World Maritime Merchants Forum Lipton Trophy 2025
by Vivian Ngan 7 Dec 2025 11:11 HKT
6 December 2025
The first constituent event of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2025-2026, the World Maritime Merchants Forum Lipton Trophy, unfolded on 6 December under ideal conditions on Victoria Harbour. An easterly breeze of 8 to 10kts set the stage for a day of tactical racing.
A fleet of 61 boats took to the start line in a pursuit format, with staggered start times determined by their RHKATI ratings. Unlike normal yacht racing, a pursuit race sees competing boats given staggered starting times based on their handicap. The slowest boats, the Pandoras, started first, followed by the faster boats in pursuit. Welcome to Mark Thornburrow's Bliss 2, making its debut in Club racing; they started 70 minutes after the Pandoras.
Race Officers Gareth Williams and Sean Taylor selected a challenging course that sent competitors beating up the harbour to Tai Koo Shing, before hoisting spinnakers for a run down to Hung Hom. The fleet completed four and a half laps of this windward-leeward circuit, finishing downwind at Kowloon Bay. A spreader mark at the leeward rounding helped maintain separation in the busy waters, ensuring safe and fair racing.
As the day progressed, the wind softened to around 5kts, compressing the faster fleets that started in lighter breeze. Competitors worked hard to find low-current patches while staying in the strongest breeze, balancing boat speed with positioning.
ROs Gareth Williams and Sean Taylor shortened the course at Tai Koo Shing close to the target finish time. Pandora Windfall, helmed by Tom Ho, was holding off the faster classes until the very end, securing 1st place with a massive lead of 5 minutes ahead of 2nd place, VX One Pawley, helmed by Eliot Cargile, followed by Flying Fifteen Mana, helmed by Leigh Riddell, in 3rd place.
The Top Dog Trophy Series consists of four races. The other three events that make up the Top Dog series are the Sun Hung Kai & Co. Around the Island Race on 13 December, the HKRNVR Memorial Vase on 10 January 2026, and the Tomes Cup on 25 April 2026.