2016 Hong Kong Sailing Federation Youth Championships
by Hong Kong Sailing Federation 4 Oct 2016 20:35 BST
1-2 October 2016
420 fleet at the HKSF Youth Championships © Hong Kong Sailing Federation
Organised by the Hong Kong Sailing Federation, this regatta attracted the top sailors from the 420 and 29er classes to compete over the weekend of 1st-2nd October. Racing took place on the waters west of Po Toi with regatta support based at the Middle Island Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club House. This regatta is also one of the selection events for the 46th Youth Sailing World Championships which will be held in Auckland in December.
It was a wet start to this regatta with a red rain warning issued by the Hong Kong observatory early in the morning. Race Officer David Norton started two classes: 420 and 29er. He responded that the regatta was very smooth, weather was bad in the morning, but luckily it turned better when the regatta started. Norton chose the race area west of Po Toi Island for consistent fresh breeze.
Racing got underway in 8 to 10kts but by the second race it picked up to 12 to 15kts. The sailors made the most of the conditions and five races were completed on day one. In the 29er fleet Calum Gregor and Russell Alysworth were the overnight leaders dominating the racing on day one. In the 420 class the points gap was close but Siu Ka Chun and Tsoi Yat Ming held the overnight lead.
The forecast never promised good wind for day two but once in the race area Norton was pleased to find 8 to 12 kts of wind from the north east. A brief shift towards the north led to some course alternations before the first start but it shifted back towards the east and Norton was able to change the course during the first race to accomodate the shift. After that the breeze was fairly steady for the rest of the day and with only three races left the sailors were back onshore in good time.
The racing proved to be closer on day two with different teams taking race wins. In the end it was Siu Ka Chun and Tsoi Yat Ming who topped the 420 class with 6 boats. Calum Gregor and Russell Aylsworth won 29er class with 11 boats. Congratulations to all the winners and participants. It was a great to see a number of new youth teams and everyone enjoyed the ideal racing conditions.
A big thank especially to our sponsor Gill and Storm Force Marine Ltd for the support on the lovely prizes. Also, thank you for the volunteers who made this regatta an exciting, successful and rewarding event.
Results and more information at www.sailing.org.hk