Hong Kong Laser Nationals 2016
by Dominick Hardoon 12 Dec 2016 07:22 GMT
10-11 December 2016
1st Laser Radial (Overall) Jakub Rodeziewicz in the Hong Kong Laser Nationals 2016 © Marek Nostitz-Jackowski
From breezy and shifty to strong and steady, laser sailors competing in Hong Kong this weekend experienced a range of wind conditions at the Hong Kong Laser Nationals 2016, which took place on December 10 and 11 out of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's facility in Middle Island. This year saw 16 Laser Radial sailors and 15 Laser 4.7 sailors come out for the two-day event. A lack of Laser Standard sailors meant the division had to be scrapped.
Saturday's races took place out of Stanley Beach where the winds clocked in at 10 knots but swung every which way, which meant race officer Charlie Manzoni had to call for marks to be shifted before the start of every race. But the speed and efficiency with which the races were conducted meant the three races aimed for by HKLCA President Dominick Hardoon happened as they had planned, and the end of the Day 1 saw visiting Polish Laser Radial Sailor Jakub Rodeziewicz in first, J-Asia's (Hong Kong) Nicholas Bezy in second, and Poland's Wiktoria Golebiow in third (Rodeziewicz and Golebiow were in Hong Kong as part of preparations for the year- end Sailing World Youth Worlds in New Zealand). In the Laser 4.7 division, J-Asia's Emily Wong was in the lead, with Tamil Nadu Sailing Association (India) Chitresh T in second, and J-Asia's Nancy Highfield in third.
Sunday brought cooler weather and stronger, steadier winds, making for a slightly easier day for the Race Committee but a more challenging one for the sailors, who braved winds that blew a steady 16, with gusts of as much as 20 knots. In the end, the day belonged to Poland's Rodeziewicz who won the regatta in the Laser Radial division, and Oskar Tulberg in the Laser 4.7 division. This year marked Rodeziewicz's second Hong Kong Laser Nationals, having lost to Hong Kong's own Isamu Sakai in the Radial divison last year.
J-Asia's Nicholas Bezy was named Hong Kong's top Laser Radial sailor (overall); RHKYC's Malik Hood was second; and J-Asia's Christopher Bezy was named both 3rd overall and 1st Radial Youth.
J-Asia's Oskar Tulberg won honours for Hong Kong and his home club of J-Asia in the Laser 4.7 division. Honors were also given to Emily Wong (J-Asia) as 2nd Hong Kong sailor, and Nancy Highfield (J-Asia) as 3rd Hong Kong Sailor.
"We are really excited and happy to see the laser class take off the way it has in Hong Kong," Hong Kong Laser Class Association President Dominick Hardoon said. "We hope the event continues to attract international sailors and we hope to see everyone back again next year."
Congratulations to all who competed!
Overall Results:
Laser Radial
1- Jackub Rodeziewicz (POL)
2- Nicholas Bezy (HKG, J-Asia)
3- Wiktoria Golebiow (POL)
4- Malik Hood (HKG, RHKYC)
5- Chris Bezy (HKG, J-Asia) – also 1st Radial Youth
6- Marian Williams (HKG, J-Asia)
7- Thomas Norton (HKG, J-Asia)
8- Molly Highfield (HKG, J-Asia)
9- Preston Tso (HKG, J-Asia)
10- Jaequeline Truhol (HKG, J-Asia)
11- Thorwen Uiterwaal (HKG, RHKYC)
12- Stephanie Norton (HKG, J-Asia)
13- Emma Fung (HKG, RHKYC)
14- Joshua Lam (HKG, RHKYC)
Laser 4.7
1- Oskar Tulberg (HKG, J-Asia)
2- Naveen Kumanan (IND)
3- Chitresh T (IND)
4- Aniketh Rajam (IND)
5- Emily Wong (HKG, J-Asia) (First U16)
6- Nancy Highfield (HKG, J-Asia)
7- Faolan Whyte (HKG, J-Asia) (Second U16)
8- Emily Keg (HKG, J-Asia)
9- Emil Tulberg (HKG, J-Asia)
10- Yip Pei Tsun (HKG, HHYC)
11- Timothee Lacouture (HKG, HHYC)
12- Pasu Chu (HKG, HHYC)
13- Karen Chau (HKG, RHKYC)
14- Wong Wang Chin (HKG, RHKYC)
15- Sarah Page (HKG, RHKYC)
16- Bing Bing Li (HKG, J-Asia)
17- James Truhol (HKG, RHKYC)