Hong Kong Race Week - Day 1
by RHKYC Media 22 Feb 2018 11:47 GMT
20-25 February 2018
Day 1 - Hong Kong Race Week © Guy Nowell / RHKYC
The Opening Ceremony for Hong Kong Race Week kicked off last night with an acrobatic lion dance display and opening speeches at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Middle Island Clubhouse.
248 sailors from 12 countries are competing in the sixth edition of the event with the following countries represented: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Italy, Macau, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, United States and Hong Kong.
12kts of breeze greeted the competitors this morning as the descended upon Middle Island for the first day of racing which took place across three race tracks located in Repulse Bay and Stanley Bay on the south side of Hong Kong.
When the Lasers, 420s, 29ers and RS Fevas reached their race course in Stanley Bay there was plenty more breeze at 20kts+ which resulted in a substantial number of capsizes even before the first gun. Most sailors however were able to get hold of the conditions once racing got started. The fleets in Repulse Bay did not benefit from the stronger wind and were the first to experience the breeze softening which resulted in a few APs. Once racing got away there were big shifts in pressure and plenty of light patches to contend with across all race tracks.
The breeze kept the fleets on their toes throughout the day and continued to weaken - the sailors who were able to corral the shifty conditions pulled ahead in their divisions. Coming out on top of the day were Hong Kong's 420 sailors Chun Ho HO and Ka Ho LEE who took two bullets in their races.
With females representing more than 30% of the fleet this year it's fantastic to see Hong Kong sisters Nancy and Molly HIGHFIELD on top of the Radials with both sisters taking a first place today and Nancy sitting on top of the ladder with consistent top three results. India's Chitresh TATHA is ahead in the Laser 4.7 with Indonesia's Roger WARDOJO and Hong Kong's Pei Tsun YIP hot on his heals only one point behind. Provisional results for the remaining divisions can be found at www.hongkongraceweek.com/results
The second day of racing starts tomorrow with three races held for all divisions weather permitting.