Commodore’s Message

November started with a bang! In more ways than one.

First, the official Remembrance Day celebrations being again curtailed for sanitary reasons, we decided to renew with this important commemoration by marking ourselves, on Thursday 11 November at 1100 hours, on our premises the official date of WW1’s armistice. We paid our respect to all those that made the ultimate sacrifice with two minutes silence throughout the Club, starting and finishing with our own little cannon shot. Following this, we adjourned to the Main Bar where the bell did toll, but only to offer drinks to the members that had joined us for this emotional and heart-felt moment.

The following Sunday reverberated with the starting guns of the Around the Island Race, title sponsored by Sun Hung Kai & Co with supporting sponsor, St. James’s Place and partners, Maui Jim, Peroni Hong Kong and Sail-World.

And what a race it was! Glorious conditions, champagne sailing was had by all for this blue-ribbon event of the Hong Kong sailing scene. 228 boats with nigh on 1,500 sailors circumnavigated our island in fantastic conditions, warm and windy! Full details will be published but suffice to say that the Kellett Island Clubhouse resonated to the sound of merriment and joy long after the race had ended.

This was followed swiftly by another merry-go-round with the outriggers’ Mercedes-Benz Around the Island Race held on 20 November, starting and finishing at Middle Island. Followed by the Mercedes-Benz Coastal Rowing and Global Erg challenge for Iron Crews on 21 November and Relays on 28 November from Kellett Island. All three events made possible thanks to our supporting partners the Physio Lab, Peroni and Maui Jim.

And what a challenge these races were as I noticed plenty of rowers, including our own Rowing Captain, training very hard every morning! Great dedication and preparation, something possibly sailors could emulate…

But before there was the One Global Lipton Trophy, kicking off our series of Pursuit Races and second event in the (in)famous Top Dog trophy.

Given the difference between the timing of the events and going to print, we will share more details in a later issue of our magazine. However, we shall not tard in thanking all volunteers who gave their time to ensure great and safe fun was had by all. Well done for supporting selflessly your Club and follow members!

Looking forward we have a new sailing event on the calendar, the YMC Alma Mater Race, the brainchild of our very own Young Members Committee. Based along the same principles of the hugely popular Nations’ Cup where teams are assembled based on nationality, the Alma Mater Race is made up, you guessed it, of fellow alumni from well-established schools and universities. At the time of writing, we have over 30 teams signed up for this inaugural event taking place on 19 December.

Rowing and Paddle Sports will have completed the majority of their major competitions of the season, with the exception of the Hong Kong Rowing Championships originally set to take place in early October but postponed due to typhoon Lion Rock. The event will now be held on 11 and 12 December – we wish our rowers all the very best of luck!

At the end of October the management and I presented members of staff with the Commodore Awards and Long Service Awards for 15 years, 20 years, 25 years and 30 years. These would normally have been handed out at the Annual Staff Party but as we have had to defer the event twice now, I felt it was best to catch up and recognise without further ado our staff who have reached these significant milestones. Have a look age page 46.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and see you in 2022!

wishes RHKYC Members Merry Christmas