Volvo Spring Regatta 2026 at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
by Vivian Ngan 11 May 08:47 BST
9-10 May 2026
Sailors were treated to two distinctly different days of racing conditions over the weekend of 9-10 May in Victoria Harbour during the Volvo Spring Regatta, the concluding major event of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's 2025-2026 sailing season.
Approximately 450 sailors, ranging from enthusiastic amateurs to experienced campaigners, competed across 95 boats, representing three Big Boat divisions and eight one-design classes. These included J/80s, Sportsboats, Etchells, Impalas, Flying Fifteens, Dragons, Ruffians and Pandoras.
To manage marine traffic and ensure safe separation from an outgoing cruise ship during the regatta, an additional set of courses was published the day prior to the first day of racing. Competition got under way from the Club start line just outside the Kellett Island clubhouse, with 10 successful starts completed.
Big Boat Division 1 was first away at 1351hrs in 10 to 12kts of easterly breeze, with gusts up to 16kts, followed shortly by Big Boat Division 2. These fleets were sent on a 9.3nm course, sailing toward the Kowloon Bay mark and TCS4 off Junk Bay, looping back around Kowloon Bay before finishing off Kai Tak.
The remaining classes raced on courses contained within Victoria Harbour, sailing distances ranging from approximately 7.7 to 10.3nm. These courses featured beats toward Hung Hom, Kowloon Bay, and Kwun Tong, with finishes either off Kai Tak or directly in front of the clubhouse. Spectators along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and at the clubhouse were treated to exciting, close-quarters racing, particularly at the Cable mark roundings and during tight finishes near the Club, making it a fast and engaging day on the water.
Sailors returned on Sunday for Day 2, hoping for more of the same conditions. While wind was present, it proved to be a light-air day, testing competitors' ability to keep their boats smooth and fast within the confines of Victoria Harbour.
Race Officer Barry Truhol started the first race of the day in the Hung Hom area, with an easterly breeze of 3 to 6kts. Fleets were sent on harbour-based courses with a target race time of one hour, sailing 1.5 to 2 laps of windward-leeward courses. The upwind marks were set off Tai Koo Shing or Shau Kei Wan, with finishes at Hung Hom or Kowloon Bay. Despite the light conditions, racing remained close and competitive, with tight margins across all classes.
Fortunately, the breeze held long enough for race management to complete a second race, allowing the regatta to conclude with a full and rewarding light air programme.
Truhol commented, "The wind was very light on Day 2, but at least we were able to start from our usual location off North Hung Hom, and we set the courses expecting around 6kts of breeze. The wind in the first race was particularly light at times, dropping to as little as 3kts, but we had set shorter courses, which allowed boats to finish in around an hour.
For the second race, with Mother's Day in mind, we targeted a slightly longer race time of about an hour and a half. Boats finished in approximately 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, allowing everyone to return ashore early for prize-giving and to hopefully enjoy a happy Mother's Day."
The Big Boat classes gathered the most competitive fleet of yachts and were divided into three divisions according to their rating and size. After three races over two days, Cape 31 Tai Chi climbed to first overall in Division 1, Daydream maintained a firm hold on the lead in Division 2, and Manbude, with two bullets on Day 2, secured victory in Division 3.
In the one-design classes, Etchells Racer Smithy, Flying Fifteen Fei Faan, Impala Boss Hogg, J/80 Footloose, Ruffian Buster, and Sportsboat Serendipity successfully defended their leads, lifting trophies in their respective divisions. Dragon Eaux Vives and Pandora Windfall also impressed, posting two bullets and one bullet respectively on Day 2 to climb significantly up the overall standings.
Sunday also coincided with Hong Kong Volunteer Festival - Serve-A-Thon. The Club extends sincere thanks to more than 20 dedicated volunteers whose efforts were instrumental in the successful delivery of the Volvo Spring Regatta.