Starter’s Box

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ladies Helm Hong Kong Race Week China Sea 200 Dash 7 March 9 to 14 March 13 March

IMAGE: NAOMI REBECCA

Hong Kong Race Week

Due to Government Covid-19 restrictions, the Hong Kong Sailing Federation and Club have rescheduled Hong Kong Race Week to run from 9 to 14 March. With four race tracks and 200 boats we need up to 100 volunteers per day. Not all volunteer positions are on the water and some don’t even require sailing experience – registration, sign on/off and launch and retrieve are all onshore roles. Volunteers sign up can be found via the website: www.hongkongraceweek.com

China Sea 200 Dash

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club invites entries to the 5th China Sea 200 Dash, a Category 3 offshore race with life rafts using virtual marks to create a course which starts and finishes in Hong Kong waters. The intent is to help boats get tuned-up and their crews ready for night sailing before the start of the A to A Offshore Race at Easter. It is the intent of the race committee that course lengths will differ between divisions to enable the majority of boats to finish around the same time.

Rolex China Sea Race

2021 cancelled amid Covid-19 concerns

In light of the ongoing Covid-19 situation and continued uncertainty regarding international border openings, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club has had to make the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Rolex China Sea Race, due to start on 31 March.

RHKYC Commodore, Denis Martinet, said “we are of course very disappointed having already postponed this blue ribbon event last year. We felt that the situation would have improved sufficiently by March 2021. Yet this is not to be and we feel that it is prudent to cancel. The Club will nevertheless endeavor to organise an independent race around the same dates in full compliance with any restrictions in place. Meanwhile we shall work tirelessly to bring about a fantastic Rolex China Sea Race in 2022 to celebrate its 60th anniversary.”

With current quarantine regulations, it is impractical for the Club to conduct an offshore race finishing in Philippines waters. We would like to thank the teams registered for their continuous support. The RHKYC Race Committee, in conjunction with our longstanding partner Rolex, will plan for a better and safer Rolex China Sea Race in 2022.

In the meantime, the Club will continue its preparations for a standalone A to A Offshore Race over Easter 2021 while closely monitoring pandemic developments.

About Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC)

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is one of the oldest and largest sports clubs in Hong Kong, with a rich, colourful history that spans 170 years of community and competitive sailing and rowing. The RHKYC provides training programmes for practitioners of all abilities and ages – both members and non-members – to nurture their development, produce elite athletes capable of competing at the highest levels, and contribute to the growth and popularity of these great pastimes. The Club also organises a full calendar of high-profile local and international race events, helping place Hong Kong firmly on the global sporting map.

For media enquiries:

Koko Mueller Head of PR & Communications Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Tel.: +852 2239 0342 / +852 9488 7497 Fax: +852 2572 5399 email: koko.mueller@rhkyc.org.hk Janice Lam PR & Communications Manager Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Tel.: +852 2239 0340 / +852 9718 0817 Fax: +852 2572 5399 email: janice.lam@rhkyc.org.hk

For race enquiries:

Ailsa Angus Sailing Manager Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Tel.: +852 2239 03915 Fax: +852 2239 0364 email: ailsa.angus@rhkyc.org.hk Vivian Ngan Assistant Manager – Sailing and Promotion Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Tel.: +852 2239 0391 / +852 9211 8107 Fax: +852 2239 0364 email: vivian.ngan@rhkyc.org.hk