HKRNVR Memorial Vase presented by Old Mutual

HKRNVR Memorial Vase presented by Old Mutual © RHKYC / Xaume Olleros

HKRNVR Memorial Vase presented by Old Mutual © RHKYC / Xaume Olleros

In the fourth and final pursuit race of the 2015-2016 Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy Series, regular RO team of Gareth and Di Williams found 6 to 8kts in the harbour and elected to send the 44 boat fleet on course 6.

This satisfied the requirement of the HKRNVR deed of gift by taking the boats into Hong Kong's Eastern Approaches using landmarks such as Shek O Rock and TCS 3 and 4 before returning into the eastern end of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour.

A succession of starts based on RHKATI ratings started with the Pandora fleet at 1400hrs and culminated around an hour later with Big Boats Ambush and Signal 8. With the format of the race allowing the later starts to catch the slower fleets and overtake them, Pandora Windfall was leading, until the easterly breeze softened at Junk Bay then filled as a northerly, giving the Etchells and Big Boats the lift they needed to gain ground.

For a while, Williams was considering a finish at Shek O Rock, but with the northerly holding, the fleet was allowed to continue round TCS 3 and then proceed to a finish at TCS4, with Ambush taking the gun just two minutes outside the target time of 1430hrs ahead of Magic 25 Merlin and Etchells Jezebel.

The prizegiving, lubricated by James Boag and Chandon got underway as soon as protests had been heard, with CEO of Connexion D'Art, Ludovic de Lageard, awarding the HKRNVR Memorial Vase to Joachim Isler and Drew Taylor, co-owners of Ambush before awarding the Top Dog Trophy and customized Connexion D'Art iPhone 6 to Peter Backe and Anthony Day of Jezebel.

Provisional HKRNVR Memorial Vase Results: (top ten)

Provisional Old Mutual Top Dog Trophy Series Results: (top ten)

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