Impala Open Day

management team led by HKODA President Peter Davies, including a very rocky start boat, constantly busy mark laying boats and a tippy finishing boat (albeit one that skipper Nick Rydin still found it easy to have naps on in between races…) meant that eight races were completed without hiccups.

The RHKYC Sharks entered the largest team at the event with 18 sailors including Samuel Fong and Alix Nguyen-Minh making their HK Opti regatta debuts being selected from the club’s intro to racing Gold Squad off the back of some strong club racing performances. On the water, the Sharks led the way with a great showing of team comradery and sportsmanship supporting each other throughout the event from the slipway to the finish line. Sharks sailors got some great results including Alexandra Jill Yam finishing 3rd girl, Sienne Thiry finishing 4th in the 12 and under division, Jai Mutreja finishing 3rd boy and Marcus Li finishing 3rd overall in the intermediate fleet.

The biggest result for the club though came from Zi Han Helen Liu who took home the trifecta of 1st in the 12 and under division, 1st in the girls division and the overall regatta win. Congratulations Helen, the club is proud to see another talent from Middle Island crowned National Champion!

None of this would have been possible without the help of a large team behind the scenes supporting the sailors. This is of course the parents who helped out with moving boats to and from Clear Water Bay, volunteering at the regatta as mark layers, race management team, results officers, slipway marshals and PVOL holders for coaches. Thank you!

Lastly, a special mention for Anouska Mutreja, the outgoing HKODA Secretary and Sharks parent who put in the most work of anyone to make the event happen. Anouska has worked tirelessly for HKODA to organise the event, liaise with Clear Water Bay, help all the clubs and teams with the event admin as well as managing entries, registrations and results. The entire Sharks team wishes to thank Anouska for all her hard work as HKODA secretary over the past years!

RHKYC Sharks team members at the HKODA Nationals:

Zi Han Helen Liu Kai Storey Alexandra Jill Yam Marcus Li Jai Mutreja Caleb Pang SIenne Thiry Oliver Aitken Zi Xi Huang Xin Ran Audrey Liu Sveva Amadei Felix Worthington

Jorge Wong Louis Polson Timothee Franses Samuel Fong

Penelope Wilde Alex Nguyen-Minh

The Impala Fleet, working in conjunction with the Sailing Office, held an Open Day on 8 and 9 October. 10 boats from the fleet hosted 22 sailors who have taken their Level 1 and 2 courses either at the Club or at ABC/ HHYC/LCSD and the Open Day enabled them to experience keelboat sailing and hopefully we'll see these sailors out racing with RHKYC classes in the future. Thank you to the Impalas for sharing your time and experience with the community!