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.