Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Flying Fifteen Hong Kong Championship 2019-20

by Peter Britten 19 Dec 2019 07:12 GMT 7-8 December 2019
Class Sec Carlyon Knight-Evans presents the winning Trophy to Peter Britten (right) and Oliver Merz (center) - Flying Fifteen Hong Kong Championship 2019/2020 © Alison Kinght-Evans

15 boats entered the 2019/20 Hong Kong Class Championships held over the weekend of 7 - 8 December. It was be the first time in many years that the fleet championships would be raced on Victoria harbour, with the city as a back drop. With a Northerley wind forecast for the weekend it was to be a shifty and unpredictable breeze as the pressure came over the mountains and into the Harbour.

The first day of the championships saw three boats being called over the line and all 3 going back, Sam Chan and Nick Atkinson on FF4038, Kelvin Cheung and Michael Bennett on ff3978 and Peter Britten and Oli Merz on FF3722. All three decided to split from the fleet to the right side of the course which proved a winning move, as they arrived first at the windward mark, places they wouldn't relinquish in what would become a regatta of getting the shifts right throughout the weekend. There were wind holes the size of ships and had real ships slicing down the middle of the course to add to the tension.

After day one Peter Britten and Oli Merz held top spot, but with a number of boats in close proximity, it was all on for day two on Sunday. The first 2 races on day two were sailed up and down Kai Tak but the wind shut down in the final stages of the second race causing the whole fleet to drift across the line for a finish.

It all came down to the last race, which looked like it was going to be cancelled until the breeze filled in to give a steady (ish) 7 knots of breeze to decide the championship.

Kelvin Cheung and Michael Bennet on ff3981 took a huge lead on the first beat and rounded the top mark with a clear lead, followed by Sam Chan and Nick Atkinson on ff4038 and then Chris Howard and Niall Westley on ff3468. These boats were then followed by the chasing pack of John Tse and Andy Yeu ff3978 then Peter Britten and Oli Merz on ff3722 which would create the front group of five for the race.

As the wind swung it was a matter of picking the shifts both up and downwind, with John and Andy ff3978 picking their way through the fleet it looked like their race until they selected the wrong windward mark allowing ff3468 and then ff3722 to squeeze through. These two boats then had a fight to the finish with Peter and Oli ff3722 taking Chris and Niall ff3997 out on starboard and gybing for the line to clinch the finish by just a couple of boats lengths, taking the race and the championship.

After a difficult two days racing it came down to the top 5 boats fighting it out in strong tide and patchy wind. Peter Britten and Oli Merz lifted the trophy in ff3722, with John Tse and Andy Yeu ff3978 taking second to finish the podium it was Kelvin Cheung and Michael Bennet ff3981 taking third place.

A big thank you to the race organisation team who had a tough job in difficult condition to get all 6 races and Oli Merz for working with the club and RO teams to ensure we could get a Championships done in the harbour.

Related Articles

Flying Fifteen Southern Travellers at Middle Nene
The weather forecast of a lively weekend was spot-on A strong fleet of 16 boats (six visitors, ten local) arrived at the start line for the traditional Flying 15 Open Meeting at Middle Nene SC, which was held on 14th/15th June as part of the Southern Traveller Series. Posted on 18 Jun
Flying Fifteen Classic and Silver Championships
A weekend of close racing and camaraderie in the Peak District Classic and Silver division Flying Fifteens enjoyed a weekend of close racing and camaraderie in the glorious surroundings of this Peak District location. Posted on 11 Jun
Flying Fifteen Open at Aldeburgh
13 boats entered Aldeburgh's annual open meeting, including 4 visitors The open is one of three key events hosted every year, alongside our Spring Regatta and August Regatta, all of which welcome travellers for racing on this beautiful stretch of river. Posted on 11 Jun
Save the Date - Cowes Classics Regatta 2026
The dates now confirmed after a highly successful 2025 event As the curtain comes down on what has been a remarkable Cowes Classics Week 2025, thoughts at the Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Thames Yacht Club turn towards the hosting of Cowes Classics Regatta 2026 with the dates now confirmed. Posted on 5 Jun
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 overall
Building breeze and sea state create a spectacular conclusion Ahead of an oncoming, breeze-filled front from the west, the superb race management teams, under the watchful eye of Principal Race Officer Tim Hancock, elected to send all the fleets out early on the concluding day of Cowes Classics Regatta 2025. Posted on 1 Jun
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Day 2
Fog lifts on the Solent to reveal the front-runner A dense, wispy fog sat over the Solent this morning, hampering visibility and causing Cowes Classics Regatta Principal Race Officer, Tim Hancock, to call a short delay shoreside to let the sun burn through and leave a simply stunning day for all. Posted on 31 May
Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Day 1
Perfect Solent Conditions The Solent shimmered and glistened under early summer sunshine and with a brisk building Force 3-4 westerly wind over tide initially before the turn mid-afternoon, the racing areas of Hill Head and Osborne Bay offered near-perfect conditions. Posted on 31 May
Poole Week Revitalised For 2025
New race teams and new courses for the summer's big event How do you make a great sailing week even better, without losing the elements that have always made it a great sailing week? Posted on 24 May
Enter now for Chichester Harbour Race Week
Last year nearly 600 competitors in 383 boats attended Book your place at the biggest dinghy and keelboat regatta in the UK! With the website open, you can now reserve your place in this year's 'must attend' event. Starting on Monday 11th August, ending on 15th. Posted on 24 May
Cowes Classics Regatta countdown is on
A week away, and late entries are coming in thick and fast across all divisions We are just one week away now from the start of the Royal London Yacht Club's flagship event - the Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 - and as ever, late entries are coming thick and fast across all the divisions. Posted on 23 May