RHKYC Tomes Cup and Top Dog Series
by RHKYC Media 28 Apr 02:29 PDT
25 April 2026
Windfall. RHKYC Tomes Cup 2026 © RHKYC/ Guy Nowell
On the morning of Saturday 25 April, there was some concern on Victoria Harbour as the day began with only a light westerly breeze. Fortunately, a gentle easterly of around 6 to 8kts filled in just ten minutes before the proposed start time of 1400hrs. This timely arrival of wind allowed the Top Dog Trophy Series 2025-2026 to reach its conclusion with the final pursuit race - the Tomes Cup - bringing the season’s series of pursuit races to a close and determining the top-performing boat overall. A fleet of 77 boats took to the waters of Victoria Harbour, enjoying fair conditions as they battled it out in the series finale.
With a steady easterly breeze established shortly before the start, the Race Management team set an excellent course. Race Officer Barry Truhol positioned the start line just off the Club line, opting for a downwind start. The fleet sailed around Wan Chai before completing three laps between Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon Bay, finishing at North Point to ensure a competitive and well-managed conclusion.
In this pursuit race format, boats began at staggered start times based on their handicaps, with the slower boats starting first and the faster boats chasing from behind. The objective is simple: to be the first boat to cross the finish line. This format creates intense racing throughout the fleet, constant action on the water, and a thrilling finish where positions can change right up to the final moments.
As the wind held through the afternoon, Pandora Windfall delivered an excellent performance, maintaining her lead throughout the race and taking the win at 1623hrs near North Point. Flying Fifteen Mana sneaked in for second place, and Ruffian Buster took third.
Race Officer Barry Truhol said it was a tough day for the Race Management team: “We started with a westerly breeze, which meant adapting a Sunset Series course for a westerly start. Then, just ten minutes before the start, the wind shifted, giving us a downwind, down-tide start - it was completely reversed. But it worked. Boats finished well within the window, and it turned out to be fun racing. Well done to the sailors and the Race Management team.”
The Tomes Cup is the final constituent event of the Top Dog Trophy Series, which is designed to identify the most successful boat across a variety of pursuit race courses and conditions. Following the race, a prize presentation was held at the Club, with awards presented to the Tomes Cup winners as well as the overall winners of the 2025-2026 Top Dog Trophy Series.
Small boats stole the spotlight in this year’s Top Dog competition, delivering a standout performance as Tomes Cup podium finishers claimed two of the series’ top honours. Leading the fleet was Pandora Windfall, superbly helmed by Tom Ho, securing the overall title, with Leigh Riddell’s Flying Fifteen Mana sailing into second place and KW Chair’s Pandora Solstice completing the podium in third - rounding out an impressive and hard-fought season.
Tom Ho, skipper of Pandora Windfall, expressed his delight at winning the overall Top Dog Trophy, saying: “This is our first time taking the Top Dog overall title. We were fortunate to have relatively steady wind conditions during the two pursuit races, and we also performed well in the Around the Island Race. I’m incredibly grateful to our crew for their consistent and committed effort throughout the series—without them, lifting this trophy wouldn’t have been possible.”