HKRNVR Memorial Vase

Racing for the finale of the Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy Series and HKRNVR Memorial Vase © RHKYC / Lindsay Lyons

The Jezebel team win the Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy Series and the HKRNVR Memorial Vase © RHKYC / Lindsay Lyons

Racing for the finale of the Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy Series and HKRNVR Memorial Vase © RHKYC / Lindsay Lyons

The finale of the Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy Series 2014-2015 took place in Hong Kong today, completing a series of four pursuit races to decide the top performing boat for the season.

Following the requirements of the Deed of Gift for the HKRNVR Memorial Vase, the race started at Hung Hom before taking the 37 entrants on a course out into the eastern approaches, taking in Shek O Rock, TCS 3 and TCS 4.

With an 8 to 10kts south easterly, Race Officer Gareth Williams wasted no time in getting the start sequence underway at the scheduled time, with the Ruffians holding on to the lead until just outside Lei Yue Mun gap. The objective of the pursuit race is to start the faster boat later and watch them catch and – possibly – overtake the slower fleets.

By the time she reached Shek O Rock, Etchells Jezebel had built up a comfortable lead on the fleet, however with the Big Boats of Signal 8, FreeFire and Ambush scything through the fleet, a win was anything but guaranteed.

Given the breeze, Williams elected to shorten the course at TCS 4 in the Junk Bay area and Jezebel clung to her lead to finish at 16:27:41, just under three minutes ahead of the Etchells of Mark Yeadon and Frank van Kempen and four minutes ahead of Signal 8

The win not only guaranteed that Anthony Day and Peter Backe would lift the HKRNVR Memorial Vase, but it also ensured Jezebel's name will be engraved on the Top Dog Trophy for the first time.

At a packed prizegiving, supported by Mount Gay Rum, Peroni Beer and Jax Coco, the RO presented the prizes for first Big Boat, first Inshore Keelboat and first Day Boat to Signal 8, Moll and Lickety Split respectively. The MC then invited Joann Kok, General Manager of Thomas Pink to present the top three prizes for HKRNVR to NN1364 (Frank van Kempen) Diva Deux (Mark Yeadon) and winner Jezebel (Backe / Day) before going on to present the top three prizes overall for Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy Series.

Following the race, a prize presentation will be held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, with prizes to be awarded not only to the various winners of the HKRNVR Memorial Vase, but also the overall winner of the 2014-2015 Top Dog Trophy Series. The Top Skipper will be presented with a jacket from Thomas Pink, the British shirt maker and Official Apparel for the Series. Other prizes include holiday accommodation courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the boutique hotel operator.

The post-race celebrations will also be supported by Mount Gay Rum, Peroni beer and Jax Coco coconut water.

Full details of the Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy Series, including current standings, can be found on the RHKYC website at www.rhkyc.org.hk/topdogtrophy.aspx

HKRNVR Memorial Vase presented by Old Mutual (Top Ten):

Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy (Top Ten Provisional Results):