Ahoy! April 2023

Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week

RHKYC PR Department at prdept@rhkyc.org.hk Ahoy! Design Carmen Wong, MYND Design. Articles for Ahoy! can be emailed to prdept@rhkyc.org.hk The Club reserves the right to edit articles. All opinions

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in this publication are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the views of the General Committee of the RHKYC. The e-version of the magazine (and back copies) are on the RHKYC website. The Ahoy! magazine is saddle-stitched and printed on Forest Stewardship Council® rated mixed pulp paper (meaning that the paper is made of responsibly sourced wood fiber) and all printing and

Vice Patrons Jimmy Farquhar and Lowell Chang; Commodore Lucy Sutro; Vice Commodore Adrian Pang; Rear Commodore Sailing David Norton; Rear Commodore Club Mark Parker; Honorary Secretary Bo Lee; Honorary Treasurer Joseph Chu; Rowing Captain Judy Chan. For other Club contact details please refer to the Club Directory on page 35.

contact

Wine of the Month – April

Zuani Sodevo Pinot Grigio 2021, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Commodore’ts Message

We've just had the best ever Boase Cohen & Collins Inter-School Sailing Festivals at Middle Island. 150 sailors sailed 84 races over two days in ideal conditions of 11 to 18kts. It really was a most enjoyable weekend and a full report will be in next month's issue. Similar fabulous conditions were also enjoyed at Kellett Island that same weekend for the Ladies Helm – another writeup to look forward to in the May issue.

This month sees the return of the Club’s blue water classic Rolex China Sea Race starting off Kellett Island on Wednesday 5 April with a warning signal at 1110hrs and start at 1120hrs. Please come down to the Chart Room Balcony and wave off the fleet as they set off on their 565nm Category 1 offshore race down to the Philippines. I will be one of the sailors on the start line, racing down to finish line aboard Swan 56, Parnassus.

The One Global Tomes Cup on Saturday 29 April. This is the fourth and final constituent event of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2022–2023. Mike Burrell with Impala 1 is currently comfortably sitting in top place so let’s see what happens! Whilst we are on the subject of Mike, he’s just passed his 60-year milestone at the Club along with Michael and Judith Green and Dr. Franklin Li! Incredible.

On 30 April we have a Club favourite – the Nations’ Cup where everyone has great fun dressing up in costume! It’s always very entertaining to see what sailors come up with and the after-party and prizegiving is such great fun and of course this year we can actually have one!

The Rowing section is holding two of the Club’s most popular events this month; the Head of the Bay rowing race at Middle Island, now in it’s 66th year and the Middle Island Cup dragon boat race. Both are great spectator events. Last month we held the season opening Youth Rowing Series regatta at Deep Water Bay; a fun but competitive rowing race for our young rowers. And our Dragon Boat Youth programme kicked off the season last month; you can see them in action at the Middle Island Cup. The Club’s outrigger canoe team has already been delivering very strong results in the season opening ‘small boat’ category races. Two different RHKYC ladies took first place in each of the two season-opening OC1 races and our men weren’t far behind!

The news out of Marine is that after a very long wait, due to Covid supply chain issues, our replacement 5m RIBs from AB Inflatables have arrived and are in service with Sail Training at Middle Island. These RIBs have replaced the old Tornado 5m RIBs which have been retired. Five new VSR 5.8R RIBs have also arrived and these will augment our existing fleet at Middle Island, Kellett Island and Shelter Cove. Also, the Club’s new tractor tug for pulling the class boats around the hard standing at Kellett Island has just been delivered. The Tractor is powered by a Lithium Ion battery in continuance of the Clubs sustainability policy.

Just to remind for those Life and Full Members to put forward names who they think could be suitably candidates for the position of the General Committee for consideration by the Nominating Committee before Thursday, 13 April. Details of requirement can be viewed from the members’ login-section of the Club website.

Commodore Lucy Sutro

General Manager’s Message

As mentioned in Lucy's column, we hope to see you down at the Club to wave off the Rolex China Sea Race fleet as they head off on the Race to the Philippines on 5 April. This truly is a fabulous offshore race, and the Chart Room Balcony is a perfect spot to see the start. The warning signal is at 1110hrs with the start at 1120hrs. And of course, after that, head down to the Bistro and enjoy the buffet – it is Curry Wednesday after all!

The seasonal celebration this month is of course Easter and the F&B team have come up with various eggcelent events for you to enjoy including Easter Egg Painting, an Egg Hunt, a Paint and Wine evening (Easter edition of course!), a showing of Peter Rabbit the movie, a Good Friday Lunch at Middle Island and an Easter Saturday Buffet Lunch at Shelter Cove. Everything you need to know about what is on offer can be found on page 34.

Join us on 13 April in the Compass Room for a Penfolds wine dinner featuring their wines from both Australia and the USA, including of course their signature wine – Penfolds Grange. Hear from our guest speaker about how Penfolds expanded their footprint into the USA by planting vine cuttings taken from their vineyards in South Australia into the Californian soil. Please read more on page 33.

We also have myriad events for our younger members this month. Our popular Kids’ Master Chef 3.0 makes a triumphant return on 16 April and the theme this time around is ‘Pasta-chef’! On 22 April we are holding an Ocean Pollution Sensory Bin Workshop and on 30 April we have two events; the first is Cadets’ Nations Trivia – in combination with the Nations Cup which will be taking place that day, and the second is an Earth Finger Painting Workshop.

Also on the calendar is a Beach (Coastal) Clean Up at Middle Island on 23 April and a showing of the movie Iron Man on the big screen on 17 April.

The fourth in our series of promotions Introducing Local Beverage Makers is on now and this time it’s the turn of Double Haven Brewery which produces craft beer and Hong Kong first spiked seltzer line – Dragon Water – in a variety of flavours. Please come and enjoy these beverages in the Main Bar and they’re available from the Bistro Deli. The brewery donates 1% of their revenue to the 1% for the planet initiative

As you will see, there’s so much packed into the calendar so please do take the time to go through the pages within and we hope to see you at the Club – a lot!

Lastly, on a more serious note, we have noticed an increase in poor parking at both Kellett Island and Shelter Cove. Please be reminded to park within the lines (Bye Law 14.11) so as to avoid causing an inconvenience to others, particularly on busy weekends and race days.

General Manager Mark Bovaird 總經理布馬克

會長的話

我們剛在中途島舉辦了近年來最成功的一場「布高江律師行校際帆船節」。150位帆船運動員，透過兩日共84 場賽事，並在11至18節風力下圓滿舉行。該週末實在令大家盡興，詳細的賽後報告將於下月的Ahoy!刊登。同 日在吉列島舉行的女子舵手賽同樣順利舉行，賽後報告將於五月的Ahoy!刊登。

訪本會，在Chart Room的露台歡送參賽隊伍，讓他們正式展開長達565海浬的一級離岸賽事，直達菲律賓彼 岸。我亦有參賽，是Swan 56型「Parnassus號」的帆船運動員。

「The One Global Tomes 盃帆船賽」將於4月29日（星期六）舉行。這是2022-2023 年度「Top Dog 盃系 列帆船賽」的最後一場賽事。Mike Burrell的Impala 1號暫時穩坐榜首。大家拭目以待吧！當我們談及Mike 時，他剛剛與Michael及Judith Green和Dr. Franklin Li 一 同在香港遊艇會渡過了60周年的里程碑。真棒！ 4月30號將舉辦廣受歡迎的「民族盃帆船賽」。參賽者當日都會「扮鬼扮馬」呢！光是每年看不同的參賽者奇 裝異服，娛樂性甚高呢！當然不少得賽後的派對以及頒獎典禮，今年我們終於可以再度舉行頒獎典禮呢！ 賽艇及划槳運動部在本月舉行了兩場廣受歡迎的比賽，包括在中途島舉行的第66 屆Head of the Bay，以及 中途島盃龍舟賽。兩場賽事的觀賞性很高呢！「Youth Rowing Series Regatta」正式開鑼，上月我們更在深 水灣舉行賽事呢；對於青年賽艇運動員來說，這是一場集玩味性以及競技性於一身的賽事。我們的龍舟青年 活動亦於上月展開。

如果想親眼看他們的訓練，大家可親臨中途島觀賽。本會的懸浮獨木舟團隊已經在「小懸浮獨木舟組別」獲得 佳績。本會兩位女懸浮獨木舟運動員現在兩場開鑼賽事的單人艇項目獲得冠軍，當然男士亦不遑多讓，交出亮 麗的成績表。

來自海事部的好消息。因為疫情而令船期一再延遲抵港的AB剛性充氣艇終於落戶本會了，她們現正在中途島 的帆船運動訓練班服役，而舊有的Tornado剛性充氣艇亦已經退役了。另外，本會亦新增了五艘VSR 5.8R剛 性充氣艇，大大增加了在中途島、吉列島以及白沙灣會所的剛性充氣艇數目。此外，在本會陸地上用來拖拉不 同級別帆船的牽引車亦已抵埗。為配合本會的可持續發展政策，此牽引車是以鋰離子電池運作的呢！ 溫馨提醒所有永久及正式會員在4月13日(星期四)前向「提名委員會」提名你們認為適合以擔任理瘁事會職位 的會員。有關提名的要求，可瀏覽本會網頁，從會員登入位置了解詳情。

總經理的話

正如Lucy在她的序言提及，我們很希望在見到大家於4月5日，即「勞力士中國海帆船賽」開賽日到訪本會。這 可真是一個極好的離岸賽事，而Chart Room的陽台真是觀賽的好地點。預賽訊號於上午11時10分響起，而 11時20分則正式起航。當然，開賽後大家不妨考慮到Bistro享用自助午餐，可不要忘記當日時星期三，當日的 自助餐以咖哩為主題。

本月的節日慶祝活動當然離不開復活節呢！本會的餐飲部為大家帶來多個「Eggcelent」的活動，當中包括復 活蛋繒畫、尋找復活蛋、復活節版的「Paint and Wine」、比得兔電影播放、聖周五中途島午膳以及在西貢白 沙灣會所舉行的復活節周六自助餐午膳。如欲了解更多資訊，可查看第34頁。

4月13日在Compass Room將舉行「Penfolds葡萄酒晚宴」。當晚將呈獻來自澳洲及美國的招牌美酒 ─Penfolds Grange。出席我們舉辦的Speaker Corner活動，了解更多有關Penfold如何把他們在南澳葡萄 園中採摘的葡萄藤插條帶到加洲的土壤種植，從而把他們的足跡擴展到美國。

本月我們亦有多個為較年輕的會員而設的活動。那廣受歡迎的「Master Chef 3.0」將於4月16日強勢回歸，是 次活動主題為「意粉大廚」。在4月22日我們將舉辦一個「Ocean Pollution Sensory Bin 工作坊」。4月30日

我們將有兩個活動，為配合民族盃帆船賽，當日第一個舉辦的活動是「Cadets' Nations Trivia」，第二個則是 「Earth Finger Painting 工作坊」。

4月23日是中途島的沙灘(海岸)清潔日。4月17日則會在大銀幕描放「鐵甲奇俠」。

來到第四項宣傳活動，又怎少得向大家介紹本地自家製飲品製造商呢？今次，終於來到「Double Haven Brewery」，一個製作精釀啤酒及不同味道的Dragon Waters梳打飲品的品牌。大家不訪來到Main Bar 享用，大家亦可在Bistro Deli購買。精釀啤酒商會把百分之一的收益作保護地球的公益活動。大家可見，本月 的活動好戲連場，所以希望大家可以詳閱內頁，我們很希望在會內見到你。

最後，把話題轉到一個認真的議題上。吉列島及白沙灣會所胡亂泊車的情況愈見嚴重，基於附列第14.11， 請大家把車輛停泊在泊位界線內，以免影響他們，尤其在周末或比賽日的時候呢！

Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong

sailors from 12 countries and regions representing Australia, Belgium, Chinese Taipei, Greece, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Mainland China, Macau (China), Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand and the USA, were excited to get back out on the water to the best racing action in Asia.

Running over the 14 to 19 February, Peter Davies, Regatta Chairman said “We are thrilled to have Hong Kong Race Week back finally! How fantastic it is that Hong Kong has opened up in time for such a nice event, and we have more international entries this year.” With the traditional pageantry of a Lion Dance welcome to open the event which included the attendance by Hong Kong Government dignitaries in recognition of the growing status of the event and yachting in Hong Kong, the regatta was off to a great start to Five days of world class racing.

29er Asian Championship

This year’s Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week incorporated the inaugural 2023 29er Asian Championship which attracted 15 entries –11 from Hong Kong and the remaining four from Australia, Japan and Thailand.

Japanese sailors Mihiro Okada and Iwao Yasuda were participating in Hong Kong for the first time and represented Japan as the country’s current #1 ranked 29er team. Australians Piper Attwood and Annabelle Sampson also made their debut in Hong Kong to compete in the 2023 29er Asian Championship. Thai National Youth Team members, Bunyamin Klongsamoot and Kan Kachachuen together with Chatree Makmul and Manintorn Leelas also in attendance, were well supported by their country, with The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Hong Kong fully supporting the sailors throughout the event.

Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week, incorporating the inaugural 29er Asian Championship, roared back to life after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

WORDS: VIVIAN NGAN | IMAGES: GUY NOWELL | VIVIAN NGAN | CHIANG HSIU CHUAN

Race Week

Amongst the 11 home-grown Hong Kong teams were sailors Jamie Tsang and Mak Cheuk Wing, Mak Cheuk Wing was the winner of Hong Kong Sports Institute’s Outstanding Junior Athlete award and the first windsurfer in Hong Kong to win a medal two years in a row in the Junior Windsurfing Championship. She has now changed tack turning her hand to skiffs and racing with Jamie Tsang as a 29er crew.

Cameron Law and Christopher Lam had come into the event favorites, having just taken 1st overall at the Hong Kong 29er National Championship. However, it was dynamo female duo Emily Polson and Tiffany Mak, who had placed 2nd in the Silver Fleet at the 2022 29er World Championship in Spain, who kept their dream alive by taking 1st place overall at the inaugural Asian event, with a tidy six bullets under their belt. Chasing the girls, by a mere three points were Cameron Law and Christopher Lam, with Jayden Fung and Jack Dingemans in 3rd place.

Emily said “This regatta was pretty tricky and pretty hard – especially Day 3 – but we held together pretty well. It’s good that we have so many international boats here. The event was organised and run really well.”

Growing international participation

With 76 sailors, the Optimist Main fleet was the biggest of the regatta. There were four entries from Thailand and one from Greece and along with teams from Macau(China), Chinese Taipei, China and USA. This year saw 22 entries from Mainland China from three sailing clubs, including 14 sailors from Chenjinhao Sailing Club (a sailing training centre set up by world class Chinese sailor Chen Jinhao Horace), three sailors from China Seal Sailing School and four from Whisper of the Wind Sailing Club. Chinese Taipei Yulan Youth Academy, coached by former 2018 Hong Kong Race Week Laser Radial champion Chiang Hsiu-Chuan, sent four sailors.

At the end of nine races, Greece’s Optimist sailor Emmanouil Anastasios Vomvylas carried a massive lead of 17 points over Liu Zihan from Hong Kong, with Chinese sailor Deng Rong Sheng in 3rd place. Vomvylas said, “It wasn’t so easy because the weather here was so difficult and shifty and also the current isn’t so helpful plus the athletes here were good, so it’s very nice to win. It’s my last year in Optimists so maybe I can come back to Hong Kong Race Week in the ILCA class.”

For Optimist Intermediate fleet, Ethan Kiu from Aberdeen Boat Club came in first followed by Liu XinRan and Caleb Pang from Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Ethan expressed his happiness about winning his first Hong Kong Race Week. “I feel proud of winning and I think I have improved a lot since the last regatta. It was good to have great competition too.”

Also sharing the Optimist course were the RS Feva’s with yet another Chinese sailor Shirley Ma and Yike Luo sailing their way to the win.

The ILCA 4 class was the second largest fleet comprising of 16 local sailors along with 10 Mainland China sailors from Vanhang Sailing Academy and Whisper of Wind Sailing Club, 4 Singaporeans, 2 Thai sailors and one each from Chinese Taipei, Macau (China) and Switzerland.

Top Singaporean sailor, Isaac Goh showed great strength from the start of the regatta, going on to lift the trophy 7 points ahead of compatriot, Josiah Tan. Thailand’s Thanapat Sircharoen came in 3rd. Goh said “I am quite satisfied with my performance, and I hope I will improve further. There are lots of different countries joining this event, bringing some very good competition. I had really a fun time with them, what a great event!”

Among the 18 entries in ILCA 6, 5 Mainland Chinese entries took part, with the sailor to watch being Ding Zhaohiu from Vanhang Sailing Academy. Sailors also represented Belgium, Chinese Taipei and Singapore. Ding Zhaohiu took 1st overall followed by Hong Kong sailor Peter Jessop and Chinese sailor Feng Ziteng Patrick. Said Ding, “The last five days of racing has been great and I had some fun moments with my friends. I just want to say thanks to my coaches, without their support, I cannot have this result. I hope to return next year.”

Tricky conditions

With the myriad of conditions over the course of the week, the opening day of racing saw 10kts of breeze building up to 14–15kts across most courses. The Po Toi course was also accompanied by a big swell running, delivering a memorable racing experience for the first day, a great opener to the inaugural 2023 29er Asian Championship.

While shifty conditions prevailed across the three racing areas for day 2 of the event, the situation posed some challenges for the race management team on the Po Toi track which hosted both the 2023 29er Asian Championship and ILCA fleets, with the race area being split

into two separate windward leeward courses, allowing the ILCA class to sail on a bigger and longer course and the other for the 29er class who preferred shorter races.

Similarly, the Optimist and 2.4mR’s experienced good pressure out on the Stanley course with gusts recorded up to 23kts – topping the limit for Optimist Intermediate class. However, with great management of the course, Inge Strompf Jepsen and her team managed to get 3 races in to complete day 2 of racing.

In stark contrast, day 3 racing saw lighter wind, testing the sailors’ ability in all-round conditions. Race Officer Brenda Davies at the Po Toi area commented “The wind god was kind today” as the ILCA class had some very close racing on a much calmer sea with an average 7 to 8 kts north easterly breeze.

Under grey sky and a spot of rain, the breeze didn’t play ball and completely shut down for the last day of competition. All race management teams tried in vain to find some wind however after a few hours of having the sailors wait patiently on the water at the various race areas of Po Toi and Stanley Bay, the N over A flag was eventually hoisted, signaling that racing was abandoned for all fleets except the Optimist Green Fleet who managed to get in two races in Deep Water Bay.

The next generation of sailors

As part of the commitment to our sport, Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week offers the developmental program of Green Fleet. Green Fleet is sailed on a dedicated racecourse allowing organisers to be very flexible and run a specialised training-oriented race program. Sailors are actively encouraged on the racecourse with advice and tips on how to improve their performance so they can move into the main fleets in the coming year.

2023 saw the first-time inclusion of a youth Green Fleet in the Fusion and Pico Green fleets, run by Race Officer Paul Kan, seeing 16 young sailors join. Finishing a first ever regatta experience, Fusion fleet sailor Wong Tsz Lung, from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s own community outreach program, Sail To Change, said “I learnt a lot from racing with other Sail To Change teammates and other competitors and I definitely would like to join next year.”

27 young sailors participated in their first ever regatta in the Optimist Green Fleet. Nine year old Mainland China sailor Wang Qian’ai was the most consistent out on the course. Wang said, “I am very happy, I hope I could have noticed the wind shift and wind direction and I hope I could also win in higher rank of Optimist racing in the future.”

Embracing inclusivity

As an all-inclusive event, Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week embraces and supports the inclusion of the 2.4mR class which is sailed by both able and disability sailors. There were 7 entries in 2.4 mR class – among them six para sailors from Sailability Hong Kong, including Sylvia Leung making her debut in her first Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week. “I have participated in several local regattas, but here at southern side, we have different racing conditions compared to our home base in Shelter Cove. It’s more physically challenging to attend four days of racing plus a practice race, but we learn more in a weeklong regatta.”

Foo Yuen Wai had been racing in Race Week since the first edition in 2015. Foo mentioned as the regatta had been on pause due to Covid restrictions for a few years affecting training, he’s treasuring this opportunity to sail in this international event to equip himself for stronger sailing conditions at future overseas regattas. Foo Yuen Wai took 5 bullets in total putting him ahead of Virgile Bertrand, taking his 3rd championship crown at Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week.

Sailability Hong Kong sent their new flagship vessel Mohan, a 40’ sailing yacht along to the event this year as a spectator vessel, enabling them to showcase the sport of yachting and opportunities available to the wider community of people who endure a disability. With various groups of

disability passengers aboard over 2 days of racing, the passengers were treated to viewing the racing and enjoyed the inspiration that comes from watching the competing Sailability sailors, each of whom had some form of disability.

Sustainability Matters

Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week aims to achieve Clean Regatta status for the Sailors for the Sea program. This year targeting a Platinum level Clean Regatta, the Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week Green Team set about making sure the event was run in the highest sustainable manner.

Along with the elimination of single use water bottles, full use of electronic entry and race management system via an Online Notice Board portal – to name a few practices, the event also additionally shared a special movie screening of A Plastic Ocean on the 12 January in the lead up to the regatta. Attending Marine Biologist Thea Bradford and A Plastic Ocean Foundation representative Jasmine Siu shared with sailors and club members insight on how the influx of plastic and other waste is affecting the health and biodiversity of the Ocean, giving some great tips along the way on how everyone can do their part to save the health of our oceans.

The HKRW Green Team also joined forces with RHKYC Sustainability Team and local Hong Kong NGO Hong Kong Shark Foundation to host a beach clean-up at Middle Island Beach, two weeks prior to the regatta in preparation for the sailors. Along with an educational environmental awareness talk hosted by NGO A Plastic Free Sea with our Green Fleet sailors, the younger generation are being made aware of how our actions are impacting the environment.

Out on course, the full impact of sustainability and ocean trash was seen firsthand. On day 1 of racing, the Chinese Taipei Coach boat spotted a distressed dolphin entangled and struggling in a discarded fishing net. RHKYC member Ricky Lai also on board, managed to cut the net free, seeing the dolphin safely swim free. A mere day after the heroic dolphin save, more ghost nets were recovered on the racecourse off Po Toi. Our volunteers actively participating in the protection of our wildlife and ocean health.

Winners

Prizegiving and Thanks

The prizegiving ceremony marked the close to an incredible week of international racing with Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week Race Chairman Peter Davies thanking the Hong Kong Government through the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau for their contribution the to the event along with title sponsor Sun Hung Kai & Co. for their great support. Davies also noting that the event was not possible without the dedication of the 100+ volunteers who each day take part to get the sailors out on the water to race, thanking all the volunteers for their contributions on behalf of all the sailors.

With 72 entries from outside of Hong Kong including 12 countries / regions represented, the event was officially signed off as one of the most successful Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race week events. Under a loud round of applause, Davies went on to thank the marine staff who had worked tirelessly in the background to support the race management fleet, the team at Middle Island who had served up hundreds of hot meals each day after racing, the International Jury and Race Officers, including Barry Truhol, Brenda Davies, Inge Strompf-Jepsen Elberti UiterwaalPostma and Paul Kan, for their hardwork throughout the week.

PRO Barry Truhol summed up the regatta, “the whole event was very well organised by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. We had very successful races; from extremely strong wind for first couple of days, then we had lighter wind which is challenging for sailors in another way and then

unfortunately today no wind at all, but as an event, I think it was fantastic and fun. The competitors put great effort to be sporting, everyone was very polite and helped each other out, it was great.”

Peter Davies said that it had been truly wonderful how the event came together as the borders opened up, how lucky we were to have this all happen in December, just when the overseas teams were making up their minds whether or not to travel. For many this was their first Race Week, and how great it was to see so many young sailors energised by the whole experience, something denied to them for three years. Also how fantastic it was for so many volunteers to come together once again and enjoy this critical side of the regatta together. Davies said it was so good to get back together with so many faces from past events, as well as to be able introduce a new generation of volunteers to the whole experience.

We would like to extend a thank you to our Title Sponsor Sun Hung Kai & Co for their continued support of the Club and this regatta. We are also grateful for their involvement and commitment to our sustainability efforts, volunteering for our beach cleanup linked to the event.

Hong Kong Race Week would not be possible without the tremendous support of the huge volunteer team, with up to 100 volunteers helping out each day we could not run the event without you! Thank you ALL!

See you at Hong Kong Race Week 2024!

& Co. Hong Kong Race Week 2023

HK Laser Class Championships 2023

After many years, the ILCA class association of Hong Kong (formerly known as Lasers) were able to hold a standalone national championship. Sailed out of Middle Island on 28 and 29 January with support from HKSF, HHYC, HKSI and many volunteers, the event was a resounding success. 38 boats entered (including four Masters division sailors) across the three fleets, with sailors ranging from ages 13 to 50+.

Saturday saw good wind coming out of the Northeast and Race Officer Barry Truhol got racing going in Stanley Bay with a twolap windward leeward course. In the ILCA 7/ Standard division, Tommy Wong took three bullets from two races. The race for second was a bit tighter with David Salembier and Tom Armistead trading 2nd and 3rd places throughout the day. “I had to sail my boat from Lamma to compete. The boat is very old, a

1985 hull. It has been sitting on the beach for a long time. The club encouraged me to join so I sailed it over from the beach in Lamma the day before. The regatta was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed myself. It is very interesting to be back again, I haven’t done this in a while, and I have a lot learn but.” – Tom Armistead

Race officer Barry Truhol described the day as “Cracking! There was good breeze, about 10 knots and constant. The racing was really

good. A few of the competitors were feeling a bit cold, but that comes from not being out at competitions like this in five years. The standard in the class is good and I think people had fun.”

The ILCA 6 / Radial division saw some of very hotly contested starts in all 3 races. Isamu Sakai dialled back the clock to his youth days and picked up exactly where he left off racing lasers 15 years ago by taking two bullets in the

WORDS AND IMAGES: LUKE VAN DER KAMP

first two races. The third race saw Isamu and HKSI sailor Charlie Robinson push each other hard around the course with Charlie taking the win in Race 3 by a couple of seconds. Isamu Sakai reflecting on his win “I’m tired! It was a fantastic event. It was a really cool event and fantastic to see it revived and thriving. We haven’t had an event like this in Hong Kong for 10 years. Oz and everyone have put in so much work for this and it is now such a cool event to be part of again. We just need to continue it and grow it more. Hopefully all the kids will be a bit bigger next year and push me even harder!”

Henry Higgins, representing the Royal St George Yacht Club rounded out the podium in 3rd with consistent top 3 finishes. Having only recently come to Hong Kong from Ireland, he

was impressed with the racing: “How does this compare to back home in Ireland? It's a lot different and the breeze is a lot more shifty. Back home, we normally have a straight breeze off the sea, so it's just incredible experience of being able to sailing off the islands and it's very different, very different. The standard of the fleet here was high. I mean, Hong Kong isn't known for steady breeze and today when we had a lot of heavy breeze it was surprising. That's all we trained back in Ireland and even though they lighter weight here, everyone's able to keep their own in heavy breezes!”

The tightest division was the ILCA 4 / 4.7 division with only one point splitting the top three. Daniel Chan Took the division win by one point and 2nd and 3rd place was decided on a countback between Ziyan Huang and Seb Van Ommeren. Ziyan Huang holding on to the runner up spot thanks to a 1st and 2nd place

in the first two races. This division all saw many first time competitors who have never raced in a ILCA specific regatta before. Sharks Sailors Justine and Juliette Waters enjoyed the experience: “First regatta but very cold. It was very fun. I'm very sore right now and it was hard to get. Out of bed. I enjoyed the third race on the first day because I was able to finish that one. I think I've improved more and got more comfortable with like the how braces work and stuff.”

The wind gods were unkind on Sunday at the HK Laser Nationals. In the words of RO Barry Truhol: “Today was like waiting for nothing to happen. We started off with wind from about northeast, around 035 degrees. It then did a complete shift to 270, so we set up for that. Then it went to 180, and then we set up for that… and it went back to 240… So, if you weren’t paying attention, you were going to get

really dizzy going around and around in circles for a breeze that never came!”

Unfortunately, the racing never got underway. The race management team valiantly gave it their best shot but an uncooperative breeze made the call for them After some tough racing the day before, many sailors feeling soreness in the legs and abs welcomed the decision to call it a day shortly after 1400hrs.

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all competitors who showed up from near and far to make this a enjoyable and memorable event. A massive thank you to the volunteers and Hong Kong Sailing Federation who without, this event would have been impossible. A special mention to HK ILCA/ Laser Class Association President, Oz Wilde, for organizing a wonderful regatta.

Dragon Boat Development Course

WORDS

BY CHUCK SIU

dragonboat@rhkyc.org.hk

After the 4-week Dragon Boat introduction course where paddlers learnt the basic necessary skills to participate in competitive Dragon Boat racing, a follow up invitation was extended to take part in the Dragon Boat Adult Development Course. This was where the official training and integration to the Royal X Dragon Boat team begins. Avid Dragon Boaters start training with the veteran Royal X paddlers with a ‘moneyback guarantee’ that after one session one would start discovering sore muscles in areas where they never knew existed.

As the Dragon Boat season is quite compressed between January to July, the development course emphasizes the importance of routine training to ensure we would outlast our competition and reach peak performance prior to the races. A typical training week involves one day of inland training, and two days of water training. The course pays close attention to our team’s rhythm, paddling technique, strength, muscle memory, endurance, and stamina.

On Monday evenings, we conduct land training with Pinnacle Performance, who led us on a one hour high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session. Although Dragon Boat races are won in water, it is stressed that land training is just as important to ensure all parts of our body are being worked on as the best paddling is achieved with the entire body being at top shape. On Friday and Saturday mornings, the Royal X team heads to the water, where all paddlers come physically and mentally ready for an intense workout involving paddling drills, technique drills, and endurance training. Most importantly, the water training allows us the opportunity to gel and work together as ‘one team’ as races are won together, lost together.

We’ve all heard of the term ‘work hard, play hard’. With Royal X they ‘work harder and play even harder’. This is all thanks to a wonderful social committee always organizing fun events for us to bond closer as a group. A very welcoming bunch that ensures that our newcomers are well blended in with the veteran paddlers. The most recent event

involved an afternoon happy hour with one of our Royal X paddlers inventing a lovely cocktail which made some of us dance like we’ve never danced before.

Summarising the development course, I would like to use a quote from one of the greatest boxers who’s ever lived, Muhammad Ali:

“I don’t count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting. That is when I start counting, because then it really counts. That’s what makes you a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

The Dragon Boat adult development course is not for the faint, but for those who want to strive to become the best versions of themselves, through teamwork, dedication, hard work, and sheer will. With commitment, one will discover new limits they never thought they could reach, playing alongside an amazing supportive team who are rooting for each other’s success.

DRAGON BOAT CONTACTS

Shenzhen’s Corporate Rowing Regatta

WORDS: CHERRY CHIU | IMAGES: SHENZHEN’S CORPORATE ROWING REGATTA

CONTACTS

Rowing Manager rowingmanager@rhkyc.org.hk

The border has reopened!! It was very exciting to join attend as guest at the Shenzhen’s Corporate Rowing regatta ( 深圳市企業賽艇友誼賽 ) at Dasha River, Shenzhen on 18 February.

This rowing regatta was organised by the Shenzhen Nanshan People’s Government and the Shenzhen Nanshan Bureau of Sports.

We took the high-speed rail from the West Kowloon station to Futian high speed rail station in the morning. It was a short and sweet 14-minute ride, immigration and customs were cleared at the West Kowloon station, just like what I remembered three years ago. The race venue is at the Dasha River in the Nanshan district, 20 minutes away from the Futian station. Once we arrived at the venue, we immediately felt the warm welcome by the locals as there were so many supporters and cheerleaders standing on both sides of the river. The cheerleaders took their role very seriously, with fancy costumes and synchronized choreography. There were even lion dance and Chinese drum playing!

Rowing Captain Judy Chan sat on the stroke seat, together with Sana Qu, Nick Shao and me on bow seat joined the opening ceremony where boats rowed across the start line and then stopped and waved at both sides of the river. The master of ceremony introduced each team. Everyone in the spectator stand including the mayor and vice mayor of

Coastal Rowing coastalrowing@rhkyc.org.hk

Shatin Men’s Racing shatinrowingmen@rhkyc.org. hk

Shatin Women’s Racing shatinrowingladies@rhkyc.org.hk

Shenzhen cheered for us and welcomed us as the only visiting crew, overall great atmosphere along the river.

Followed by the opening ceremony, the competitions started. There were two categories of races: coxless quad and coxed eights. Dasha River is not as wide as the Shing Mun River in Shatin in Hong Kong, so it was perfect for head race to take place where two teams compete against each other. What made it even more exciting was the cheering teams on either side of the river where you can hear them during your race. Visitors along the river also stopped to watch the races!

Races ended around mid-day, during lunch we explored collaboration opportunities as a

result of the border reopening. There was also discussion on how Shenzhen rowing clubs and work closely with the Club to strengthen the connection by visiting each other more often and co-organize training camps and events together.

I feel so honoured to be representing the Club as the only team from Hong Kong to join this regatta.

This experience made me feel very excited knowing there will be opportunities to row in locations outside of Hong Kong. This is an excellent experience for me to broaden my horizon of different rowing culture and it really warms my heart to be sharing the love of rowing with others.

Train like an Athlete

The eternal question each outrigger canoe paddler asks is: how do I get faster on the water? To answer this question, we spoke to ex-RHYKC Outrigger performance coach and professional paddler Anna Mathisen to gain her insights on the subject. Her number one tip? Train like an athlete. Read on to find out more.

What and Who is an athlete?

Being an athlete is a choice, a lifestyle.

It’s about understanding how to work with your physiology to get stronger and improve cardiovascular performance, and health by default. It’s about applying principles of training that are appropriate for you and the time you spend being active.

It’s not about your ability and it’s certainly not about winning or getting on the podium (very few people do). You don’t even need to race to get the benefits of training like an athlete. It is not limited to certain people.

It’s about the relationship between hard training and easy training. It’s about listening to your body, fueling it well, and hearing the messages of not enough or too much. It’s about a simple formula: stress + rest = growth.

The Difference Between Exercising and Training

Exercise is what people do to stay in shape. Exercise is what people do when they want to keep their weight down, stay healthy, or increase their daily step count. People who exercise do the same routine every week for most of the year. When they miss a day, they feel bad.

People who exercise are not interested in progression, or growth in their sport. There is nothing wrong with exercise and paddling is a great form of exercise, you absolutely can do that! Exercise is good for you. But it’s not likely to lead to adaptation, growth, or gains in your strength or conditioning. I’m saying that if you have paddling goals and you intentionally paddle regularly, then you get to train like an athlete and use physiology to your advantage to see progress, not plateaus.

What Stops People from Training like an Athlete

The fitness industry wants to sell us exercise trends and products. They aren’t focused on women’s physiology or what is needed for your sport. Our society has a very narrow view of what healthy looks like. Women have been told to focus on ‘cardio’. We have been told to do low-weight, high-rep training so we can lean out. We are afraid of ‘getting big’ and avoid strength training. We have not been educated enough that muscle is healthy for us, especially as we get older.

We have been conditioned to think we are lazy if every workout doesn’t fit the ‘no pain no gain’ mentality. Either that, or we think because we are aging, we are supposed to slow down and go easy all the time.

We skimp on food because we have been sold a calories-in, calories-out mentality instead of an understanding that we cannot perform without enough food.

None of these are helpful approaches and it isn’t how our physiology works.

Human bodies are designed to make adaptations, and our bodies are good at repairing and rebuilding given the right circumstances. Even more so as we age, women need to do high-intensity and sprint interval training, polarized with steady-state and easy sessions. We need to lift heavy weights to maintain muscle mass and bone integrity. We need to fuel for activity and recovery.

My Life as an Athlete

I have a progressive strength training program that prepares me for heavy weightlifting. The number of reps, sets, and exercises vary throughout the year and complement paddling.

The amount of time I spend biking, running, or swimming increases during the paddling off-season and decreases during the paddling season. My paddle training has variety. I do specific training sessions to work on my technique, endurance, strength, speed, and power. My hard sessions are exhausting, and the easy ones are not tiring. The ratio of hard to easy varies throughout the year. I eat before, during, and after my training sessions. I no longer have negative moods from a lack of food and my body recovers faster. How long, how hard, and how often I train shifts throughout the year. In my off-season, I’m training less frequently, and the sessions are shorter. It feels very different than being in season. I warm up and cool down and I plan recovery days, restoration weeks, and off-season months. I’m still spending a similar amount of time on training, but the change has created a rhythm that allows me to build up to a higher peak of performance at certain times of the year instead of doing the same thing and plateauing year-round.

Training like an athlete has allowed me to recover from injuries, come back from burnout, and push hard at certain times of the year so that I can continue to have fun paddling after nearly 20 years.

You Are an Athlete.

Training like an athlete is not exclusive to those who race — the benefits from it are available to everyone. You don’t need to be racing to shift to training, either. If you are racing, you don’t need to be winning to justify having a training plan and adopting an athlete’s mindset.

If you already exercise, then being an athlete is a shift towards a more efficient approach that makes every moment you dedicate to training productive. It’s a shift from feeling like you are never doing enough or that you need to work hard in every session, to doing what leads to progress.

When your training includes a mixture of the appropriate amount of hard and easy conditioning, technique, strength, and recovery as well as a year-round seasonal approach you will find that you will get better results, more enjoyment, and longevity from paddling.

Here are the key components to consider:

Technique. Have a system for working on your paddling technique. This is the foundation for lifelong health and improvement in our sport.

Speed and Power. Do sprint intervals that are hard for you and are

appropriate for your goals.

Endurance. Steady-state sessions for building the endurance you need as it relates to your goals.

Strength. Lift weights that are heavy for you. This will help to maintain or build muscle and keep you healthy and strong.

Recovery. Easy short sessions and days off to allow your body to get stronger from the hard training.

Fuel. Eat to fuel your activity and for recovery. We need enough energy available for training, and to facilitate recovery. We do well when we eat enough and fall apart when we don’t.

Start Training.

Training like an athlete does not have to be overwhelming or take up more time than you currently spend exercising. The main thing is to focus on polarizing your training between hard, heavy, and easy, with one clear focus for every training session. Getting this balance right is where people need the most coaching, as it is the biggest shift people need to make to move away from exercising and into training like athletes.

Anna Mathisen lives on Oahu where she offers life coaching and paddle camps. Visit www.annamathisen.com to find out more.

Moorings, Marina Berths and Hard Standing Spaces

What is as easy to find in Hong Kong as the three things above? Hens teeth is the answer.

The Club has 123 hard standing spaces for Class boats spread out over the three Club Houses. 46 marina berths at SC and 295 moorings over our four mooring locations.

• The Marina is FULL.

• The Hardstanding spaces are FULL.

• The moorings, for everything over 7 metres, are FULL.

• The waiting list for the marina is 158 members and the waiting list for the moorings is 427 members.

The member who has been waiting longest for a multihull mooring has been waiting since 2009. The longest a member has been waiting, at present, for a monohull mooring is since 2012.

Yet there is nothing the Club can do to get new moorings. The HKSAR Marine Department, MadRep for short, is in charge of all moorings in HK. In response to public demand, or at least when a question was asked in Legco, MadRep graciously allow moorings to be put down in Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter. I hear voices say where is HLC TS? So here it is marked on the chart. The Typhoon Shelter is just South West of the prison on the island.

As members may notice there is no mini or double decker bus route that calls nearby, nor the MTR. Taxis are hard to get and there is only one being that is able walk there. It will also be a while before the new Lantau Metropolis has been reclaimed to make it easy to get there, but then as the TS itself is on the reclamation plans there will be no more moorings there anyway. In the meantime installing a mooring there is a very expensive business, unless of course you own your own crane barge; there is no water or fuel available and as for security please see the answer to the first question above. Kai Do’s are available from the nearby islands; after all the lazzi fare spirit is still alive and well in HK; but I personally have not tried to arrange one.

But why go so far from the Club I hear you ask, there are empty moorings in the Causeway Bay TS! Yes you are correct; but they are all spoken for MadRep advises us. All are allocated and, more importantly, being paid for. MadRep cannot force people to actually use the moorings apparently. If it were Public Housing not being used I am sure something would be done really quickly.

Being a Club on a Private Recreational Lease, we have as much chance of being allocated new moorings as, yes you guessed it, finding the answer in question one above.

For Class boats we often get asked why can we not have more boats stored at Middle Island? KI and SC are chock a block but there is space over in MI. The answer is yes there is space; until a typhoon comes along. Then, especially if there is a visiting Class over there, all the hard standing space is required to securely tie down all the boats, in an West East direction, on the concrete hard standing.

So what can the Club do about the situation? Not a great deal is the unfortunate answer. Altering the slipway a tad at KI, to make an additional platform, to house a few more boats is being looked at but the proximity of the tunnel under the hard standing is proving a stumbling point. We are trying to use the sparse resources we have as efficiently as we can. We have a rule that states that without the approval of the Marine Sub Committee all boats should be within two meters of the

Thank you Mr. Google Earth.

designated length of the mooring. Members with Boats on moorings and hard standing are being written to asking why the boat has not been used as per bye-law 19.4. 19.4 was introduced several years ago and states:

a. Members owning Vessels occupying a mooring or marina berth are required to make use of their Vessels by leaving the mooring regularly. The definition of ‘regularly’ shall be set by the General Committee.

b. If the Marine Office believes a Vessel has not been used as required, the Member will be contacted and asked to provide an explanation for the lack of use to the Marine Sub-Committee.

c. If a Vessel has not been regularly used, and unless dispensation is granted by the Marine Sub-Committee, an additional fee will be levied. The level of this additional fee will be determined from time to time by the General Committee.

The General Committee has defined regularly as six times in a six month period, which is quite generous when there is racing almost every week for Class boats, and the additional fee as an additional 50% of the mooring fee. The word Mooring covers marina berths and hard standings as well.

The above ruling was suspended whilst the demonstrations were taking place and it was difficult to travel to the Club Houses and during the Covid pandemic when Government regulations would not allow racing to take place. The rule has been re-enacted since the beginning of the Class Racing Season in September 2022.

As such the Marine Office are sending out letters to members who have not used their boat the required number of times to ask them why the boat has not been used. Some excuses are quite entertaining, some are taken with a bucket of salt and some are genuine. The Class boat figures are derived from the racing records. Boats on moorings are based on sampan usage, the amount of growth on the hull, halyards that have turned green with mould, twisted mooring ropes, extremely dirty hulls and decks etc.

At the time of writing, in February, we have had five moorings returned to us at Shelter Cove, one at Middle Island and four class boats are paying an extra 50% on top of their normal hard standing fee. Sixteen more Class boats will be written to after the MarCom meeting in March for not sailing the required amount of races.

Meanwhile, the RHKYC Charity Foundation would like to thank all the members who are, and will be paying these penalty fees, both for not using their boats and for mooring alongside in breach of the pontoon regulations, as all penalty fees are paid to the Charity.

BTW. There is another answer to question one but that involves a rocking horse and this is a family publication.

Happy Mooring, for those fortunate enough to have one.

Ship Shop

Sail Racing Race Edition Tee with RHKYC Logo

Race Edition Tee made in cotton.

Sail Racing silicon transfer logo on the left sleeve and at the back yoke. With RHKYC Embroidery Logo.

$490

Mission Sentry Boat Fenders (Pair)

Sail Racing Race 30 DM3 Duffel Bag

Race 30dm3 Duffel constructed in polyester. Water and wind resistant with reinforcement at bottom for protection. 2-way zipper at opening. 2 side pockets with YKK zipper. 4 inner pockets. Hand straps with TPU handle with press buttons. Adjustable and detachable shoulder strap with comfort pad at top. Sail Racing bloc logo reflex print at sides. Sail Racing silicon logo and 30dm3 print at sides. Holds 30 liters. H: 28cm W: 50cm D: 21cm. / H: 11.02 in W: 19.68 in D: 8.26 in.

$1,230

MISSION SENTRY boat fenders hit the reset button on traditional docking fenders. Designed specifically for modern, recreational boats, SENTRY fenders hug the contours of the hull and don’t roll around, providing reliable protection above and below the rub rail.

The integrated straps and cleat system lets you lock the SENTRY fender into place, without ever tying a knot.

SENTRY boat fenders are available in four color options, so you can pick the MISSION boat bumpers that match your boat best. Get superior protection, with a refined and practical look.

$1,390

Pure Oceans Odor-Away Toilet Treatment, Four 8oz. Bottle

Ideal for holding tanks and portable toilets, fragrance-free Odor-Away uses natural nitrate compounds to speed up the breakdown of waste and eliminate offensive odor. Nitrates are an environmentally friendly way to treat waste. Four ounces treat 40 gallons of tank capacity.

$260

Marlow D2 Club 12 Strand Dyneema SK-75 8-12mm

D2 Club has been developed to provide an upgrade to polyester sheets and halyards offering the benefit of reduced weight and reduced elongation thanks to the light weight Dyneema® SK75 blended core. Due to the ropes equivalent strength and diameter to typical polyester braids, it can be simply substituted without the complexity and expense of having to modify or change deck equipment like clutches and winches. The coated core provides extra durability and ease for splicing. from $43 to $85/meter

Robship Anchor Rode Markers with Tabs

Insert easily between strands of 3 strand rope to see easily the amount of anchor rode payed out for proper scope when anchoring.

Markers for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270 (Meters, Feet, Fathoms, apply in lengths of your choice) Made from PVC fabric with Silk Screened Durable Acrylic Numbering. The standard anchor markers are ok for most uses. The Type with Welded Tabs increases the security of the marker with the tabs preventing the anchor marker from sliding sideways in the rope when the rope is not strongly tensioned.

$100

West Marine Comfort Plus Crew Deck Chair

Sit and relax on the beach or deck in our Comfort Plus Crew Deck Chair. The Comfort Plus Crew Deck Chair has been designed to be the most comfortable and durable portable boating chair on the market today. Its frame is constructed of heavy-duty, one-inch aluminum tubing with stainless steel hardware for corrosion resistance while adding to its resilience in rolling ocean conditions.

West Marine’s UV fade- and mildew-resistant seating fabric incorporates quick-drying nylon mesh, so you don’t have to worry about getting this chair wet. Marine grade feet are non-marking and non-skid to protect fiberglass decks while the beautiful, varnished, solid wood arms give the West Marine Comfort Plus Crew Deck Chair subtle elegance.

The attention to detail in the design of the Comfort Plus Crew Deck Chair can be found among details like its ergonomic high back for neck and shoulder support.

The integrated cup holder is ready to go when the chair is unfolded and an innovative cell phone holder in the seat lets you see notifications without having to take your device out of the pocket. Reflective tape is incorporated into the seams for extended lowlight visibility and a built-in handle on the back of the chair makes moving the chair around deck a breeze.

$890

Fenix E18R V2.0 Rechargable EDC Flashlight

The Fenix E18R V2.0 is an ultra-compact EDC (every day carry) flashlight with outstanding performance for a flashlight this small. Powered by one included 16340 li-ion battery, the E18R V2.0 emits a maximum of 1200 lumens a distance of 479ft (146m). The single side switch (no tail switch) controls six lighting modes including a moonlight mode for up-close tasks. Recharge the E18R V2.0 flashlight via its USB-C port when the battery level indicator indicates the battery is low. The E18R V2.0 is built tough with durable high-strength, oxidationresistant aluminum and is waterproof underwater to 6.6ft (2m). Magnetic tail and a two-way body clip round out the features of this awesome little EDC flashlight.

$499

The HELLA MARINE NaviLED PRO Port Navigation Light offers ultralow current draw and maintenance-free, NaviLED lamps that use less than 10% of the power needed by incandescent lamps. Port lamps consume less than 3.2 watts combined, saving on-board batteries while providing 2nm of color-correct visibility. Multivolt™ circuitry assures full illumination under severe voltage fluctuations and low battery voltages. Completely sealed, multiple-element LED arrays have no filaments to break, withstand vibration, impact and harsh marine environments far better than incandescent lamps.

Compact, 3-1/2"L x 3-3/8"W x 2-3/16"D, high-impact acrylic housing is completely sealed for superior durability and corrosion-resistance. IP67 Certified. Satisfies requirements of IMO, COL REG 72, USCG and RINA.

Volts: 9–33V DC

$1,360

Hella Marine 2 NM NaviLED PRO Navigation Lamp

REGATTA YACHTS LTD

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T: 2834 1633

F: 2834 0201 ronsil@netvigator.com

Kellett Golf Society

TWO amazing KGS Golf Days in February.

WORD: RENE THEIL

The February KGS Golf Day #1 (7 February) was played at KSC with four flights on the South Course and two flights on the North Course. It was another stunning day, with blue skies all over the duration of the round. Eight players played the beautiful North Course, enjoying this walking course while the temperatures were still acceptable.

All 24 players played for themselves with the Stableford playing format.

The

Simon Wong (37 Points)

First Runner-up: Tom Tam

Second Runner-up: Glenn Smith

We had the South Course Longest Drive at Hole#3, won by: Akin Au

The longest Drive at Hole # 17 of the North Course was won by:

Simon Wong

North Course Nearest To Pin at Hole #7 was won by: Rene Theil

WORD: CHRIS LI

The KGS Golf Day#2 (23 February) was again held on the beautiful grounds of the Hong Kong Golf Club, OLD Course where golfers of all skill levels were able to showcase their abilities on the challenging course. The 32 members of the KGS were divided into 2 teams, each with a unique combination of players competing in a 4 ball better ball format, where players formed teams of two and played their own ball. The better score between the two players on each hole was recorded as the team score for that hole. This format allowed for friendly competition and teamwork among the players.

The Golf game saw some incredibly close matches, with many teams battling it out until the very last hole. In the end, the team B emerged as the champions. The highlights of the day was that Vincent Lau made a dramatic hole out for an Eagle 3 on the sixth hole. “What a shot! Vincent!” Congratulations!

As with the previous tournaments, the event was not just about the competition, however. It was also a time for the members of the KGS to come together, share stories and make new friends. After the round, the players gathered outside the Verandah for a delicious meal, a few beers and awards ceremony, where prizes were given to the top teams and individual players.

Tom Tam, David Lee, Simon Wong & Niels Jensen became winners of Closest to pin & longest Drive!

Overall, it was a fantastic day of golf and socializing, and it is already generating excitement for next event. The KGS members are looking forward to another great tournament at the KSC South and the chance to come together once again for a day filled with golf, friendship, and fun.

KGS Group Photo – 7 February 2023 at KSC

KGS Group Photo – 23 February 2023 HKGC Fanling

The Winning Team – 23 February 2023 HKGC Fanling

winning player with the most Stableford Points was:

KGS Inter-Class Golf Invitational

WORD: CHRIS LI

ear Members

Come join us and enjoy an exciting day of friendly competition, beautiful views, and great company as you tee off on the greens of the Hong Kong Golf Club. Network with fellow sailors and rowers from the RHKYC community and make some new friends along the way.

Sign up now with your class secretary, and secure your spot in this exciting event. Don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your skills on the golf course and have a great time with like-minded individuals.

We look forward to seeing you on 28 April for the First Annual KGS Inter Class Golf Tournament!

Sailing & Rowing members of RHKYC are invited to form a team of 4 players to represent their Class for the tournament.

Maximum 8 flights 32 players.

Date: April 28, 2023

Venue: HKGC – Fanling Old Course

Tee Time: 1st tee starts from 0800hrs

Green Fee: HK$ 1,300 per player

Golf Cart: HK$ 400 per cart (if needed)

Format Better Ball Team Stableford

Snooker

WORDS: GORDON ROBINSON | IMAGE: BILLY CHOW

• Highest Team Stableford Score

• 2nd & 3rd

• Nearest to Pin on every Par 3

• Longest Drive Hole #5 #9 #14 #17

Prizes: Please contact Chris Li or Rene Theil at golf@rhkyc.org.hk ASAP to register.

SNOOKER CONTACT

Gordon Robinson: snooker@rhkyc.org.hk

We had a match with the ABC on 30 January and they continued their run of success against us, even though we fielded a strong team: Alfred Lau, Billy Chow, CK Chan and Marcus Tang. After tying the singles, thanks to wins by CK and Marcus, we lost both doubles for a 4–2 defeat. Marcus consistently scored well, and Billy had the highest break of 19, and we led early in several of the games, only to fall away on the colours. The team felt that a little more consistency could have won us the match. David Hilling, ABC Convenor, very generously admitted that we had outplayed them for much of the evening. All commented that ABC entertained us very well with excellent curry at dinner.

NEW BLOOD?

We are co-operating with the Young Members Sub-Committee3 to hold some social gatherings around the pool table at the Sports Bar. The aim is to introduce newcomers to cue sports and, with luck, gain some new snooker players. Four of our group have generously volunteered their time to coach our younger colleagues.

Wayne Robinson, Nick Horvath, David Hilling, Tong Yuen Fat

Monthly Wine Fairs

Kellett Island, Wednesday 12 April, 1830hrs to 2030hrs

Shelter Cove, Friday 14 April, 1900hrs to 2100hrs

Please book via the Club website.

Wine of the Month – April

Zuani Sodevo Pinot Grigio 2021, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Vinified exclusively in stainless steel tanks to preserve its varietal characteristics, integrating its elegant and refined aromatic profile of with noticeable fruity overtones with a tangy and minerally taste. Suggested with char-grilled seafood or served with risottos and baked vegetables. $298 per bottle.

Ca’ Rugate Rio Albo Valpolicella DOC 2020, Veneto, Italy

Produced from the best grapes selected from Ca’ Rugate’s vineyards in the hilly area of Montecchia di Crosara. Black berries and cherries on the bouquet, while the palate is supple, with light tannins and plenty of flavour. Suggested with hard cheese, grilled or roast chicken and pork.

$308 per bottle.

Available in all F&B outlets.

Global Wine Fair

Rooftop | Friday 21 April

The much missed Global Wine Fair is finally making its appearance again in the Club. Join us for an evening filled with wines from different regions, vintages and producers. Meet over 10 distributors representing wineries from all over the world as they take you on a journey. Canapes and BBQ buffet will be served alongside. Each person will enter in a lucky draw to win the biggest prize of the evening – a mixed case of wines from each of the vendors!

Price $348 per person

Time 1800hrs to 2200hrs

Location Rooftop

Reservations Please book via the Club website

Introducing Local Beverage Makers #4 – Double Haven Brewery

While cooking-up a range of beers for Hong Kong, the founders of Double Haven brand, Leigh and Scott Powrie, realised there was a huge gap in the market: incredible beverages for people who wanted to combine their love for nature, sustainability and socialising, and have them brewed up into one

Founded in 2020, Double Haven is now producing locally made craft beers and Hong Kong’s first spiked seltzer line, Dragon Water, with a variety of

Visit Main Bar to try the award-winning Adventurer IPA for the traditionist or the low-alcohol, refreshing and lemon-limey Shoreline Shandy perfect for a booze during sports activities.

Dragon Water is also available in Bistro Deli in various fruity and botanical

Double Haven is also a member of the prestigious 1% For The Planet initiative, pledging a percentage of their revenue to create a new environmental legacy. Come try the drinks and help save the planet!

Kids’ Event at the Club

Ocean Pollution Sensory Bin Workshop for Kids

Boatyard outside of Sports Bar | Saturday 22 April

Teaching kids how their actions can affect an entire ecosystem is an important first step in teaching them to be good stewards and care for the world we live in. This sensory bin activity is progressive in that the water starts out clean and becomes more and more polluted. At the end kids can see how the pollution makes the water icky and dirty and then they can participate in the clean up!

Join us on this Earth Day to learn about how to keep our ocean clean!

Price $80 per Kid (recommended age 6-12)

Time 1400hrs to 1500hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website

Earth Finger Painting Workshop for Kids

Main Lawn | Sunday 30 April

Kids’ MasterChef 3.0

Sports Bar | Sunday 16 April

In collaboration with FamSC, we are hosting our annual MasterChef and the theme this year is Pastachef! We will be teaching the kids how to make Ravioli! Then the kids will get to compete in determining who is the ultimate MasterChef!

There will be two rounds, age 5-10 will compete in one group and kids aged 11-17 will be in another group. Our chef will prepare the ingredients and sauces and it is up to the kids to decide what shape and what sauce to use to create their best dish!

Our judges will decide who takes home the MasterChef title! Each participant can invite a friend/assistant to join. Kids under the age of 8 must have adult supervision.

Price $198 per Kid

Time 1000hrs to 1115hrs (Kids aged 5-10)

1130hrs to 1300hrs (Kids aged 11-17)

Reservations Please book via the Club website

Cadets’ Nations Trivia

Sports Bar | Sunday 30 April

Dabble your little fingers in paint as we learn about planet Earth! Suitable for young kids to participate. Come create your perfect Earth to bring home!

Price $80 per Kid (recommended age 4 -11)

Time 1400hrs to 1500hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website

Beach (Coastal) Clean Up at Middle Island

Middle Island | Sunday 23 April

In collaboration with the Kellett Dive Society, join us for a fun day of meaningful coastal cleaning and an optional BBQ! Time for Cleanup is dependant on tides and will be confirmed closer to the time, for now save the date!

Price Free of charge – Beach Cleaning

Special self-cook BBQ Package available on day (pre order recommended)

Reservations Please book via the Club website. Enquiries Call the F&B Office on 2239 0386 or email events@rhkyc.org.hk

Quiz your knowledge on other nations in this geographic trivia at this Nation’s Cup. Cadet members get to form their groups to compete. Winning team gets a prize!

Price $198 for a team of four (including 2 juices/soda per person), $40 for additional team members, maximum team size of six.

*Maximum 2 teams per membership account *Guests (if any) must be accompanied by adult members

Time 1000hrs to 1200hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website

Monday Movie Night – Iron Man

Main Lawn | Monday 17 April

Monday movie night is back and this time we are showing Marvel Universe’s first superhero movie – Iron Man! Join us for an evening to watch our beloved Tony Stark becomes the iconic Iron Man!

Price Free Screening

Optional free flow package at $180

Time 1830hrs to register.

Showing at 1900hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website

Penfolds USA vs AUS Wine Dinner featuring Penfolds Grange

Compass Room and Steakhouse | Thursday 13 April

The art of winemaking with multi-regional grapes has always been in Penfolds’ philosophy. More than 20 years ago, Penfolds embarked on a new and brave endeavour by expanding their footprints to California. By planting the vine cuttings from vineyards in South Australia in Californian soil, Penfolds created a true ‘wine of the world’, which is unbound by country, vine, or time. In 2021, the Penfolds California Collection was released, setting a milestone in the collaboration between Northern and Southern hemispheres based on Penfolds’ very own winemaking philosophy – the Penfolds DNA. This wine event aims at presenting the best regional characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon of California and South Australia, yet in a style that is distinctly Penfolds.

Pre-dinner Tasting 1900hrs

Dinner 1930hrs

Price

$1,188 per member and $1,288 per non-member

Speaker Mr. Stephen Cheung

Grange is Australia’s first growth with a history, prestige and lasting quality that interconnects with the great wines of Bordeaux. For many wine collectors and observers, it remains a defining modern wine. Today, Grange’s iconic position in Australian wine history is undisputed. To celebrate its legend, Grange is actually recognised and uniquely heritage-listed by the South Australian National Trust. In recent times, Grange has even been ranked as one of the most tradeable wines in the world by Liv-Ex – the London Wine Exchange. What a highly sought treasure, indeed.

Reservations

Please book via the Club website. Priority booking available to Kellett Wine Society members. Enquiries Call the F&B Office on 2239 0386 or email events@rhkyc.org.hk

PRE-DINNER TASTING

Penfolds Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling 2022 [RP94/JS94]

MENU AND WINES

Cajun Seafood (Scallops, Lobster Medallion, Prawns) and Grilled Peach Salad, Passion Fruit Dressing

Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay 2020 [RP92/JH94/JS93/WS91]

Seared Sesame-crusted Tuna Steak, Zucchini and Red Onion Noodles, Blood Orange Dip

Penfolds Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 [WE95/RP94]

Grilled Pigeon Breast, Red Cabbage, Blackberry Compote

Penfolds Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 [RP96/WE95/D93]

Char-grilled New York Striploin, Braised Wild Mushroom and Almonds, Plum Sauce Penfolds Grange 2018 [JS100/RP99/WS98/D95]

Chocolate Pavlova

Coffee or Tea

VEGETARIAN MENU

Plum Tomato and Grilled Peach Salad, Passion Fruit Dressing

Roasted Asparagus, Zucchini and Red Onion Noodles, Blood Orange Dip

Artichokes with Red Wine Risotto, Rosemary

Oven-baked Eggplant stuffed with Wild Mushroom and Almonds, Plum Sauce

Chocolate Pavlova

Coffee or Tea

Easter Celebrations at the Club

Good Friday Lunch at Middle Island

Middle Island | Friday 7 April

Good Friday Lunch available at Middle Island. Fair games will be set up for kids to enjoy at the lawn. You might even be able to find the Easter Bunny walking around the club that day!

Price Adult $348 per person, Child (9-12) $244 per person, Child (5-8) $174 per person

Time 1200hrs to 1430hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website.

Easter Egg Painting

Sports Bar | Sunday 9 April

Paint your eggs this Easter Sunday! Bring in your already emptied eggshells to the Sports Bar and paint away! Feel free to bring as many eggs as possible! The Club will provide the paint for you and your kids to decorate the eggs!

Price $80 per kid

Time 1000hrs to 1200hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website.

Kids Easter Egg Hunt

Main Lawn | Sunday 9 April

What is Easter without an Easter Egg Hunt? Our beloved tradition is back! Head to the Main Lawn for registration. Bring in your own Easter basket, then all you need to do is find as many eggs as possible! Bring all the eggs you scavenge around the club to Main Lawn after to exchange for chocolate eggs! Special prize for whoever collects the most eggs!

Price $30 per kid to participate

Time 1400hrs to 1500hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website.

Kids Easter Bunny DIY at Shelter Cove

Shelter Cove | Saturday 8 April

Bring your kids to Shelter Cove and DIY some cute bunnies this Easter. One kid per rabbit kit.

Easter Saturday Buffet Lunch at Shelter Cove

Shelter Cove | Saturday 8 April

Price $40 per kit or included free of charge if joining the Easter Lunch buffet

Time All day

Reservations Please book via the Club website.

Easter Lunch available at the Clubhouse, advance bookings are required. You might even be able to find the Easter Bunny walking around the club that day!

Price Adult $348 per person, Child (9-12) $244 per person, Child (5-8) $174 per person

Time 1200hrs to 1430hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website.

Paint and Wine – Easter Edition

Main Lawn | Monday 10 April

Easter Paint and Wine edition this time! Paint your favourite Easter Bunny in this evening!

Price $198 per person including a canvas and 2 hours free flow

Time 1830hrs to 2030hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website.

Easter Movie Showing – Peter Rabbit

Rooftop | Saturday 8 April

Bring your family this Easter to Kellett Island and enjoy the adventure of Peter Rabbit.

Peter Rabbit and his three sisters – Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail – enjoy spending their days in Mr. McGregor’s vegetable garden. When one of McGregor’s relatives suddenly moves in, he's less than thrilled to discover a family of rabbits in his new home. A battle of wills soon breaks out as the new owner hatches scheme after scheme to get rid of Peter – a resourceful rabbit who proves to be a worthy and wily opponent.

Price Free Screening with $68 for free flow popcorn and a can of soda

$88 for free flow popcorn and a glass of wine

Time 1830 registration. Screening from 1900hrs to 2030hrs

Reservations Please book via the Club website.

CLASS SECRETARIES

Sailing Secretary

Dennis Chien sailing.secretary@rhkyc.org.hk

Big Boat Matt Curthoys cruiser@rhkyc.org.hk

Dinghies Oz Wilde dinghies@rhkyc.org.hk

Dragon Josephine Cheng dragon@rhkyc.org.hk

Etchells Elizabeth Wai etchells@rhkyc.org.hk

Flying Fifteen Tim Roberts flyingfifteen@rhkyc.org.hk

Impala Patrick Kwan impala@rhkyc.org.hk

J/80 Steve McGill J80@rhkyc.org.hk

Pandora Joseph Wong pandora@rhkyc.org.hk

Ruffian Paul Oen ruffian@rhkyc.org.hk

Sportsboats Rob Stanley sportsboat@rhkyc.org.hk

SPORTS CONVENORS

Bowling Convenor Frank Yam bowling@rhkyc.org.hk

Golf Convenor Chris Li golf@rhkyc.org.hk

Snooker Convenor Gordon Robinson snooker@rhkyc.org.hk

Squash Convenor Francis Longuepee squash@rhkyc.org.hk

Diving Convenor Donald Day diving@rhkyc.org.hk

CLUB CONTACTS

General Manager Mark Bovaird 2239 0300 mark.bovaird@rhkyc.org.hk

Executive Secretary Polly Lee 2239 0301

Financial Controller Fred Wong 2239 0315

Membership Manager Tracy Leung 2239 0371

Head of PR & Communications Koko Mueller 2239 0342

PR Manager Janice Lam 2239 0340

Head of Sponsorship and Corporate Partnerships

Nadia Cuvelier 3958 3222

Marine Manager Alan Reid 2239 0308

Boatyard Manager Dean Burrell 2239 0311

Sailing Manager Ailsa Angus 2239 0395

Club Operations Manager Peter Murray 2239 0338

Sailing Coordinator Gloria Yeung 2812 7063

Assistant Manager | Sailing Iris Yang 2239 0314

MI Sailing and Marine Manager Luke van der Kamp 2812 0172

Assistant Manager | Regattas and Events

Nikki Claringbold 2239 0363

Rowing and Paddle Sports Manager

Justin Murray 2239 0322

Boatyard Office Manager Connie Chan 2239 0304

Facilities & Technical Manager Raymond Ng 2239 0303

Human Resources Manager Susanna Chung 2239 0310

Ship Shop Manager David Ho 2239 0336

Assistant Marine Manager Joanne Ho 2239 0309

House Manager Lorence Leung 2239 0352

ROYAL HONG KONG YACHT CLUB

Kellett Island, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, SAR

Kellett Island Tel: 2832 2817 Fax: 2572 5399

Middle Island Tel: 2812 7202

Shelter Cove Tel: 2792 2744

www.rhkyc.org.hk

www.facebook.com/rhkyc

www.facebook.com/rhkycrowingsection

www.facebook.com/rhkycevents

www.facebook/rhkycsharks

www.twitter.com/rhkyc

Membership Movement

ORDINARY MEMBERS

Ms Cheah Wan Jin

Mr Nicolas David Lawrence Crabb

Mrs Julia Alexandra Stark Ford

Mr Lui Chun Hang Jimmy

Dr Lui Pui Lam

Mr Wang Jia

Ms Wong Yuan Chin Tzena

Mr & Ms Cho Wai Sing

Mr & Ms Iain Michael Clayton

Mr & Ms Paul Anthony Colwell

Mr & Mrs Ho Ka Fai

Mr & Ms Colin Lai

Mr & Ms Leung Christopher Haiman

Mr & Ms Leung Eric Hai Ken

Mr & Mrs George Papadopoulos

Mr & Mrs Rupert Edgerton Puels

Mr & Mrs Thomas John Wightman

FULL MEMBERS

Mr Chan Wai Chak

Ms Cynthia Yim

Mr Yu Lup Man Ronald Patrick

CHANGE FROM JUNIOR TO ORDINARY MEMBERS

Mr Chen Nan

Mr Chow Kaywah George

Miss Huang Shiyi

Mr Lau Jason Han Yang

JUNIOR MEMBERS

Miss Cheung Wing Yin Kelly

Mr Ho Cheuk San

Mr Ko Long Fung Vincent

Ms Lau Hau Yi Shirley

SHORT TERM MEMBERS

Ms Chiara S Baronio & Mr Michele Amadei

INDIVIDUAL DEBENTURE MEMBER

Mr Ho George Ming Yau

CORPORATE NOMINEE SUBSCRIBERS

Mr Conrad Christian Getty Search Alternative Investments Limited,

Obituaries

Peter Jolly 1944–1979

Financial Analysis

Mr & Mrs Toby Kenneth Smith

John Swire & Sons (HK) Limited,

Deputy Chairman

CADET MEMBERS

Angus Robertson Huang

Lau Chi Fung

Jasmine Sienna Puels

Milo Edgerton Puels

Vegas Charmian Puels

Wong Yu Fei Effie

CADET MEMBER SPONSORED

BY A MEMBER

Mather Huan Xing Cayenne

STUDENT USAGE CARD

Robin Balint Dreher,

The University of Hong Kong

INTRODUCTORY SCHEME CARD

Incoming

Mr Axel Baumann

Mr Choi Tsung Mang

Ms Gao Rong

Mr Matthew James Keay

Dr Wan Chun Pong Blanc

Mr Matthew Wayne Weavil

Mr Wong Chun Lam Arnold

Mr Yeung Chi Hang

Mr Zhou Xiang

Outgoing

Mr Chan Chun Fai Wilbut

Mr Choi Edwin Chong Yip

Mrs Priscilla Dell'Orto

Mr Ricardo Jose Fernandez

Mr Jonathan James Broderick Jenkins

Mr Lam Kin Hung Vincent

Mr Lau Kin Lok Frankie

Mr Lee Philip Foong Pin

Mr Park Wanki

Mr Alexander Hartmut Seelaender

Mr Tsai Cheng-hsien

Mr Tsui King Yan

Mr Wai Kin Kei

March 2023

Ms Zhou Shu

ABSENT MEMBERS

Ms Meike Goessling

Miss Arabella Faith Reddington Green

Mr Thomas Benedict Melville Green

Ms Winnie Johnson

Mr Yukinori Kirihara

Mr Wolfgang Kleiber

Mr Peter James Chasser Moores

Mr Yeung Ho Yin

Mr & Mrs Cheng Fuk Yiu

Dr & Mrs Chiu Lai Hong

Mr & Mrs Dennis Edgar Dakin

Mr & Mrs Simon Philip Powell

Mr & Mrs Martin Tornberg

Gabriel Leon Echevarria Tornberg

Lukas Sebastian Echevarria Tornberg

Auguste Williams

Demelsa Williams

RESIGNATION

Ms Lesley Helen Jamieson

Mr Ip Ho Lam

Mr Lai Cheuk Yiu

Mr Thomas Frederick Watson

Mr Sebastian Wiehe

Miss Xu Mujue Sherry

Mr & Mrs Edward A J Bagnall

Mr & Mrs Ho Kwok Cheong Roger

Mr & Ms Ng Chi Keung

Chan Hiu Yu Nicholas

Gabrielle Rose Dickinson

Alexa Rachel Jamieson-Jones

Francesca Jamieson-Jones

Georgia Ann Jamieson-Jones

Annabella Maloney

Ng Huen Kiu

Jack Charles Oatway

Nicholas M Rodchenko-Highfield

Sim Sui Hien

Ethan Somerville

Damian Tang

We share the sad news that Peter Jolly passed away on the night of Wednesday 1 March at aged 79. Peter had been a member since 1972 and returned to UK in 1992. He had served on GenCom 1984–86 and also in the capacity of Honorary Secretary, Balloting Committee 1981–87, Chairman of Full Membership Sub-Committee 1983–84 and Sailing Committee 1981–82.

Peter arrived in Hong Kong in spring 1970 and joined the law firm of Deacons. He was persuaded to go sailing one weekend by his senior partner and immediately caught the bug. He went on to spend the next 45 years racing and cruising various boats. He took part in 10 China Sea Races, numerous San Fernando Races. He also raced in the Sydney Hobart nine times altogether.

In 1982 Peter and Andy Soriano co-purchased a 43 foot racing yacht and called her Bandido Bandido. They campaigned her for the Sydney Hobart 1982, the Pan Am Clipper in Hawaii and the Big Boat Series in San Francisco in 1983. Peter also took part in the Admiral’s Cup and did three Fastnet Races, numerous races around Hong Kong and the Philippines as well

John Brennan 1940–2023

John Brennan, a keen member of the Hong Kong sailing community for almost 40 years, died on 5 January 2023 aged 82. He was well known and popular in the sail training programmes of the sailing clubs and the Hong Kong Sailing Federation and he was especially active in youth sail training. Originally from the north of England, John’s first career was as a merchant navy engineer. After several years at sea, he returned to land and married Marion. He joined the Durham police and much enjoyed the patrol car duties. Thereafter, he and Marion trained as teachers and taught in the UK during which they travelled extensively in school holidays and the travel bug strongly took them. They taught in several places, eventually coming to Hong Kong in the mid-1980s, which they loved and has been their home ever since. Both taught in secondary schools and, with his engineering background, John was a design and technology teacher at Sha Tin College for the next fifteen years or so until his retirement. His major enthusiasm was youth sail training, for his own school’s students and for many others in Hong Kong, as a senior instructor, in Hebe Haven, RHKYC and the HKSF. He also taught on PVOCC courses,

as several Raja Muda and King’s Cup events. Peter also did a transatlantic with ARC with a return delivery from Antigua Race Week to Lymington. Also along the way he did over 20 Antigua Race Weeks and in 1980 a great friend Gay Lynn decided Peter should become a sailing judge and coerced him on to the panel in Antigua. Thereafter he served for more than 20 years as an International Judge in various places around the world.

In 1978 Peter met Vanessa at RHKYC and they went on to marry at St John’s Cathedral on 30 June 1979. In 1992, Peter and Vanessa returned to the UK on a permanent basis. Peter continued to race on and in the water and joined the Royal Lymington Yacht Club where he helped out on many protest panels. He and Vanessa continued to live in Lymington and had some wonderful holidays including discovering big boat cruising to many places around the world.

Our condolences go out to his loving wife Vanessa and to his family and friends.

continuing until very recently. John was a great favourite with all age groups, renowned for his professional, helpful and forthrightly amusing style of teaching. Today, round Hong Kong and, these days, globally, many people remember John as their, or their children’s, most beneficial sailing instructor. Several parents have remarked that he made schooldays both tolerable and fun for their children. The mark of a great teacher is the way his former students remember him so fondly and he introduced many people to sailing as a lifetime sport.

In the Yacht Club, in addition to sail training, John sailed with a number of classes, most recently with the Flying Fifteens. He was greatly appreciated for his laughter and good companionship on and off the water. His thoughtfulness, appreciation of sailing as fun, his bonhomie and his northcountry sense of humour will live on in the memories of many friends and sailors young and old.

The Club's Oyster Project

I have learned a lot about biodiversity and other things to do with the ocean though the yacht Club’s oyster project. I think it is a special opportunity to be able to now observe and document our very own oyster chains. This project is interesting and will help encourage and promote club members of all ages to learn more about the ocean and other creatures. It can also help people realize the beauty in the ocean bio community and the need to protect it.

Something interesting that I learned was how much dirty water a single oyster can filtrate per hour. It was very shocking and amazing to watch. I didn’t know that oysters had that big of an impact on the planet.

My favorite part about the recent oyster project was drilling the oyster shells. It was fun being able to use the drills. I hope that we get good results from the oyster chains and have a chance to look at other different creatures.

WORDS: KALI APREA