Quest, said "I entered because I felt it was about time I pushed myself a little bit more because I've done a lot of sailing in the past but I'm not a natural racer, I'm quite a nervous person and so I thought that I would give it a go. The reason why I've done this event is because I've been assured that it's all done in a friendly, fun spirit. I've also got a few friends racing on other boats so we've got a little internal competition going on within the Etchells fleet." Also in the Etchells fleet was last year's champion, Nagisa Sakai who said "it's like normal racing but with a twist, a fun twist."

Two ten year olds took part today also and exhibited no signs of nerves at all before the start. Demelsa Williams is no stranger to the event - having won in the Flying Fifteen class last year when she was only nine and again clinching the Flying Fifteen title this year. Over in the Etchells fleet, the youngest helm of the day by a few months was Emily Polson who was looking forward to her first time helming at Etchells. Dad James said "the start is going to be our biggest challenge for the day is the start; we have to start like an Etchells, not like an Optimist!"

Ladies Helm Day 4 - photo © Isaac Lawrence / RHKYC

If there was a 'Super Mum' award today it would surely have been won hands down by Hannah Lee who, given the long day on the water, managed to express milk for her seven week old son in between races. Said Lee, "This event is great because it shows you that it's just as good when women are helming though I have to say I always helm my boat and I did much better today than when I sail with my normal crew so I don't think it's the helm this time!"

After racing, a prizegiving was held at the Club with none other than world-renowned female sailor Tracy Edwards, MBE, distributing prizes for the winner of each class. Edwards is in town to promote her charity, The Maiden Project.

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and its members would like to thank all of the sponsors and partners that have helped this revamped Ladies Helm Day be the success that we have seen today. Title Sponsors Luxury Lodges of New Zealand and partners Lillet, Teresa's Turkish Towels and Skin Laundry. We look forward to many more successful events.

The winners in each class were:-