Total
Lubmarine Asia Pacific China Coast Regatta
- Day 3
Report by Lindsay Lyons - RHKYC
Sponsorship and Promotions Manager
As
competitors reached the start area for Day 3 of Total Lubmarine Asia Pacific
China Coast Regatta, ARO George Strome was convinced that racing should
have started at 0800hrs when the wind was blowing 26knots. As it was,
a sudden 35 degree wind shift forced Strome to abort the start sequence
for the first race, waiting 30 minutes for the breeze to settle at a more
sedate 12 knots before setting IRC A and Premier Cruising off on a seven
leg, 1.2nm, Windward / Leeward. Next to go were IRC B and C, followed
by HKPN, all racing a five leg course. By shortening all the classes at
the bottom mark, Strome was able to send them off in good time for their
final Islands Course, taking the racing boats out to TCS 2 and IRC B,
C and HKPN to Beaufort and Po Toi Islands. Visibility was dire, making
it difficult to pinpoint the position of the leading boats, however the
ARO made a wise decision to shorten the slower fleets at Po Toi Island,
allowing IRC A, Premier Cruising and IRC B to finish their prescribed
course at Round Island.
Frank
Pong's 'Jelik' has certainly done her fair share of 'hanging around' during
the course of this three-day Regatta, taking line honours in every race
for IRC Division A in less time than it would take to eat a decent breakfast.
This year, however, Pong has finally managed to convert a great boat and
smooth crew work into an overall win for the Division, failing only once
to take a race on corrected time as well as on the water.
Geoff Hill's 'Strewth' managed the same feat in IRC Premier Cruising, wrapping the division up with only one second place marring a clean sweep.
In IRC C, Jamie McWilliam took the first five races on the water and on corrected time, and chose to sail 'Sai Kung Belle' back to Shelter Cove in preference to participating in the final race so that he could be back at Middle Island for prizegiving.
The other divisions were more open, with Roland Buser ending the weekend
a very happy man after 'Stella' edged out 'Mistress Margarita' to take
first overall in IRC B. After a countback, Alan Chua, from Manila Yacht
Club, took 'Joyride' to third place ahead of 'Jaywalker'.
HKPN
proved to be the only division where all competitors (six) raced every
race, and the final results showed a three way tie for first place. On
countback, Nick Southward took the overall title ahead of Arthur Ho's
'GA' and Emily Chan's 'No One Else'.
Once the results had been checked and confirmed, RHKYC was delighted to welcome the sponsor's representatives, Mr Denny Chu (Lubmarine Asia Pacific Commercial Director) and Mr Serge Lorek (Representative China, Total Petrochemicals) to present the prizes. After three days of winds averaging 20-25 knots, competitors were bruised and tired, but still had the energy to raise a glass to the winners!
Photos courtesy of
RHKYC / Guy Nowell http://www.guynowell.com
Full Results at: http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/chinacoastraceweek/results07.htm
Still
grey, but day 2 of the Total Lubmarine Asia Pacific China Coast Regatta
offered up a fabulous 20-25 knots for the IRC fleets, which turned out
in numbers for a trio of Windward / Leeward courses while the HKPN fleet
looked forward to a Geometric and an Islands course. With
Race Officer Jimmy Farquhar setting a six-leg course for all IRC divisions,
boats, gear and crew were tested to the limit as the boats gybed, tacked,
and broached around the course.
As
expected, 'Jelik' headed the fleet for IRC A, with 'Ffree Fire 52' and
'Mandrake' following in her wake, the Juan K designed Reichel Pugh making
short work of the course to take Line Honours and first place on corrected
time. Spare a thought for Adam Ng on 'Microlab Moonlight Shadow' (ex-Yendys),
who retired with rudder problems and missed the remainder of a great day's
sailing.
No
surprises in IRC C with Jamie McWilliam forcing 'Sai Kung Belle' through
the surf and swell to another gun and another first on corrected time.
McWilliam repeated this feat in the remaining races of the day to become
the only competitor to take 4 guns and four firsts in the Regatta.
For
the second race of the day, which started in 20 knots, softening to 16,
'Ffree Fire 52' edged out 'Jelik' on corrected time in Div A with 'Strewth'
taking IRC Premier Cruising ahead of 'Moonblue 2'. 'Mistress Margarita'
missed the gun, but edged 'Jaywalker' and 'Stella' out on corrected time.
In IRC C, 'Impala 1' cruised through to take second ahead of 'Sex Drive'
with 'Sai Kung Belle' in first place.
A
grey Hong Kong day greeted the 38 entrants in Total Lubmarine Asia Pacific
China Coast Regatta 2007, but, accompanied by a 20-25 knot easterly, the
cobwebs from the previous night's welcome drinks were quickly blown away
by the 1155hrs warning signal. Race Officer, Jimmy Farquhar, selected
Course 10 for the IRC Racers and Premier Cruising Division, taking the
big boats on a 20nm course up to TCS 2 and back down to Beaufort
Island and Stanley.
Starting
in 15 knots, Frank Pong's 'Jelik' quickly took up her accustomed position
at the head of the fleet, while Sam Chan's 'Ffree Fire 52' and the Burns
/ Kinmonth owned 'Fortis Mandrake' attempted to keep tabs with her on
the water. All to no avail, as within 2 hours and 10 minutes, Pong took
both Line Honours and first place on corrected time ahead of the Burns
/ Kinmonth Farr-Mills 51.
The
largest Division for RHKYC's flagship three-day event is the IRC B fleet
with 14 boats. After a competitive but clear start, Paul Bankowski's 'Jaywalker'
and Roland Buser's 'Stella' quickly stamped their mark on the 17nm course.
'Jaywalker' was audibly pleased to take Line Honours, however Buser knew
he had Bankowski on corrected time when 'Stella' crossed the line less
than two minutes in arrears.
Spare
a thought for the smaller boats in IRC C, racing the same course as Div
B, who were led from start to finish by reconditioned Quarter Tonner,
'Sai Kung Belle' helmed by (un-reconditioned) Jamie McWilliam. 'Sex Drive',
'Ling Yuan' and 'Taxi' also finished strongly, leaving the final result
after six races wide open.