Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week 2026 - Overall
by Vivian Ngan 3 Feb 14:45 AEDT
29 Jan - 01 Feb 2026
Sun Hung Kai & Co Hong Kong Raceweek 2026 © RHKYC/ Guy Nowell
The final day of the Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week 2026 began with a test of patience as the wind refused to cooperate in the early morning. Cold, rainy conditions and unstable breezes forced the race management team to delay launching most fleets while they headed out to search for viable wind conditions.
Fortunately, the wait was rewarded. On the 29er race course near Beaufort Channel, three quality races were eventually completed in beautiful sunshine, providing a fitting end to the regatta.
Race Officer Dave Norton reflected on a challenging start to the day: “When we went out to the Po Toi race area this morning, things didn’t look very promising. We had 3–4 kts with very short-duration gusts coming from several different directions. A light shower of rain killed the last bit of breeze.”
He added: “But patience paid off. The wind started to build and become more stable. By 1130hrs, we had a nice 8–12 kts breeze coming through the Po Toi gap, and we sent word back to Middle Island for the boats to launch. Tight racing and some sailors trying just a bit too hard led to three UFDs in Race 10.”
29er Asian Championship.
In the 29er class, which incorporated the fourth edition of the 29er Asian Championship, the leaderboard remained unchanged from Day 1. Hong Kong’s Louis Polson and Ethan Kiu continued their dominant campaign to secure overall victory. Nicholas Hon and Kaden Chan finished in second place, while the all-girls team of Chloe Kong and McCarley Wong completed the podium in third.
ILCA
Over on the ILCA course near Castle Rock, Race Officer Elberti Uiterwaal-Postma managed to complete two races for both ILCA 4 and ILCA 6, despite highly variable conditions.“I was almost planning not to do a second race because I thought the wind was dying,” said Postma. “But in the end, we had good wind for both ILCA 4 and ILCA 6. ILCA 6 had good wind at the start of their final race, but just after the start the breeze dropped. They were hanging around a bit, but luckily it filled back in.” The day was not without its challenges: “For ILCA 4 we saw an enormous wind shift, so I AP’d the race. When we restarted, everybody was over and we had a general recall, followed by Black Flag. In the end, they had a beautiful race. What a tough day. Unfortunately, we had a cut-off at 1500hrs – otherwise we would have done another race.” She also praised the volunteers: “The mark layers had a really tough time, especially with drifting and tangled gate marks. A special thanks to all the volunteers – they’re clearly exhausted, but they’ve done an amazing job.”
In ILCA 4, Singapore’s Ian Goh lifted the trophy, finishing just two points ahead of Hong Kong’s Tiago Cheng in second place. Singaporean sailor Ethan Chia claimed a race win on the final day to climb into third overall.
In ILCA 6, Hong Kong’s Charalampos Velianitis maintained his strong overall lead to take first place, followed by Xavier Wilde in second and Samuel Tan Hardy in third.
Optimists and other fleets
At Stanley Bay, the Optimist Main Fleet and Optimist Intermediate completed two races, while the 2.4mR, RS Feva, and RS Tera fleets each managed three races.
Race Officer Inge Stromfp Jepsen explained the day’s approach: “We learned from yesterday and sent the fleets back in on AP over H so we could send them out again. Even though it looked light, the whole race management team stayed out. In the end, we found a good course with winds up to 11–12 kts.”
In the Optimist Main Fleet—the largest fleet of the regatta—Greece’s Giorgos Mandilas moved into first place to take the overall win. Puerto Rico’s Ines Mendez Larminaux finished second, while Hong Kong’s Tara Maliah secured third place.
In the Optimist Intermediate Fleet, Mainland China’s Huan Ran Lin defended first place, with Hong Kong sailors Darryl Fok moving up to second and Kyle Chan finishing third.
In RS Tera, Mainland China sailors Joshua Alan Wong and Qi Heng Zhang finished first and third respectively, with local sailor Ho Yeung Chiu taking second. In RS Feva, Cayden Yau and Yan Chi Choi claimed the top spot.
In the 2.4mR fleet, Hong Kong sailor Fu Yuen Wai lifted the division trophy, while Great Britain’s Murray MacDonald finished in fourth place.
Optimist Green Fleet
This year’s Optimist Green Fleet marked a significant milestone, welcoming a record 34 entries from six nations and regions. The fleet included 21 Hong Kong sailors and five first-time competitors from Sri Lanka, highlighting the regatta’s growing impact on youth sailing development.
Arvhela Cabusay from Sailability Hong Kong claimed first place. Reflecting on her experience, she said: “I started sailing in November 2024, and I like sailing because it’s really fun. I get to collaborate with kids of different ages, and sailing really helps with problem-solving. For example, when the wind shifts, you have to bear away and try to solve the problem.”
Principal Race Officer Barry Truhol summed up the week: “What a fantastic way to end a very successful regatta. We had two outrageously good days at the start, a pause on the third day, and today was a great way to finish what’s been a really strong event.”
The prize-giving took place after racing at Middle Island. Organising an event of this scale requires tremendous effort, and Adrian Pang, Commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and co-organiser of the event, extended heartfelt thanks to the over 100 volunteers whose dedication made the regatta possible.
Hong Kong Race Week Race Chairperson Lucy Sutro said, ”To all our sailors: you should be proud. Whether you leave with medals or memories, you’ve grown as athletes and contributed to the spirit that makes Hong Kong Race Week so special.“ In all, 276 entries, comprising 306 sailors from 12 countries and regions finished a week of great racing in the 10th edition of Hong Kong Race Week. The event has now positioned itself amongst the best racing in the world, and is a ‘not to be missed’ event on the international youth dinghy scene. See you next year!