Sail-World Asia newsletter 31 March 2020
by Guy Nowell, Asia Editor 31 Mar 2020 07:42 BST
Big winds, big waves and a big fleet, truly the fine line between brilliance and insanity : The gate start on day 4 of the SAP 505 Worlds at Weymouth 2016 © Mark Jardine
Seriously running out of things to write about… there’s not much happening in Asia, what with everyone in various versions of lockdown. Even local racing has ground to a halt in Hong Kong since the Government ordered the shutdown of “all organised sailing, rowing and paddling… including races, regattas, training and recreational/leisure activities… as of midnight (0000hrs) Wednesday 25 March for a period of 14 days ending at midnight (2400hrs) Tuesday 07 April inclusive.”
However: you may be able to get round this by using ‘rabbit’ starts (no Committee Boat, no Race Officer, no “organisation”). Course (islands) signalled by flags on the rabbit. Take your own finish times, submit to appropriate WhatsApp group. In Hong Kong, if there are no more than four crew then you’re not breaking any ‘social gathering’ regulations either. We’ll call this “dis-organised” racing. Any takers for next Saturday, 2.00pm, north end of Shelter Island?
Self-isolating on 72.