Feature | Paddling Around the Island in 2021
Paddling Around the Island The 45km Mercedes-Benz Around the Island Race is one of the most prestigious and most anticipated races of the year for outrigger canoe paddlers in Hong Kong. Before the pandemic, the race drew paddlers from different clubs around the world, however this year again it was a domestic race with Hong Kong crews competing.
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total of 18 OC6 crews entered the race with the distribution of crews across categories significantly shifting compared to last year. The least represented category was mixed standard, with only two crews competing: Victoria Recreation Club (VRC) and South Lantau Paddle Club (SLPC). The women’s unlimited category was back in action this year with three contestants: RHKYC, Hong Kong Outrigger Canoe Club (HKOCC Wahine), and Stormys Outrigger Canoe Club.
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| FEBRUARY 2022 AHOY!
VRC, RHKYC, and Lamma Outrigger Canoe Club (LOCC) all raced in the mixed unlimited category. The largest representation was in the open category, with ten crews overall; five in open Standard: VRC, RHKYC Uhane, Stormys, RHKYC Te Ariki Rua, and RHKYC Hoi Ying, and five in open unlimited: RHKYC, VRC, Flying Fish Sports Club (FFS), HKOCC Tane, and another VRC.