Volvo China Coast Regatta - Overall
by Koko Mueller, RHKYC 24 Oct 2016 16:40 BST
22-24 October 2016
Day 3 of the Volvo China Coast Regatta kicked off with racing east of Tung Lung Chau. With the north easterly breeze at 6-8 knots, it was decided to send the entire fleet on a windward leeward for the first race of the day. The shorter Q1 course with two laps was chosen to make sure boats had ample time to finish and then continue to an islands race.
IRC Racer 0, 1 and IRC Premier Cruiser were sent on a 6.6nm course with 1.65nm mile legs. Race 5 for IRC Racer 0 was the first start at 1030hrs. A moment after the start, the individual recall was signaled. Ker 46 Zannekin, fearing they were marginally over the line, came back at once, but it was actually the TP52 FreeFire who was already a distance away from the start line who was early. After a second radio call from the committee boat, FreeFire returned to restart considerably trailing the rest of the fleet.
Race 5 for IRC 1 started shortly after with another individual recall for the Mills 40 Straight Up, GTS 43 Mandrake III and the Ker Custom 42 Black Baza. All boats quickly returned to the line and restarted. With the suboptimal start, Mandrake III and Straight Up pushed their boats to gain back valuable ground to take first and second on handicap by the end of the race.
Race 4 for IRC Premier Cruiser began at 1044hrs. The Beneteau 50 Lighthorse sailed another great race to keep up their weekend flush!
IRC Racer 2, 3 and HKPN divisions were sent on a 5nm course with 1.3nm legs. Just before IRC Racer 2 started, the AP was hoisted to allow the race committee time to adjust the top mark. After a brief delay, the AP was removed and IRC Racer 2 went into their sequence and started at 1100hrs. Continuing with the theme of the morning, an individual recall was signaled for China Cup No.33 who quickly returned to restart. This was their first race of the regatta as they were delayed in delivering their boat to Hong Kong due to Typhoon Haima. Race 5 for IRC Racer 3 started shortly after at 1106hrs. The division seemed to be relieved to have their own start with fewer boats to contend with on the line. HKPN set off shortly after at 1112hrs.
With the wind gradually swinging to an easterly breeze of 100 degrees and 6-7 knots, the islands course 15 was chosen for all divisions. After many individual recalls during the starts for the first race of the day, if was great to see clear starts for all divisions for the islands race. The 14nm race started in 6 knots of breeze with IRC Racer 0 heading off at 1218hrs followed by separate starts for each division. The fleet beat to Club Mark 16, followed by a broad reach keeping South Nine Pin to starboard, followed a beat keeping East Ninepin to port, followed by another reach to Club Mark 17 and downwind to Steep Island and a beat to the finish off Tung Lung Chau East.
Race Officer Inge Strompf-Jepsen commented on racing "With less wind than we had anticipated today and a rather shifty breeze that rotated from 060 degrees to 130 degrees we were very happy to get in a windward leeward and an islands race in for all classes. I am also extremely relieved we were able to get out for all three days of racing considering the two typhoons that were affecting the area in the lead up to Volvo China Coast Regatta. We have been very fortunate to have had breeze, clear skies and flat water for this regatta!"
Provisional results to date are available online at www.rhkyc.org.hk/VCCR16ProvisionalResults.aspx
Volvo China Coast Regatta website: www.chinacoastregatta.com
Volvo Hong Kong to Hainan Race website: www.hkhainanrace.com