Ahoy! January 2021

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Contents

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THE BRIDGE 4 Calendar 6 Commodore’s Message 7 Chinese New Year 2020 – Club Operating Hours 9 General Manager’s Message 10 RHKYC Charity Foundation 10 Awards AGM 2020

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FEATURES

ROWING

OTHER SPORTS

10 Around the Island Race 14 ATIR winners interview (Q&A) 16 Clean Regatta 17 One Global Lipton Trophy

28 Rowing with Waves, Racing with Winds 31 Tumultuous seas greet ATIR like the challenging 2020 season 35 Middle Island Masters Rowing Championship 2020 37 Rowing Training

43 Golf

SAILING 20 Starter’s Box 22 Sailing Passion Meets Ocean Purpose in Portugal 24 Dragon Class Championship 26 Sailing Development | Training

SUSTAINABILITY REALLY MATTERS

EVENTS | PROMOTIONS 44 F&B Food Promotions 44 Wine Page

CLUB LINES 48 Club Directory 48 Members, Staff and Other News and Announcements

38 Where Does Your Food Waste Go?

IMAGE: RHKYC / GUY NOWELL

MARINE

Around the Island Race

39 Marine | Boatyard 40 Ship Shop 42 Classified Page 42 Marine Directory

www.rhkyc.org.hk

Vice Patrons Jimmy Farquhar, Bob Wilson; Commodore Denis Martinet; Vice Commodore Lucy Sutro; Rear Commodore Sailing David Norton; Rear Commodore Club Adrian Pang; Honorary Secretary Mark Yeadon; Honorary Treasurer Ramon Archer; Rowing Captain Guy Parsonage. For other Club contact details please refer to the Club Directory on page 48. Advertising or Editorial Enquiries contact RHKYC PR Department at ahoy@rhkyc.org.hk or 2239 0307 or 2239 0312 Ahoy! Design Michelle Shek, MYND Design. Articles for Ahoy! can be emailed to ahoy@rhkyc.org.hk The Club reserves the right to edit articles. All opinions expressed in this publication are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the views of the General Committee of the RHKYC. Copies of the magazine are available at Reception and to view the e-version of the magazine (and back copies) go to the RHKYC website.


MON

TUE

WED

THU

One Global HKRNVR Memorial Vase

FRI

SAT

Clay Pot Delights and Double-boiled Soup Bistro 1 to 31 January

The Bridge

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9 January

JANUARY

Steps 1,2,3,4 and Solo HKSF Level 1 and 2 and Go Sailing

Steps 1,2,3,4 and Solo HKSF Level 1 and 2 and Go Sailing

Kellett Island Wine Fair

Steps 1,2,3,4 and Solo HKSF Level 1 and 2 and Go Sailing

Steps 1,2,3,4 and Solo HKSF Level 1 and 2 and Go Sailing

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Shelter Cove Wine Fair

2 HKRNVR MEMORIAL VASE

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13

3 RYA Diesel Engine Course

Steps 1,2,3,4 and Solo HKSF Level 1 and 2 and Go Sailing

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CLASS RACING

Ruinart Champagne Dinner Compass Room

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SUN

Middle Island Rowing Race Series #1

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HONG KONG RACE WEEK Castello Banfi Wine Dinner Compass Room

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Sichuan Night Regatta Room

Antipasti and Pasta Night Regatta Room

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RYA Diesel Engine Course Adult Rowing [Level 1] Weekend Introduction Course (Day 1)

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Adult Rowing [Level 1] Weekend Introduction Course (Day 2)

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HONG KONG RACE WEEK Glaetzer 2018 Vintage Release Wine Dinner Compass Room

25 Hong Kong Race Week

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Feng Shui Master with Briefing on Year of the Ox Regatta Room

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Wines of the Month Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Marlborough New Zealand Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Syrah VDF 2018, Rhône France

19 to 31 January

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RYA Diesel Engine Course

CLASS RACING QUEENS BEATRIX CUP

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盤菜 Poon Choi

Rooftop 6 and 7 February

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Commodore’s Message component of this event. We had set ourselves a target of 12 teams and were awed to achieve over 20 entries.

With this in mind, I wish all members and their families great sailing, rowing and paddling in this new year.

That enthusiasm was soon dampened , as with a worsening local Covid19 situation we announced we would no longer be able to host the event in Hong Kong and decided to move it to a new location, while keeping the dates and racing format. Accordingly, Persico 69F, Federazione Italiana Vela (Italian Sailing Federation) and RHKYC are now working to hold the inaugural first Liberty Bitcoin Fund Youth Foiling World Cup in Italy from 19 February to the 12 of March 2021. The bright outcome is that we are no longer looking at a singular event but a tour comprising 3 events, the last of which planned for Hong Kong in later 2021! And thanks to the generosity of our sponsor Liberty Bitcoin Fund, the overall winning team will receive a Bitcoin, making it one of the richest prize money on the circuit! Fun days ahead for sailing if this groundbreaking event can come about!

And the sailing year starts with the One Global HKRNVR Memorial Vase on 9 January, the third of the four events that make up the Top Dog Trophy Series 2020-2021. But first a bit of history:

And a special hat’s off to Club staff and members who spent long and stressful hours to bring, and will continue to, this truly unique competition to life.

“The presentation of the then 116 year old Georgian silver vase with dolphin handles, which was purchased out of the HKRNVR pre-war mess funds, was handed to Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Commodore, N.V.A. Croucher by Lieutenant Commander J.C.M Grenham RNVR (Ret.) for a competition to perpetuate the memory of HKRNVR members who gave their lives during World War II”

In rowing, the Hong Kong Coastal Rowing Coastal Championships co-organised by the Hong Kong China Rowing Association and the Club and the Middle Island Race Series which are dedicated to our youth rowers (age under 19) are on the list this January. The Red Bull 3 Peaks Race which was scheduled to be held on 12 and 13 December is now deferred to 6 and 7 February. I would like to wish all the rowers and paddlers a successful 2021 season!

So let’s – Here’s to a Happy New Year. As I fire the gun at midnight, I hope to fire 2020 into oblivion and bring about 2021. One better than 2020, one as the start of something new, sunnier and positive. Commodore Denis Martinet

會長孟憲庭

Initially the intention was that the race course would replicate the routes that the HKRNVR would patrol. Over time sadly, elements out of our control have forced us to fall back on our tried and tested courses. Still a very fun and competitive race. But we shall renew with tradition and history. The grandson of Lieutenant Commander Grenham, Nick Grenham is a member and we hope he will be able to handover the trophy once prize giving resumes! Following the Memorial Vase is Hong Kong Race Week, the largest youth regatta in Asia, which we co-organise with the Hong Kong Sailing Federation. Held from 19 to 24 January, this fantastic event takes place across three race tracks in the areas of Middle Island, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, Stanley, Tai Tam and Beaufort. And for the very first time, we shall also include a Waszp category, so watch out for some speedy foiling. Which brings me swiftly to the Liberty Bitcoin Youth Foiling World Cup 2021-2022. We were incredibly thrilled with the support the Youth Foiling World Cup received from fellow sailing clubs around the world and also from Persico 69F, whose innovative boats were a key 執筆之時,我抱著正面的心態迎接新一年,將去年令人情緒低落的日子一掃 而空,重新出發。 在此祝福各位新年快樂。隨著我在午夜時嗚炮,祈盼2021年會是一個充滿 正能量及愉快的一年。 同時,希望各會員以及其家人繼續享受帆船、賽艇和划槳運動的樂趣。 本年度的帆船比賽以「One Global HKRNVR 紀念盃帆船賽」打響頭陣,賽 事在1月9日舉行。此賽事屬於「2020-2021 Top Dog 盃帆船聯賽」四場賽 事中的第三場。以下是有關歷史: 當年HKRNVR用戰前的基金名義購入擁有116年歷史的;設有海豚拉手的 銀花瓶,並在頒獎典禮中由HKRNVR中尉 J.C.M Grenham 交予當年香港 遊艇會會長 N.V.A. Croucher,以紀念在二次世界大戰時犧牲的 HKRNVR 會員。」 初時,「One Global HKRNVR 紀念盃帆船賽」的賽道欲採用 HKRNVR 的

And if you want to go out and have fun, grab one of our Stand Up Paddle Boards. I did and it was great! For someone the year is indeed starting well – our very own Brenda Davies, Assistant Manager – Race Management, has been appointed a World Sailing International Race Officer. Congratulations! Great to know your skills have been recognized, especially after the sterling job you and your fellow race officers did for the Etchells Class Champs! And work you did after all these general recalls. Never a fleet was so eager to go sailing. Hopefully 2021 will see plenty of that! Another personnel announcement is the election of member Cheung Mei Han as President of the Hong Kong Sailing Federation. A stalwart of the Etchells Class and a talented sailor for Hong Kong, we are all very excited to have her piloting our sport for the next few years. She replaces Tong Shing who had a successful tenure over the last four years and our gratitude goes to him for his dedication and promotion of sailing during that time. Bon vent, fair winds to all! 巡航路線。可惜因外圍因素使計劃告吹,唯有退而求其次;依照既定的航線 行駛。話須如此,這仍然是一場非常有趣及刺激的賽事。相信我們在不久的 將來必定能還原歷史,秉承 HKRNVR 的傳統;因為,J.C.M Grenham 中尉 的孫子是本會會員,我們希望一旦恢復頒獎典禮,他將能夠頒贈交獎杯! 緊接其後的是亞洲最大型的青年帆船賽—「香港帆船賽週」。我們將和香 港帆船運動總會協辦這場賽事,賽事在1月19日至24於中途島、淺水灣、深 水灣、赤柱、大潭和螺洲等水域的賽道上進行。我們更首次加入水翼單體船 級別,屆時大家可留意賽船的航速。 不得不提的是「2021-2022 Liberty Bitcoin 青年水翼單體帆船盃賽」。我 們十分感恩獲得各國帆船運動體育會以及 Persico 69F 對「青年水翼單 體帆船比賽」的支持,Persico 69F 所設計的新穎船隻絕對是比賽的重要 焦點之一。我們目標有12隊帆船隊伍報名征戰,但終極目標希望有超過20隊 報名參賽。 會長的話請參閱第7頁) JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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The Bridge

As I write these lines, I have to project myself into the future, a brighter and more cheerful one, one where we are no longer riding these viral waves but just those created by a benevolent Neptune.


General Manager’s Message

The Bridge

I hope you and your families managed to enjoy the Christmas and New Year period, whether you were at the Club or at home and if the latter, hopefully making the most of some of the Club’s Christmas food, wine and other goodies to help keep things as cheerful as possible. When I look back on my message from last January, it was full of positivity and in anticipation of another successful year. I can’t really believe how it all ended up. General Manager Mark Bovaird 總經理布馬克 But difficult as it was for the world, Hong Kong and the Club, it just goes to reinforce what a brilliant community RHKYC has. The spirit and support network has been phenomenal and has allowed us all to maximize the opportunities to participate in our sports whenever possible and to make the most of the ever-changing regulations and restrictions necessary to control Covid-19 whilst still maintaining as much sense of Club life as possible. My thanks to you all for supporting the Club, the staff and one another throughout the difficult times that 2020 delivered and also my heartfelt thanks to our amazing staff who managed to endlessly pivot and change direction to keep our sports and clubhouses open in the face of those ever-changing social distancing restrictions. One thing that must be certain and a great relief for us all – 2021 must surely be better than 2020. Travel bubbles and Vaccines are on the

不論安坐家中抑或在香港遊艇會內,我都希望各位仍能歡渡聖誕及新年 假期。如果您是在會內歡渡佳節,希望本會提供的聖誕食物、美酒及其 相關產品能為你的節慶增添色彩。 回顧去年1月我在月刊內的序言,是正面及 充滿希望的。我真不敢相信 2020年所發生的事情,但由於這個難關是全球都要面對的,香港甚至香 港遊艇會亦如是;所以我們更應提倡本會的團結精神。在大家的團結及 互助精神下,我們仍能在防疫措施不斷變更時,竭盡所能地舉辦水上活 動,感受運動帶來的樂趣。 在 2020年的艱難時刻,我感謝各位對 於 香港遊 艇會的支持,更衷心感 謝每一 位職員,在不同的社交距離措施下,仍致力讓三個會所運作,為 會員服務。 但我相信,2021年一切都會比去年更好。「旅遊汽泡」及疫苗採購進行得 如火如荼,相信大家今年一定會好起來。 本月我們將在 Regatta Room 舉行三個活動,1月22日舉行的「四川晚宴

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way so it’s onwards and upwards, and here’s to a healthy, happy and successful year ahead. Coming up this month, we have three Regatta Room events; the first is Sichuan Night on 22 January, the second is an Antipasti and Pasta Party on 23 January and the last in the series we expect to be extremely welcome and popular and that’s a Briefing on the Year of the Ox by a renowned Feng Shui Master on 30 January. Of course there’s never a month at the Club where we don’t have a wine or Champagne dinner (or two, possibly three) and this month we are going all out with a treble! The Ruinart Champagne Dinner is on 14 January. The House of Ruinart has a pedigree of 291 years and with that kind of history, you know the wines they produce cannot be anything other than spectacular. A week later we bring back to the Compass Room the wines of Castello Banfi, a family-owned vineyard from the Brunello region of Tuscany with their fantastic and award winning Italian wines. Rounding up the treble is the Glaetzer 2018 Vintage Release Wine Dinner – this is the first time we have featured this relatively new winery from the Barossa Valley, here at the Club. Established in 1995 by Colin Glaetzer, the wine dinner will feature his son, also named Colin, and who now owns the vineyard – and he’ll be beaming into the Compass Room via video link. Chinese New Year is not far away now either. Apart from the Feng Shui expert I mentioned above, it’s now time to order your Chinese New Year puddings. All of the details you need for everything I’ve covered can be found within. May I take this opportunity to with you all a Happy New Year and that 2021 is a happy, safe and successful one for all of us, our families and of course, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.

率先打響頭炮,隨之而來的是1月23日舉行的「意粉派對」;最後則是1月 30日舉行,由知名的風水師為大家講解「牛年開運風水陣」。 當然,本月又怎會少得美酒晚宴呢?我們推出美酒三重奏,首先,「慧納 香檳晚宴」將於1月14日舉行。慧納香檳酒廠是香檳始祖,擁有291年歷 史;因此,其香檳的細緻道絕對稱冠。一周後,我們將在 Compass Room 呈 獻「Castello Banfi 美 酒」。這個 位 於托斯 卡納 布魯奈 羅 地 區的酒 莊是家庭式經營的酒莊,他們釀製的美酒獲獎,大家萬物錯過。最後,是 Glaetzer 2018 Vintage Release 美 酒晚宴」。這 是我們首次在會內 推介這個源於南澳巴羅莎谷品牌的葡萄酒,由 Colin Glaetzer 於1995年 創立,是次葡萄酒晚宴將由其同名為 Colin 的兒子,透過視頻與大家在 Compass Room 會面。 農曆新年將至,除了與知名風水師會面外,亦是時候預訂本會的賀年糕點 了。有關詳情可見於本月刊內。 在此,祝大家新年快樂,在2021年裡,希望本會及各人都過得快樂、健康 及安全呢!


The Bridge

Charity Foundation Donation of Toys to SoCO W O RD S: L EN A CHI | IM AGES: J O EL H O

hristmas came early for underprivileged kids in Shamshuipo as entrepreneur brothers and RHKYC members Victor and Samson Chan took time from their busy schedule to spread some cheer. The brothers, who run a toy manufacturing business decided to donate huge boxes of brand new toys to the RHKYC Charity Foundation for SOCO (the Society of Community Organisation) which, among other things, provides support for less fortunate children, many from families living below the poverty line. It being a weekday, many children were at school, but some younger ones and their parents were already waiting eagerly at the Center for the Chan brothers to arrive with the toys. After some of the toys were laid out, the children were eager to make their choices. Excited voices chimed up all around: “I would like to have that big doll – look mom, her eyes shut!” one little girl exclaimed. One mother asked “May I have the multi-coloured ducks? I want to teach my boy to learn colours for his school interview” whilst another child wistfully said “Mom, can I get that cooking set? I can learn to cook and help you make dinner”... 續第5頁 — 會長的話) 鑑於早期2019新型冠狀病毒有惡化趨勢,我們遺憾地宣布不能在香港舉辦 賽事,唯有移至另一地點進行,原定計劃舉行賽事的日期和比賽形式仍會保 留。與此同時,香港遊艇會、「Persico 69F 型帆船協會水翼帆船賽週」及 意大利帆船運動總會」正進行第一屆「Liberty Bitcoin 青年水翼帆船世界盃 籌劃事宜。頭兩站均設於意大利,分別於2021年2月19日至3月12日及7月 至8月兩段時間舉行。最後一站則座落香港,比賽時間為2022年1月。感謝 Liberty Bitcoin 贊助,在「Liberty Bitcoin 青年水翼帆船世界盃」勝出的隊伍 將獲贈一比特幣,絕對是最豐富的獎金之一!十分期待這場前所未有的賽事! 在此感激一眾為這場獨特賽事而日以繼夜工作的職員和會員。 在賽艇方面,由中國香港賽艇協會以及香港遊艇會共同舉辦的「香港海岸 賽艇錦標賽」及「中途島系列賽」(一場予19歲以下青年參賽)的賽事已安 排在1月進行。其次,原定在12月12至13日舉行的「Red Bull 三項極限挑

It was heart-warming to see the children so happy. Sze Lai Shan, the Community Organizer of SOCO said the toys would be distributed to other children very soon and they would most certainly be delighted. Victor Chan summed it up nicely: “This year has been a difficult one for many families due to COVID 19, and families of those living below the poverty line have been particularly struggling. We very much hope these toys can bring some joy to children who are less fortunate than our own. It is so good to see them choose something from the pile of toys that they want and will appreciate.”

戰賽」將延期至明年2月6至7日舉行。我在此祝福各賽艇和划槳運動員在 2021年賽季凱旋歸來。 假如大家想輕鬆一下,不妨嘗試直立板,我體驗過後感覺非常好呢! 對於賽事部助理經理 Brenda Davies 而言,今年確實是一個好開始,皆因 她正式獲取世界帆船總會國際賽事主任資格。恭喜你在這方面得到認可,尤 其是你和一班賽事部同事在「Etchells 帆船世界錦標賽」的付出。希望2021 年會將舉辦更多帆船比賽! 另一項有關人事的宣佈是,本會會員張美嫻獲選為香港帆船運動總會的主 席。張既是一位Etchells級別帆船的中堅份子,又是一位具潛能的帆船運動 員,期待她在未來日子的帶領我們在帆船運動上的發展。我們更感激任職 香港帆船運動總會主席四年的唐盛,衷心感謝他這段時間對帆船運動的貢 獻和付出。 一路順風! JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Tom Larmour Awards The Bridge Young Sailor of the Year – Ulysse Ha Thuc Ulysse is one of the most committed Shark Sailors with 100% attendance last season. He goes out of his way to encourage and help fellow team members. He is a good team player who always pushes himself and others to improve. Ulysse is showing consistent improvement and is certainly one to watch for in the future.

Most Promising Young Sailor – Sean Poon Sean has shown excellent commitment to the Youth Keelboat Team all season. He has taken the role of Skipper to heart. Sean is a true team player who is always keen to assist with all aspects of the team as well as supporting younger sailors in a calm and friendly manner. Last season he participated with the team in the J80 Class Championships, Around the Island Race, ABC Waglan series and the Macau International Regatta.

RHKYC Sharks Performance Sailor of the Year – Sean Liu Currently Sean is 1st in the HKODA rankings, he won the Hong Kong Optimist Class champs and finished 23rd in the Optimist Australian Nationals.

Sam Kelly Memorial Award Sam Kelly Memorial Award – Anna Fisher Anna has made an exceptionally strong contribution to the club over many years performing at highest levels in both sailing and rowing. In the past year, she has also dedicated herself to organising multiple events and training sessions whilst helping new and experienced members get the most from the Club. She had also signed up to help coach part-time at the Club over the summer months this year but unfortunately Covid-19 interfered with those plans. Anna started rowing in 2010 and sculling in 2011. She then started fulltime sailing in 2017. The list of Anna’s experience in both rowing and sailing is too long for me to read out. Anna also served on the Fine Rowing Sub-Committee as Women’s Co-ordinator from 2019 to 2020 and is currently serving on the Young Members Committee. She has been an umpire for rowing events since 2011, and was one of the organisers of the Hong Kong Henley / Club Championship 2020.

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Wilson Cup Awards The Bridge

Wilson Bowl – Kira Cameron and Finn Ridley Both Kira and Finn have performed exceptionally well at training and have attended regularly, even throughout the lockdown where they made extra effort to ensure they were able to continue working on their craft through online training sessions. The development that they both have made in 2019-20 has been exceptional. In regards to racing performance, both athletes have competed in the few races that the Club have been able to hold, with both winning their respective categories. Both of these young athletes continue to show leadership both on and off the water, taking all sessions with them to a higher standard for their peers and coaches. Wilson Cup – No nominations were received for the Wilson Cup award and as such it will not be presented this year.

Noel Croucher Award Noel Croucher Award – presented to Mr Gianni Aprea Mr Aprea is currently our Dragon Boating Captain, the chairman of the Dragon Boat Sub-Committee and the Rowing Secretary. He has done more than any other in recent years to develop the sport of Dragon Boating within the club and Hong Kong at large.

Here are a few of his achievements: • Established the first ever dragon boat races at the Club: MI and KI Cups; • Started juniors racing and schools training programs and various corporate partnerships; • Generally elevated and extended the outreach of the dragon boat program. When he joined, the Club Dragon Boating Section were lucky to fill 2 boats (and only had 2); and now they have a full fleet of 10 boats and additional equipment to support multiple programs and races; • Elevated the overall status of the program. The Club now has multiple athletes who have competed with their respective national teams at the World Nations Dragon Boat championships (and will when the event is, hopefully, held in HK next year). This includes training partnerships with national teams for the UK, the US, Spain and Russia. • Long history of collaboration with the Club’s Charity Foundation and other local charities. • Continually volunteering time to improve/maintain club facilities/ equipment; • Encouraged / supported dozens of membership applications… junior, ordinary and full…increasing overall membership from the section; • He has also been on the Rowing Committee (for many years), Marine Sub-Committee, Membership Matters Sub-Committee, Membership Committee, Paddle Sports Sub-Committee, Dragon Boat Sub-Committee, ATIR planning working group. He also contributed to KI gym redevelopment and the Middle Island Development Working Group, and assisted Middle Island SubCommittee, Family Panel Sub-Committee and RHKYC Charity Foundation with many events. JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Around the Island Race W O RD S: VIVIA N N G A N | IM AGES:

GU Y N OW EL L |

VIVIA N N G A N

Feature | Around the Island Race

One of Hong Kong’s biggest celebrations of sail, the Club’s annual Around the Island Race, took place on 8 November 2020. The line up boasted an impressive entry list of 227 boats from 14 classes including seven one-design classes, Sportsboats, HKPN, IRC, dinghies and beach catamarans.

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Feature | Around the Island Race

ace Officer David Norton set two start lines off of the Kellett Island Clubhouse with the line closest to Kellett Island used to start the one design boats and the outer line for HKPN, IRC and beach catamarans divisions. The race course, a full 26nm circumnavigation, took the fleet around Hong Kong Island to starboard (clockwise). The first start was at 0830hrs with the Pandoras and HKPN Monohulls setting off in a variable easterly breeze of 4 to 11kts. Thereafter, a start rolled off every five minutes until 1100hrs. The biggest yacht in the fleet was Peter Cremers’ Warwick 75 Shahtoosh while the smallest were four single handed dinghies including three RS Aeros and a foiling dinghy WASZP skipped by Adam Neveux. Last to start and new on the scene, was RHKYC Team Agiplast, sailing their one-design foiling monohull, a Persico 69F, in their debute race in Hong Kong. Before the majority of boats could get out of the harbour, a weakening northerly breeze led to a large portion of the fleet parking up at Lei Yue Mun Gap, battling an incoming tide. As the main fleet neared Shek O, a northeasterly breeze began to strengthen; building up to 8kts. As the fleet made their way around Stanley point, it was a colourful sight to behold with hundreds of kites on the horizon.

JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Feature | Around the Island Race As the fleet progressed around the island, the wind softened again around noon. With Hong Kong Island itself creating a wind shadow over the course, large wind holes developed near Ap Lei Chau. RO David Norton noted that two HKPN boats were well ahead of the main fleet and it was a tough decision as to whether or not to shorten the course. Norton said “two fast HKPN boats started relatively early and were well ahead so that limited our choices. By noon, we recorded good wind at Green Island so we made a risky decision to finish at Kellett Island so sailors could do a full circumnavigation of Hong Kong Island.” Niccolo Manno’s Nigel Irens Trimaran 40 Carbon 3 was the first boat to cross the line back at Kellett Island at 1320hrs, followed by Sam Chan/Alex Johnston’s Nelson Marek 68 FFreefire and Shawn Kang’s Tp52 Alpha+.

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With so many boats of different designs and sizes on the water, it’s usually hard to predict who has won until the numbers have been crunched. Eventually, it was established that Shawn Kang’s Tp52 Alpha+ was the ATI overall winner with a corrected time of 5h 10m 03s. Tam Nguyen’s Dragon Zephyr took 2nd place only one minute and 10 seconds behind followed by Sam Chan’s Flying Fifteen Full Power in 3rd. More than 150 boats finished ahead of the cut off time limit at 1700hrs, with the very lucky Impala Shikari being the final boat to cross the line just nine seconds before the cut off to get a full circumnavigation finish. The HKPN divisions, Dragons, Pandoras, Ruffians and RS Aero results were counted at Cyberport/Stanley gate.


Feature | Around the Island Race Sincerest thanks go to St. James’s Place and Peroni for their continued support. It was fantastic to see St. James’s Place Partner and recent introductory scheme graduate and new Club member Jason O’Leary competing in his boat Lady Butterfly with wife Magdalena. It’s fantastic to see sponsors taking the next step and becoming active members... welcome to the Club, Jason!. The Around the Island Race requires an enormous pool of volunteers without whom we simply couldn’t run the event. The Club would like to thank the race management team of PRO David Norton, ARO Inge Strompf-Jepsen, Fiona Gregor and Lesley Anderson, Cyberport Gate RO Elberti Uiterwaal-Postma with Aidan James Slinger, Jennifer Li, Letizia Leung and Vincent Yum, Stanley Gate RO Sheila Chan with Donna Choi, Elizabeth Seymour-Jones, Suzy Rayment and Tina Over, Starter’s Box and Gun Room assistants Gina Littlefair, Guinness Siu, Joyce Kwong and Sian Wynn-Jones. The safety team was flat out from pre-start to post-finish and a huge thank you goes to Safety Officer Barry Truhol with Ah Hung, Andy Wong, Angel Olausson,Baden Wong, Carey Jack, Ernest Wong, Harris Leong, Harry Pang,Ian Hornett, Johan Olausson, Keith Man, Ken Wong,Mae Loh, Niclas Rydin, Oscar Hemberg, Paul Oen, Pooky Makinson, Rhoda Chan, Robert Rogers, Ronan Hasle, Serena Shing, Simon Frusher, Stephen Fung, Steve Wordsworth, Ting Chan, Tommy Chan, Tony Cheung, Victor Tsien and Warwick Jones.

JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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ATIR winners interview (Q&A) Shawn Kang, helmsman of Alpha + ATI overall winner

Feature | Around the Island Race We are so happy to win ATI overall! It’s never easy to win such kind of a race with over 200 different boats sailing together – you have to sail well and be very lucky. It was so close for us just beating Tam’s Dragon by one minute after correction. We were very lucky to start with a good puff and the best part for me was passing Lei Yue Mun Gup – at that moment the wind was very light and ‘confused’ and there were so many boats stopped there. We managed to just keep moving slowly through a very narrow channel and caught up with most other boats that started earlier. The biggest challenge was the wind forecast which had indicated anywhere from 5 to 18kts and very changeable. That made it hard for the competitors but also for Race Management so I would like to say a big thank you to the organisers, volunteers, sponsors, competitors and all our crew! Thanks all, looking forward for the race of next year. Tam Nguyen , helmsman of Zephyr, ATI overall 2nd place and Dragon class winner

IM AGES: GU Y N O W EL L / VIVIA N N G A N

What were your key moves that helped you win this race? The key spots where you can traditionally make gains or losses are at Lei Yue Mun, Cyber Port and the return into Harbour before the finish. And this year was no exception! In these light conditions you always need a bit of luck to get it right and we had a good share of it! It was key to get out of the Harbour as soon as possible before the tidal current started to get stronger and we focused on getting fast where we saw pressure even if that meant crossing from one side to the other, sometimes ignoring VMG or current. This is where we made huge gains on our Dragon fleet. From then on, it became more of a race for the overall ranking. Cyberport was a reset where we saw most of the large boats coming from behind while we had no wind. On the other hand, the TPs also then gave us good indication where pressure was or wasn’t after they passed us. When we arrived in the Harbour, the current was very strong and we made gains against much larger boats by staying protected from the current and crossing the channel only when we had good pressure. What’s your advice to other competitors to help get around quicker? • Stay focused! It’s probably the most challenging thing on a race that takes six to eight hours! In hindsight, I probably could have helmed better in some parts of the course and saved that one minute which separated us from 1st Overall, TP52 Alpha+. • More importantly, having a great team who understand the boat is key: Michi Valenti and Henri Bassaler are excellent sailors and made sure we kept moving all the time in the challenging conditions. • Crew weight position is extremely important even if the Dragon is a very heavy boat. We kept moving crew depending on heel angle or feeling on the helm

• if you are not the first class to start, look forward to see the boats ahead to decide where the wind is or is not. • keep moving in the light by cracking off. • avoid wind shadows What’s your advice to other competitors to help get around quicker? Same as above! What was the best milestone moment for you? The brief moment of planning and surfing. How do you rate defending your title in next year’s Race? I had won overall in this race in 2012 and still enjoy competing every year with all of the other boats. I sometimes participate in this race on my big boat Freefire as well. Jack Ng, helmsman of No One Else HKPN winner

What was the best milestone moment for you? The finish! After six hours sitting on the rail of a Dragon I was not sure which of my butt or my head was the sorest.

Sam Chan, helmsman of Full Power ATI overall 3rd place and F15 class winner

There is no hidden agenda as long as you wouldn’t give up. Chances are always around you from the time you cross the start line. Cooperation with your crew is important a you need teamwork for yacht racing and everyone always wishes their boats to keep moving all the way.

What were your key moves that helped you win this race?

It is not arguable that the journey around Cyperport is always a big hurdle.

How do you rate defending your title in next year’s Race? Always a challenge, but will definitely try!

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Mike Burrell, helmsman of Impala 1 Impala class winner

ATIR is such an iconic well organised event with so many boats it’s an absolute privilege to participate.

KW Chair, helmsman of Solstice Pandora winner

I suppose for Impala 1 and the 11-strong Impala Fleet, the start was the milestone moment. The wind was well North, so it was a port tack start which is tricky, and I’m sure that the tide was flooding, although the ebb was not supposed to finish for an hour. The two Impalas that got away first eventually finished more than one hour ahead of the third-placed finisher – helped naturally by getting through Lei Yue Mun while there was still a little wind, and with a little bit of luck to avoid most of the ‘holes’ on the South side of the Island. The secret of Impala 1’s success is of course the purported 300 years of sailing experience shared by the six crew... well, perhaps not entirely true, but not far off... and we were assisted by one crew whose hangover prevented him from turning up, helping us negotiate the light conditions ! And the other secrets? Six hours of total concentration, tactical discussion, and luck, luck, luck... and of course the thought of our first cold beer for the whole day after we crossed the finishing line... We will be back next year, with 306 years of sailing experience! Jasper ten Berge, helmsman of Jammin J/80 winner

Our strategy with the building tide was to get out of the harbour as fast as possible, then again, our strategy would have been the same with tide in the back, as fast as possible. We had two of the Club’s Shark sailors onboard – homegrown talent from Middle Island. With the Around Middle Island Race under their belt from the day before and they were sharp and ready and on wind watch. Their calls for the gusts and shifts out of the harbour was critical to our flying start. If there was a secret to calling the wind in the harbour, many with much more hours out there would be far better sources for that secret. We managed to come out 2nd absolute boat after the bigboat FFreefire who then quickly set-off on the horizon. Behind us the wind seemed to die out virtually closing the harbour exit for some time. With the first Flying Fifteen and first Dragon we were off to Cap D’Aguilar in a nice swell from the typhoon that passed the days before. Our next milestone moment was around Aberdeen. In the North-Easterly this area is known as ‘the doldrums of Hong Kong’. Many can tell you all about the windholes and parking spots out there. We learned the lesson from ATIR veterans and last year’s deserved J/80 class winners Footloose to stay inside close to shore where all logic says to stay outside away from the buildings and landmasses. With some challenge to our patience here and there we managed to round green Island club mark for the beat back to the finish and the Kellet Island Bar. Sailing the ATIR offers many analogies on life’s lessons and many open doors to kick-in, which are happily shared; You can’t adjust the wind you can adjust your sails, be in the place where you want to be, don’t let someone else cover your breeze, never chase someone else’s wind before you get there it will be gone, look ahead to where the breeze is coming from as that’s the next place where you will be and finally always keep moving forward and never look back. Cheers to an amazing event from the J/80 JAMMIN’ Crew.

1. What were your key moves that helped you win this race? During a race like this we won by understanding the tidal current at Lei Yue Mun. (Understanding tides are important, it can overpower your ability to sail better in a light wind and heavy current condition.) After the start at club line at 0830hrs, Solstice aimed at sailing and passing Lei Yue Mun before the high tide coming in at 0930hrs. She tried to stay in the middle of the channel going upwind with the favourable current underneath with the belief that this will help power up the boat. Solstice reached Lei Yue Mun a little bit late at 0945hrs and she had fought against the high tide at Lei Yue Mun for 45 minutes until she could pass through Lei Yue Mun at 1030hrs. This was already better than some Pandoras which left Lei Yue Mun just before noon. 2. Advice to other competitors to help get around the island quicker: crew/sails/tactics There seems not any golden rule here. I can only say that boats should always keep momentum at open sea particularly in the southern part of the island where light wind usually prevailed. This can be done by maintaining the shape of the sails using the weight of the crew to heel the boat to leeward a little. 3. The best milestone moment in this race. The best milestone to win this race was after Solstice passed the Green Island mark at the western waterfront of the harbour where the tide was in full ebb running from the eastern harbour. While much of the fleet elected for the center/starboard side of the harbour where the current was stronger, Solstice had observed the wind had filled in more on the port side. So she took advantage of the higher wind with slightly less tide flow nearer the West Kowloon waterfront. This tactic helped her keep up with the faster boats like the big boats and the Impalas and reached Tsim Sha Tsui faster than other boats. 4. How do you rate defending your title in next year’s race? More good luck. JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Feature | Around the Island Race

With the 15 one design J/80s participating this year we had the 0905hrs start on the inner line. Many boats took off in the starts before us, then heading upwind out of the harbour. The benefit of having boats in front is that they can be a wind indicator but with that also comes the challenge they are actually blocking that wind and they have to be passed. J/80 Javelin nailed the start in our class with a daring port pin start which paid off, the chase was on.


Jarl Borthwick, helmsman of Larrikin Ruffian class winner

4. How do you rate defending your title in next year’s race? This race is never an easy one. One thing I can be sure of is that we will most likely be back to work on our patience again in 2021!

Feature | Around the Island Race

Amanda Chen, helmsman of F.A.B Sportsboat winner

1. What were your key moves that helped you win this race? The wind this year was very light at the start line and throughout the harbour. Very challenging for all. We just focused on moving from puff to puff in the harbour and managed to be the first Ruffian out through Lei Yue Mun gap. That really helped us end up where we did. 2. Advice to other competitors to help get around the Island quicker: crew | sails | tactics The boat that we sail, the Ruffian 23, is better suited to slightly more wind than we had at a number of points in this race. I feel that my patience improves every year that we participate in the ATIR in a Ruffian. 3. The best milestone moments in this race. It had to be finding the wind on the south side of the island.

1. What were your key moves that helped you win this race? We had a very good team – Russ Parker ensured the boat was race ready, studied the course conditions and drove well; Mark Collins found us the breeze we needed, muscled the kite up and down many times, hiked hard and kept spirits up. It was painfully slow getting out of the harbour and we were going backwards on tide at one point but the VX One is designed to plane in not very much breeze which allowed us to catch up to the others once we were out of the harbour. We also had the advantage of seeing where boats in front were stuck in holes.

2. Advice to other competitors to help get around the Island quicker: crew | sails | tactics • Get the boat ready pre-race – polish the hull / get a race wash, tune the rig and fix problem spots. • Research the wind and tide around the course – we use Windguru and PocketGrib to download GRIB files and refer to the Hydrographic Office website for tide information. • Stay focused during the race on heading and how other boats are doing. 3. The best milestone moments in this race. Roll tacking back up the harbour and sticking close to Hong Kong Island for tide relief and to sail less distance to the finish. We put 40 minutes between us and Fly By Wire who we had caught up to and rounded Green Island with. It was also key to closing the distance between us and Catch 22 who sailed very well and took line honours in our class. 4. How do you rate defending your title in next year’s race? Around the Island Race is always a game of snakes and ladders where anyone can win.

IMAGE: MANSON MA

GOLD 20 2

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IMAGE: CHRISTINA CULLY

IFIED CERT

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Around the Island Race Hosted by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

GOLD LEVEL CLEAN REGATTAS CERTIFICATION November 8, 2020 Paige Mya Program Manager Sailors for the Sea

Ruffian Scallywag

David Rockefeller, Jr. Founder Sailors for the Sea

Impala Pier Pier

IMAGE: BENNY WONG

Clean Regatta The Around the Island Race was awarded Clean Regatta Gold status by Sailors for the Sea, a nonprofit organisation that educates and empowers boaters to protect and restore our oceans and coastal waters. Sailors were encouraged to avoid single-use plastics and take responsibility for their own recycling and putting all recyclables in the appropriate bins. Pandora sailors

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One Global Lipton Trophy W O RD S: VIVIA N N G A N | IM AGES:

GU Y N OW EL L |

VIVIA N N G A N

ursuit races work with each boat or Class of boats being given a different start time based on their handicap, which in a perfect race, would result in all boats finishing at around the same target time of 1630hrs. With 67 boats on the start line, the first start was at 1400hrs for the Pandora’s and the last boat to start was foiling catamaran Flying Phantom at 1514hrs. Pandora Panache was holding off the faster classes for the second rounding at Shau Kei Wan before being overtaken by Dragon Zephyr. The wind varied from 5 to 10 kts at Shau Kei Wan, however the easterly breeze could not fill down to the bottom mark at Hung Hom. With JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Feature | One Global Lipton Trophy

The forecasted fresh north-easterly breeze did not eventuate for the second event of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2020-2021, the One Global Lipton Trophy which started on 14 November. In a weak easterly breeze of around 5kts, the regular Race Officer team of Gareth and Di Williams opted for a Hung Hom start and elected to set the fleet off on a 3.5 loops race between Hung Hom and Shau Kei Wan.


Feature | One Global Lipton Trophy a strong incoming tide and only 3kts of softening breeze, most boat struggled with the upwind leg. RO Gareth Williams shortened the course at Shau Kei Wan close to the target finish time. The beauty of the pursuit race is in the chase and it was a good day for the Etchells fleet, claiming four of the top five places. By the final gun, Etchells Reprobate crossed the finishing line at 1631hrs, Dragon Zephyr in 2nd Place followed by Etchells Les Freaks Sont Chic in third. The One Global Lipton Trophy is the second of four events that make up the Top Dog Trophy Series 2020-2021. The first event was Around the Island Race on 8 November and the next two pursuit races are the One Global HKRNVR Memorial Vase (9 January 2021) and the One Global Tomes Cup (24 April 2021). While this was the second Top Dog event of the calendar it was the first event ever for new Pursuit Series sponsors One Global Property Management. We would like to welcome James, Adam and the team

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from One Global and look forward to working together over the next few years. If you have any interest in property investment in the UK then please connect with the sponsorship team who would will be happy to introduce you. One Global Lipton Trophy 2020 – Top 10 BOAT NAME

SAIL NO. CLASS

Reprobate

1235

Etchells Denis Martinet

SKIPPER

16:31:17

1

Zephyr

55

Dragon Tam Nguyen

16:33:07

2

Les Freaks Sont Chic 1428

Etchells Marco Pocci

16:33:35

3

King Of The Pin

1364

Etchells Frank Van Kempen

16:35:03

4

Gunga Din

1243

Etchells Nick Burns

16:35:23

5

Ambush

2388

Mills 41 Joachim Isler / Andrew Taylor 16:35:59

6

Levity

2267

J80

16:36:27

7

Incoming

1047

Etchells Ian Fleming

16:36:46

8

Celines

1

Dragon Marc Castagnet

16:37:40

9

Footloose

2252

J80

16:38:04

10

Claude Wong

Henry Wong

FINISH TIME POSITION


Feature | One Global Lipton Trophy The club would like to thank the fabulous volunteers who ran the racing on the day, Race Officer Gareth Williams and his capable team of assistants: Anthony Root, Ben Chong, Di Williams, Elizabeth Seymour-Jones, Elizabeth Yeung, Jacky Lam, Tim Lembke, Victor Tsien and the safety team of Ernest Wong and Jason Woo.

JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Starter’s Box

JANUARY 2021

T I D E S

UP C OMING E VENTS

Sailing

One Global HKRNVR Memorial Vase

9 January

Hong Kong Race Week

19 to 31 January

Ladies Helm

7 March

0515 0.44 1200 1.45 1456 1.27 2210 2.45

17

2

0553 0.45 1246 1.45 1538 1.28 2255 2.40

18

0659 0.69 1428 1.52 1807 1.30

3

SUN

0633 0.50 1338 1.48 1633 1.31 2340 2.30

19

0020 2.00 0728 0.81 1516 1.57 1902 1.34

4

0714 0.57 1430 1.53 1752 1.35

20

0027 1.80 0758 0.93 1608 1.64 2015 1.37

5

0026 2.16 0757 0.67 1522 1.60 1903 1.38

21

0044 1.60 0828 1.03 1657 1.72 2159 1.33

6

0118 1.97 0843 0.78 1612 1.71 2024 1.37

22

0311 1.39 0858 1.12 1737 1.81

7

0329 1.76 0930 0.90 1700 1.85 2220 1.28

23

8

0510 1.60 1019 1.01 1744 2.00 2352 1.08

24

0132 0.98 1824 2.01

FRI

9

0640 1.50 1109 1.11 1824 2.16

25

0212 0.80 1849 2.12

10

0108 0.83 0808 1.47 1159 1.18 1903 2.32

26

0247 0.64 1923 2.23

11

0211 0.61 0922 1.47 1249 1.22 1943 2.45

27

0320 0.51 1009 1.35 1251 1.24 2003 2.32

12

0305 0.43 1017 1.48 1338 1.23 2026 2.54

28

0352 0.42 1037 1.38 1345 1.21 2049 2.39

13

0354 0.33 1102 1.48 1425 1.23 2109 2.57

29

0423 0.37 1103 1.41 1439 1.17 2136 2.43

14

0438 0.31 1143 1.48 1510 1.22 2153 2.55

30

0455 0.36 1131 1.45 1531 1.12 2224 2.42

15

0519 0.35 1222 1.47 1553 1.21 2235 2.47

31

0528 0.40 1205 1.50 1622 1.08 2312 2.36

16

0556 0.44 1302 1.48 1636 1.22 2315 2.34

FRI

One Global HKRNVR Memorial Vase

SAT

MON

TUE IMAGE: GUY NOWELL

Saturday 9 January will see the third pursuit race of the Top Dog Series, the One Global HKRNVR Memorial Vase. The trophy was presented to the Club in 1950 by officers of the HKRNVR and HKNVF in memory of their comrades who fell in the battle for Hong Kong from 1941 to 1950 with the proviso that “the course should take participating yachts into waters patrolled by the HKRNVR”. The HKRNVR is now defunct but the trophy continues to serve as a reminder of when amateur sailors played their part in the security of Hong Kong. Nowadays the course takes the fleet out through the harbour to the Eastern approaches and back and the HKRNVR Memorial Vase will be presented to the first boat that finishes. Notice of Race and online entry are available from the club’s website.

1

Hong Kong Race Week – Volunteers

WED

THU

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has volunteered to assist with our events so far this season, we greatly appreciate your support. Hong Kong Race Week will be held from 19 to 31 January and with three 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 prior sailing experience – registration, sign on/off and launch & retrieve are all onshore roles. Volunteers sign up can be found via the website: www.hongkongraceweek.com

SAT

SUN

MON

IMAGE: NAOMI REBECCA

Rolex China Sea Race Friday 26 February is the entry deadline for the 58th edition of our biennial blue water classic race, Rolex China Sea Race. The Rolex China Sea Race is one of Asia’s oldest World Sailing Category 1 offshore race’s taking boats 565 nautical miles from Victoria Harbour to Subic Bay in the Philippines. The online entry form, Notice of Race and submission schedule are available at www.rolexchinasearace.com – with 35 boats expected to enter, the earlier you submit your information the smoother the scrutineering process will be. Information correct at time of print. For the most up to date information please contact the Club.

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TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

0629 0.56 1343 1.50 1719 1.25 2351 2.18

0036 1.17 0608 1.26 0930 1.18 1805 1.91

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN


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Sailing

Sailing Passion Meets Ocean Purpose in Portugal W O RD S: BE T H WIL S O N A ND TIN A AT KINS O N

hose who know us well might expect this to be a tale of long lunches on the water near sailboats, but it’s really much more than that. While our “essential travel” was focused on retirement plans, our larger mission was finding a sailing community and lifestyle similar to what we have enjoyed in Hong Kong for so many years. Our journey logically took us to Cascais; home of the prestigious Clube Naval de Cascais. Founded in 1938 and just 20 minutes from Lisbon, the Clube boasts a strong sailing programme with everything from multiple one-design classes (including SB20, Dragon, Snipe, Moth, Optimist, Laser, 420, Hobie Cat and Sprinto classes) to big boat sailing. Located directly on the water in the centre of Cascais, the Clube is a fantastic venue for youth sailing, and its commitment to it is evidenced by its robust fleet. They also have a programme for disabled sailors and are highly focused on sustainability and ocean

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Sailing

conservation. The only thing we found missing was a grand clubhouse. Beth had previously discovered a beautiful heritage property in Cascais overlooking Clube Naval de Cascais that she saw potential to be an in-town club house, much in the vein of the Harbour Court in Newport or Royal Thames in London. By then, through sheer enthusiasm to the cause and a mutual friend, Beth secured an introduction to Dr. Paulo Mirpuri, President and founder of Mirpuri Foundtion. A businessman, philanthropist, adventurer, licensed commercial pilot, medical doctor, published author and accomplished yachtsman, Paulo’s values are embodied in the six pillars of his family foundation. Followers of the last Volvo Ocean Race will remember his Turn the Tide on Plastic, skippered by Dee Cafferie and boasting a fifty-fifty male/female crew. This year, his new VO65-1 is called Racing for the Planet, and its mission is to put climate change on the global agenda. During our first meeting, we discussed a wideranging field of topics starting with the sailing programme at the Clube Naval de Cascais and leading on to the work of the foundation. As

we learned more about Mirpuri Foundation, we started to see the parallels to our sustainability goals at RHKYC and Tina’s work at Shared Value Project Hong Kong. Just as the RHKYC has committed to environmental practices such as serving only sustainable seafood and working towards plastic free oceans, we found the Mirpuri foundation has embodied a similar list of initiatives on a much greater scale whilst using sailing as a platform to create global awareness of them. Paulo invited us to sail on Racing for Planet the following weekend, and Beth was delighted to join the team for a wet and windy morning on the water. The next day, Paulo and his wife Luiza visited the property overlooking the club and explored its many rooms and possibilities. One of the highlights was discovering the Caravel pointing out towards the Atlantic over Clube Naval. The day after, we met with Gonçalo Esteves, President of Clube Naval, who is also a member of RHKYC himself and has been a frequent visitor to Hong Kong over the years. He gave us a tour of their waterfront facility, and we learned of plans in the works to expand the clubhouse with the addition of a pool and a bar (dashing our hopes of developing the

heritage property, but promising nonetheless). We were also extended the opportunity to apply for membership, and we were delighted to learn that Clube Naval is already a reciprocal facility of RHKYC as well as a host of other prestigious clubs. The following Friday, we were honored to be invited to visit Paulo’s wife Luiza (also a medical doctor and Foundation Director) for tea at the Mirpuri’s beautiful home in Lisbon. Luiza, who is also a medical doctor and heads the Medical Research arm of the Foundation, told us of her current studies on the connection between nutrition, wellness and performance and her role as wellness coach for the Ocean Race team. We left Lisbon excited about our new friendships and grateful to have been welcomed so warmly into the sailing community. We were truly impressed with and inspired by the work of the foundation and its campaign to bring awareness to climate change and ocean conservation through racing. We are looking forward to getting involved on a deeper level, meeting more members of the local sailing community and expanding our sailing horizons.

JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Dragon Class Championship W O RD S: A NDY PID D EN | IM AGES: TA KUMI IM AGES PA NDA M A N

Sailing f the past year hasn’t been crazy weird enough here is a recap of the second Dragon Class Champs of 2020, held from 20 to 22 November. (The first one was actually 2019’s which delayed to January 2020.) Based out of Middle Island, the Dragon fleet was about to experience the best of NE monsoon sailing with a very light day, a heavy wind day and a perfect breeze day. The night before saw a weigh in (lots of heels on the ground and tip toes going on in the corner) and a briefing from Inge Strompf-Jepsen, our legendary Race Officer, “Lamma channel, L2, don’t be late!) Day 1 saw a decent fleet setting out from the dock. 15 boats; most with their regular and battle hardened crews. Straight off in Race 1, D1 scored a win and was sending a message to second place D55 that they were going to have to fight for it with D47 in third place – a combination that would change position but, as a three, remaining very consistent for the next couple of days. Race 2 and 3 however saw D55 assert themselves with two firsts. D1 and D3 kept up the challenge and so there was a very French

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atmosphere about the leaderboard. Elfie, helmed by the irascible Joe Roels, otherwise known as ‘Scrooge’ for never giving any space at the start, was the more consistent though, settling into third place after Day 1. There was more action down the fleet with some ‘coming

togethers’ and even a rafting up of three boats after the leeward gate as skippers compared tactics before realising there was still another circuit to do in the race. End of Day 1 was Middle Island at its best with a peaceful beer on the dock… at least that was


Sailing

untill a grumpy D41 arrived and started telling every one for miles around about his (now mashed) genoa. The naughty children huddled round the beer box on the pontoon trying not to notice the ‘polite’ reminder about floatation aids and life jackets left by the headmistress. Day 2 arrived with cloud, rain and some better wind and it was foul weather gear and lots and lots of floatation aids for all. Sailing out was exciting and the races were quickly underway in choppy seas and some surfing under spinnaker. D33 and D25 bravely appeared having been unable to sail on the Friday whilst a couple of others returned to base early. There are Dragon sailors who aren’t believers in helming from the rail, after all if God had meant for that to happen then Johan Anker wouldn’t have put a seat in the back!! Up at the front there was no stopping D55 who put the series to bed with three bullets. At one point in Race 4 they were rounding marks that were being moved by the Cheoy Lee and ended up doing circles and 360s until they were dizzy. They were so dominant, they still won and went on to win the next two races as as well.

action and saved the boat and the day. In the stormy action, D50 and our beloved D8 showed masterful consistency in reeling off some great finishes whilst D37 was up four places, obviously enjoying the breeze. It was a bedraggled, some-what bent, battered but unbowed fleet that retuned to Middle Island with many stories to be shared over the dock beer. Dragons are tough boats and their sailors are tough too. Note D50 happily raced with a mast sheered below deck. The final day dawned gloriously with Hong Kong monsoon conditions at their finest. Blue skies, blue seas and a light to medium breeze. In fact it turned out to be a perfect day for larvae to hatch into Dragonflies as D59 starting reeling off podium finishes. In fact D58 and D1 joined in pushing D55 to an unusual 4th in Race 7. Some of the prior days’ casualties reappeared and D33 and D38 and D26 all making very welcome reappearances and enjoying some Champagne sailing. Whereas poor D37, having survived the strong winds previously, broke the mainsail halyard and had

to retire and return mid way through the first race of the day. When the spray settled D55 had waltzed the competition but D1 and D47 had traded places until the very end. D12, D59 and D58 were all in touching distance of each other. We were so grateful to Inge and the race team, the safety RIB crews for making us feel that we were not alone in the Southern ocean on Saturday and the Dragon class officials for organising everything. Plus the amazing sponsorship from CIGP (D40) , STC Pacific (D25) Aztron (D33) , Chiliconcept (D40) and personally from Nick Bilcliffe. So there was a danger that the 2019 Class Champ would have a much-shortened year in the Champions jersey but it didn’t turn out to be much of a risk. Tam Nguyen and his crew have the Class Champs stitched up at the moment. Nevertheless motivation is very high to provide more competition at the front of the fleet and there are rumours that the third Class Champs is scheduled for 25 and 26 of December.

Individually, D47 with two seconds and D46 with one, kept some pressure. D12 was getting better and better with two third places and was going well until a snagged kite resulted in a MOB and a retirement. Other action was D51 who lost a spinnaker pole and D25 that had made such an effort to get to Middle Island for the champs. Taking on water in biblical amounts, both the pumps failed and the boat was getting lower by the minute. The buckets cracked but, given they are part of the cultured European Dragon Armada who are never knowingly caught at sea without Champagne, and fortunately had finished the bottle, they press ganged the Champagne bucket into JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Sail Training at Middle Island: Our Updated Adult Dinghy Programme W O RD S A ND PH OTO : LUKE VA N D ER K A MP

Sailing

sailed dinghies many years ago and are look to refresh their love of capsizing. Students taking further sailing will benefit from three days with the same instructor allowing them to tailor the course content to the skills and goals of the group. One Day Supervised Sailing: For those who don’t have the time to do a full course but want to get on the water sailing dinghies. Supervised Sailing takes two forms, Skill Refresher days and Distance Sail days. Distance sails normally involve a trip to either Stanley or Po Toi for lunch. Intermediate Skills: For those wishing to transition from novice dinghy sailors to advanced dinghy sailors. Formerly known as the HKSF Level 3 course, we have renamed it and extended it to six days to make it available to more sailors. Open to all sailors with at least 40+ logged dinghy sailing hours (since completing their beginner course). This course will fine tune your sailing skills and prepare you to deal with difficult situations that may arise when sailing dinghies independently. For students who already posses a HKSF Level 2 certificate, this course will qualify you for a HKSF Level 3 certificate.

W

hether you want to learn the basics, fine tune your skills or jump in to our club dinghy racing scene, the Sail Training Team at Middle Island has you covered. Recently we have updated and improved our pathways and courses to better reflect the needs and aspirations of sailors here at Middle Island. This month, we will be introducing our adult dinghy training scheme and explaining some of the key changes. What course is right for me? Beginner Sailing: This course is perfect for complete beginners to sailing. By the end of the course, students will have gained a basic competency in dinghy sailing and will qualify for the HKSF Level 2 certificate. Sailors will also then be able to hire dinghies at Middle Island and sail independently whenever they wish. Previously a five day course, we have now changed it to a six day offering. This change allows students to take a more relaxed approach to learning to sail without having to rush through the syllabus. The RHKYC Sail Training Team’s approach to learning to sail is that all students should have the time to discover the joy of being on the water without being rushed. We are also happy to announce that following a trial period in 2020, this course will now be offered in Cantonese as well as English on a regular basis. Further Sailing: Further Sailing is a course designed to help sailors consolidate or re-discover their dinghy sailing skills. Perfect for those who have completed the Beginner Sailing course and looking to get more time on the water. This course is also perfect for those who have previously

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High Performance: Spinnakers and Trapeze, excitement and exhilaration, faster and more advanced dinghies! Want to take the first step towards joining or emulating our Sharks sailors whizzing around the race course on their 29ers or 420s? This is the course for you. Similar to the 29er but more forgiving, the Laser Vago is our platform for the High Performance course. Completion of this course will put you on the approved helms list for the club’s advanced dinghies. Laser Clinic: Ben Ainslie, Xu Li Ja, Robert Scheidt, Tom Slingsby… and you! Want to sail and race an Olympic class boat sailed by some of the most famous names in the sport? The Laser clinic is a two-day introduction to the boat and will get you where you need to be to take one out and join the dinghy racing at MI. If you have any questions about joining the adult dinghy courses at RHKYC, email sailtrain@rhkyc.org.hk or call 2812 7303 How do I sign up for courses? Go to our new online booking website to see all courses and dates available: https://rhkyc.cinolla.com/rhkyc Members will have course costs billed to their club accounts and non-members will be able to pay via credit card when they enroll. When can I sign up for courses? Once the course schedule is released, Members will have a two week priority window to enroll in courses. After this, enrollments will be opened to the general public. If you wish to be notified of course schedules being released, please sign up for our mailing list here: https://tinyurl.com/RHKYClist



Rowing

Rowing with Waves, Racing with Winds W O RD S: FA N G ZH AO; EDIT ED: KEIT H CHEUN G | IM AGES: PH O EBE L EUN G

he Club throughout 2020 has been well positioned to organise regattas and events during the several waves of restrictions brought upon by the Covid-19 virus. However, we have been extremely lucky in regards to the timing of holding our coastal rowing events; with the majority of them taking place a week or two before a lockdown and closure of our sporting facilities. This includes the Around the Island Race 2020 – Coastal Rowing that took place on Sunday 15 November 2020. Challenging coastal conditions greeted the competitors on the race day morning with a large incoming tide and a strong easterly breeze making the start of the clockwise course brutal. From the first stroke at Kellett Island, rowers had to row powerfully with deep blades through the chop! Having passed Siu Sai Wan and arriving on the east coast, the fruits of a consistent surge in the monsoon came to bare with rowers needing to tackle 2.5 meter waves in addition to the side chop created by the

gusts that day. The race photographer struggled to find the crews whose boats were being thrown up to the peaks and down the valleys of the waves just as much as she struggled to keep the contents of her stomach within – it was a tough day for the volunteers too. When most boats had turned Cape D’Aguilar towards Tai Tam Bay, the competitors had now to face an out-going tide with the understanding that no records were going to be broken this year. In fact for the remainder of the race, the conditions were the opposite exact of those desired by the rowers but all crews battled on. Having come through all such suffering and struggling, both physically and mentally, rowers and their boats all successfully and safely reached to the finish line where they were greeted by a horn, applauses and hoorays from the Clubhouse. At that moment, the heart and lungs burnings, muscle pains, blisters on palms and fingers, all turned to be the trophies, medals and glories, no matter what results they eventually finished with. Having rowed and finished the Around the Island Race in 2020 is an achievement that all rowers will cherish and be proud of due to the nature of the conditions they had to face. Although this year’s race was without any overseas entries, primarily due to the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, we were excited but not surprised to still have 24 race crews with 100 rowers from local clubs! The entries included a Hong Kong Rowing Olympian, a crew from the Hong Kong Youth Rowing Squad, various universities and alumni clubs, Lantau Boat Club and of course a strong showing

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Rowing

from RHKYC. Race categories that were competed in, included coastal single (C1x), double (C2x) and quad (C4x+) and had both relay and iron opportunities.

Island Race in his outrigger canoe crew six days following. Perhaps he will compete in the Sailing event next year too!

One of the most notable categories was of course the C1x that included Club Member and Sam Kelly Award winner Anna Fisher, who became the first women to row the course in a single. Club Member Jon Davies also rowed the course in a single giving LBC’s Andrew Lawson a cracking race which resulted in a win for Lawson.

The success of this race would not have been possible without the various volunteers who assisted on the race day, including the safety team and race marshals and also the volunteers who helped to plan and organise the race in the months prior. It is also important to note the effort made by the Club rowers to row the boats required for our Club teams and others back and forth from Middle Island.

Other crews of note were the Deaf Power C4x+ that was rowed by two families and included adaptive rower Daniel Yau, his wife and daughter, and the RHKYC’s Open C2x that was rowed by James Wong and David Smith. Wong and Smith finished in second place in the rowing competition, however Smith would later go on to win the Around the

It is also important to thank the Hong Kong, China Rowing Association who as race co-organiser allowed the Club to use several of their coastal rowing boats, the Hong Kong Water Sports Council for their support and of course the event sponsor Maui Jim for the generous prizes at the event. JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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CONTACTS Rowing Manager rowingmanager@rhkyc.org.hk Coastal Rowing coastalrowing@rhkyc.org.hk Shatin Men’s Racing shatinrowingmen@rhkyc.org. hk Shatin Women’s Racing shatinrowingladies@rhkyc.org.hk

Rowing All of these were not only indispensable to the success of the Race but more importantly also demonstrated the professional and highest standard of sport and teamwork spirits of the Club! In ATIR 2020, there was zero safety accident, zero personal injury, under such dreadful race condition! Outstanding accomplishment! In addition to what has been reported by other reporters, when I asked Anna Fisher to say something to the Club fellow rowers, she commented: “I’m very happy to have completed it. And I hope that now one person has done it, maybe more will join too!” Absolutely no doubt, we are now looking forward to seeing you all, and more rowers from the world, in ATIR 2021! Around the Island Race 2020 – Coastal Rowing Timing

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Co-organiser

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Supporting Organisation

Event Sponsor

CATEGORY

CREW NAME

Women 1x Open 1x Open 1x Open 4 x+ Relay Open 4 x+ Relay Open 4 x+ Relay Open 4 x+ Relay Open 4 x+ Relay Mixed 2 x Mixed 2 x Mixed 2 x Mixed 2 x Open 2 x Open 2 x Open 2 x Open 2 x Relay Open 2 x Relay Open 2 x Relay Mixed 4 x+ Mixed 4 x+ Women 4 x+ Open 4 x+ Open 4 x+ Open 4 x+

Anna Fisher Andrew Lawson Jon Davies RHKYC – Mixed Relay 4x+ Kronos Galaxy 5 Velocity HKU Lightspeed Double Trouble RHKYC – Wan & Winky 2.0 LBC mixed Les Keikei Lok Tsui Rowing Club Keep Hammering CUHK rowing team LBC Relay RHKYC – 4SM.2 Ferrari 20 #Beast Rowability 醫療艇

RHKYC A HKU Alpha Ramrods

BOW NUMBER

RACE TIME

RESULT

101 103 102 410 412 411 413 414 204 202 203 201 207 206 205 210 208 209 415 416 417 419 420 418

6:44:59 4:37:47 4:47:20 5:04:20 5:13:38 5:30:54 5:46:20 6:27:00 4:16:09 4:54:09 5:02:23 6:09:01 4:29:17 4:47:20 5:00:54 4:47:21 4:58:02 6:17:56 4:05:39 6:07:12 6:20:14 4:05:26 4:29:47 4:36:28

1 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 2 3


Rowing

Tumultuous seas greet ATIR like the challenging 2020 season

OUTRIGGER CONTACT outrigger@rhkyc.org.hk

W O RD S: CHRISTIN A PA RK A ND RHK YC O C C RE W C O L L EC TIV E | PH OTO S: STA NL E Y L A M A ND WA L LIS CH A N

he Around the Island Race is the flagship race that allows RHKYC to not only showcase our beautiful Hong Kong waters and Club grounds but also an opportunity for crews to battle fierce teams from all over the world. Each summer, paddlers arrive ready to train with crews and invest the sweat equity necessary for the season. The high felt from reaping the months of hard work is what keeps us coming back year after year. However in 2020, an unforeseen curveball was tossed our way that was unanticipated – a global pandemic prevented us from training together on and off the waters. As the majority of the season’s races were cancelled and Club entry was limited at times, it seemed unlikely that ATIR would be able to go ahead. Much like 2020, these unusual circumstances created enormous challenges for all. Captains, coaches and the OCSC committee worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the team safe and adapted training regimens to social distancing guidelines. Volunteers stayed flexible and agile to the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape to accommodate paddlers of all experiences and journeys. Thanks to our amazing volunteers and organisers, we were blessed to be able to host ATIR despite all headwinds, grow the OC chapter with a record number with 70 regular paddlers and achieve many new milestones.

number of five crews for the Mixed and Open Category* and delivered a clean win across both Unlimited categories.** Crews had a mere few weeks to train together, rather than having the usual four months without any local races to blend and fine-tune the chemistry in the boat. On race day, we had record 3m swells that were the biggest seen in years, which posed another challenge and excitement for all crews. Here are the accounts from the RHKYC crews and paddlers, representing the club and sharing their experiences from this year’s race. Team Hokulani, Mixed Unlimited Category Winner, Time – 4:10:09 While ordinarily the RHKYC Paddling Section fields Women’s and Open crews for the biggest races on our calendar, 2020 has been different. With a training season shortened by COVID restrictions, we found ourselves the only club in a position to field an all-women’s crew.

Unlike previous ATIRs, all international crews were unable to participate this year and with a smaller group of participants, there were not enough registrants to continue a Women’s category. This meant that rather than having the Women’s crew race in the morning and Open and Mixed category in the afternoon, we had one race start (with three staggered start times) for all 17 crews making a much more exciting race for all. The blessing in disguise was that RHKYC was able to submit a record JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Rowing Rather than enter and ‘race’ unopposed, our captains came together to successfully field three strong mixed crews, along with our champion men’s crew. This took us out of our comfort zone as paddlers. Instead of at least one or two years of paddling with each other, our new mixed race crews only had weeks to achieve the same symmetry and timing that results in a smooth glide and, ultimately, speed. We rose to the occasion and reaped the benefits. Against this background, Team Hokolani is a shining example of what can be achieved when a group comes together with open minds, positivism, collective support for each other, individual fitness and the mantra ‘ have fun’. While it was our first time paddling together we were already linked together by our shared fantastic coaching team, a love of surfing in our OC1s and dedication to each other and to the task at hand. This dedication shone through in great attendance at practices and everyone backed each other up as we got used to unfamiliar paddles and strokes and new seating combinations. Our collective goals for the race were to win, to set a new course record and to have a blast. We achieved all these goals and more. It truly was a great experience to get to complete this race this year. Our great team spirit carried on throughout the race, and we truly had a blast. We also know that, compared to others involved in this race, we had the easy, fun part. As other organisers found themselves having to cancel and postpone the race, we reaped the benefits of having an incredible organising team, who undertook to press ahead with planning a race, despite knowing they may have to pull the plug at any time. As such, on behalf of Team Hokolani and all ATIR paddlers, we say ‘thank you, thank you, thank you’ to Nick Crabb, Henrik Tornell, Niall Westley, Chris Tickle, Adrian Mowat and all those at RHKYC who undertook the seemingly impossible task of ensuring we could race around the island this year. Crew: Erin Juhl, Cesca Zino Roper, Sarah Wilson, Martina Redaelli, Stephanie Tovoli(C), Gianni Aprea, Ryan Cheung, Julien Stump, Rod Ho, Nick Crabb Crew Support: Willis Lee

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Team Maka Koa, Mixed Unlimited Category 1st Runner-up Time – 4:19:50 Maka Koa in Hawaiian means Bold and Fierce and the team name is a good representation of the spirit of the crew. The team embodied an easy, breezy and friendly spirit off water and a competitive spirit on the water. Unlike previous seasons, we only had a few weeks to train but each paddler quickly put their individual life priorities aside in favour of the greater team. Our goal was to deliver a competitive race against our target, Team Hokulani, and break the course record of 4 hours and 13 mins. The Start Crew warmed up to behind Middle Island and we calmed our breathing as we eyed up our competitors. Surfing the small bumps along the surface of the water, we had a fantastic start and the crew battled neck-and-neck with Team Hokulani for the first 8km of the race. With the encouraging seat three caller Alex shouting “NIIIIICE!” we reached deeper and harder to deliver our individual best for the team. A unique offering of ATIR is the diversity of water, winds and swell for each section of the Hong Kong island course. The western leg from Middle Island to Green Island provided us opportunities to take advantage of the little surfs while the North Leg of the course from


Green Island to Cape Collinson via Kellet Island is a steering challenge to avoid ferry lines while battling bouncy waters from all angles. With record high swells and winds greater than force 4 this year, the Eastern course passing Shek O and Cape D’Aguilar were particularly demanding. Big roller waves challenged the support boat to stay upright and forced the crew to abort our originally planned sea changes in favour of survival.

Crew: Clare Baldwin, Elena Kucherenko, Charlie Lam, Fernanda Latorre, Yan Yan Li, Isabel Fueyo Sanchez, Wallis Chan, Florian Neto, John Trotter, Ken Wong Crew Support: Courtney Dettrich Team Hokule’a, Open Unlimited Category Winner, Men’s crew Time – 3:53:49

Rowing

Similar to the challenges we all experienced in 2020, Maka Koa faced the wind, the waves and the currents which ultimately prevented us from beating the course record. However, with a race time of 4 hours and 19 mins, we proudly delivered a first and second podium finish for the club and created some fantastic memories along the way. Despite the aches, pains and injuries, the adrenaline rushing and heart bumping sport has us starting our countdown to the 2021 season and ATIR. Special thanks to our captains, coach and amazing support team Deanne Young and Kwok-Zu Lim for keeping us ‘afloat’.

that was awesome”, “I’d totally do ATIR in that water again”.

Crew: Sarah Burke, Alice Page, Julie Miller, Emma Gould, Christina Park, Barney Riggs (C), Johnny Hanson, Alex Miranda, Andrew Simmonds, Ryan Whelan Crew Support: Deanne Young, Kwok-Zu Lim Team Eh Leu, Mixed Unlimited Category, Rookie crew Time – 5:21:26

The crew for Eh Leu was a bit of a last minute composition – assembled only 3 weeks before the race and consisted of several members fairly new to OC paddling. In fact, of the eight paddlers (non-steers) in the crew, five were doing ATIR for the first time. What we lacked in experience, however, we more than made up for with enthusiasm and the amazing support from our captains and coaches, so we squeezed in as many training sessions as we could to practice not only paddling together but other long-course OC essentials such as sea changes, who was best in each seat position, what ‘calls’ worked best and how to handle a huli*** in race conditions. A lot to learn in a short space of time before taking on a 42km paddle round Hong Kong island – I did mention this crew were keen, right? All of this practice was to prove invaluable! The race itself was a brilliant battle against the elements for the whole crew. It quickly became clear that in the epic conditions our three main goals were to a) complete the race; b) have fun and learn from doing it; and c) not huli. As the song goes “two out of three ain’t bad” and we decided it would be a good idea to practice the slowest of slow-motion hulis in the 4m swells of Shek O! Who mentioned ‘having fun’ again? The rough conditions continued but the crew dug deep and paddled strongly, brilliantly steered round the entire course and with the best encouragement from the support boat including several songs and even a Tom Cruise impression! The best way to really sum up the overall experience and also what it’s like being part of the OC section in RHKYC is to directly quote a few of the crew members. “What an amazing experience”, “To get to the finish line – how cool it felt to see all our club mates waiting and cheering us,

After a crazy season with on and off training, the Open (Mens) Unlimited Crew came together and with a focus on refinement and blend leading up to the race. Following the coaching program through the year and building the culture, were ready to attack the race. The crew was a combination of experienced and newer paddlers. As one messaged “Thanks to our elder statesmen this season. This win is a culmination of many years of hard work, but through your guidance, leadership, teachings, and camaraderie have brought up many to create a deep bench”. We battled with the VRC Open Unlimited crew for the first 21km of the race, while remaining ahead of them. Then, we really hit our ‘feeling’ out of Kellet Island (despite departing 30 seconds late) and leveraged the change chart and race strategy with power and experience in the rough. An experienced paddler called the race “a technical and teamwork master class” while our newest paddler shared “I sat behind the Beast for the majority of the race and all I could see was a wall of muscle. With my view from the outside world cut off, I accepted the darkness and got comfortable with the pain”. The biggest challenge came from Shek O to Cape D’Aguilar in big swells, which the crew handled well extending the lead further. With downwind surfing, we went on to finish over 5 minutes ahead of the VRC crew and took the honours. As our most experienced member put it “ATIR this year was big in every way. Huge conditions, big hearts, and an epic finish! I’m proud to be part of the first Men’s Unlimited win since 2014. You rock boys!” We were honoured to be part of the team that came together to be awesome, paddled with passion and ‘feelings’ and took the win for 2020. Crew: Jeremy ‘Peperu’ Young (C), John ‘Squirrel’ McLennan, Inigo ‘Bull’ Sanchez Arrotegui, Ryan ‘Machine’ Lopes, Brian ‘Beast’ Bigos, Dave ‘Terminator’ Smith, Daniele ‘Ferrari’ Ferraretto, Doug ‘Dolphin’ Woodring, Hamish ‘Hammer’ McNicol. Crew Support: Brian ‘Grunt’ Henderson, Zach ‘Maaate’ Tuckwell Team Uhane, Open Standard Category, Men’s crew Time – 5:14:44 There comes a point during longer distance races, of any sport, when one’s muscles are packed with lactic acid, where the back hurts and technique drops off subconsciously. Training, team spirit, and fierce determination kick-in to carry one on. Of the challenges that we faced over the 42 km race, having our heavier Standard OC-6 flipped (also known as a ‘Huli’) by a 4m swell was the most formidable. JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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We had gelled as a team during the previous few weeks; the veterans and the upstarts, the leads, callers, and steers all getting to know each other, but more importantly, knowing how we paddled and how we raced. But in that most dramatic moment, none of this mattered. The frothing mass of the swell launched the Ama up sharply, and we collectively lurched left to try and counter the rotation. Paddles and arms swung violently, but it was too late: we were locked in and we were going under. The cold submergence snapped reality back; hold your breath, unzip the skirts, keep a grip on your paddle, and swim out from under the boat. Chaos reigned on the surface as we all worked to right the boat amidst the rolling waves and wind. With the captain ably directing, and a herculean effort, we managed to right the swamped canoe and then to finish the race. For the six members who had just completed their first ATIR, it was an unforgettable day! We are all in for next year! Crew: Kam Fung, Carlos Vilchez (C), Luis Segovilla, Stephen Alley, Jess Knebel, Rob Serjeant, Simon Bourke, Justin Wong, Ross Mline Crew Support: Rae Strachan, Angel Baca This season, the RHKYC OC chapter has almost doubled in size from 40 to 70 core paddlers, who trained three to five times a week. This was made possible with our impressive fleet of 8 OC6 boats and several small crafts. Over the years, the club has risen to become the best Outrigger club in Hong Kong in terms of performance, breath of talent, quality of coaching and our amazing fleet. This truly is a testament to all the leadership and hard work shared by many, and above all, a testament to the love for the water and sport that unites us. The OC chapter would like to take this opportunity to thank the various committees and the Club for the support in growing this fantastic sport. We look forward to continuing to conquer the Hong Kong waters and also make a splash into the International race scene to represent the club.

Supporting Organisation

Event Sponsor

FOOTNOTES *Mixed and Open Category: Mixed crews must have 5 men and 5 women and Open crews have the flexibility to include women or race as a men’s crew. **Unlimited category has no weight restrictions. Boats are made of a ultralight carbon fibre material and weigh approximately 145lbs. Standard category pay homage to the traditional wooden canoes and are made with wood Koa or fibreglass. The Standard must not weigh less than 400lbs.

boat2u@gmail.com 34

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www.boat2u.com +852-25523557

***Huli: An OC term when the boat flips upside down and paddlers fall into the water. To recover from a Huli, paddlers must fight wind and waves to upright the boat and hop back into the boat to bail water and continue to paddle.


Middle Island Masters Rowing Championship 2020 W O RD S: H A MISH KIN G | IM AGES: J O CELY NN CHU A ND JUL ES FISHER

Rowing

he Club welcomed a Masters race in the narrow channel from Deepwater Bay to Middle Island for the Middle Island Masters Rowing event on 29 November 2020. Races were held on a time-trial basis with crews setting off individually every 15-30 seconds in an impressively tight schedule of which any staff-sergeant would be proud, thanks to volunteer James Wong’s meticulous crafting. There were only a few confusions about boat-swapping and numbering, which is impressive given there were over 100 boats started! Because there were only a small number of boats, most had to be used multiple times with quick changeovers on Middle Island beach. Once rowers were onboard, they had one warm-up line to the starting line which was capably manned by Ben Rowe, while Nick Crabb and various volunteers manned safety ribs along the course. As a Masters race, there is varying time handicaps depending on your age category with category A for ages 27-35, category B for ages 36-42, etc. We had some rowers edging up into Category G (age 65-70, we won’t name names) or higher, which goes to show that rowing is a sport for life. There was strong racing by a number of individuals who have taken advantage of their Covid-enforced time in Hong Kong to train hard. Aleksey Mironenko impressed in the single scull with the fastest time over the line of 95.6 seconds and won the age-adjusted 1st place, beating Guy Parsonage by a whisker. Ever-poised Alex Bidlake won the female single with Dani. De St Jorre taking 2nd place. Ng Kong Wan and Chiu Hin Chun blitzed the field in their men’s double with Michael Johnson and Steve Coats in 2nd place age-adjusted, whilst

Map courtesy of Google Earth, with warm-up line in blue and racecourse in red

the elder statemen Ian Brownlee and Chris Hanselman came in 3rd. Alex Bidlake and Irene Lo finished first in the ladies double, ahead of Marianne Kolding and Rachel Humpreys. Fastest time across the line on the day was the mixed quad of Mark Hughes, Mark Welles, Alex Bidlake and Francesca Zino in 85.6 seconds, age-adjusted to 80.6. Big thanks go to Thuan Tran for his timekeeping skills and for accurately juggling the quick succession of races. Cautious of increasing Covid restrictions, competitors were careful with face-masking and social distancing but still found time for a celebratory drink at the Middle Island Clubhouse afterwards. Congratulations to organisers, particularly Marcel Chambers, James Wong and Anna Fisher, as well as all the volunteers without whom such fun events can’t take place. JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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MI Masters 2020 – RESULTS Event

Rowing

M1x Michael Johnson Fang Zhao Aleksey Mironenko Richard Wilson Andrea Tomassi Geoff Booth Gareth Hart W1x Alex Bidlake Isa Scheunpflug Irene Lo Novice M2x Jimmy Chan William Lyon Andy Peebles Andy Humphreys M2x Ian Brownlee Chris Hanselman Chiu Hin Chun Ng Kong Wan Michael Johnson Steve Coats Andrea Tomassi Andrew Lawson Liam Baker Chris Knollman Fang ZHAO Wesley Skow W2x Anna Fisher Michelle Fry Alex Bidlake Irene Lo Marianne Kolding Rachel Humpreys Lisa Williams Chi wai Song Novice W2x Carla Lamb Charlotte Bradshaw Marjorie Tan Sen Daley MIXED 2x Estelle Davies Bernard Chow Rachel Humpreys Andrea Tomassi Geoff Booth Marina Ros Anna Fisher Michael Johnson

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Time (seconds)

2k Handicap (seconds)

Age Adjusted Time (seconds)

106 118.8 95.6 98.7 104.5 119 100.3

28.9 35.9 4 0.8 22.9 79.9 19.9

98.775 109.825 94.6 98.5 98.775 99.025 95.325

106.9 118 120.6

12.4 26.9 6.4

103.8 111.275 119

139.1

28.9

131.875

134.4

5.2

133.1

B

105.7

71.9

87.725

G

87.2

5.2

85.9

94.6

30.9

86.875

D

97

16.9

92.775

C

94.2

2.4

93.6

A

104.9

38.9

95.175

E

105.6

0.8

105.4

A

105.9

8.8

103.7

110.2

26.9

103.475

D

130.9

19.9

125.925

C

126.7

1.6

126.3

A

119.3

19.9

114.325

111.3

15.4

107.45

C

101.7

22.9

95.975

D

114.3

67.9

97.325

F

95.6

| JANUARY 2021 AHOY!

10

93.1

Time Adjused Ranking

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

Age Category Ranking

D E B A D G C C D B D

B

B

C

B

Event

MIXED NOVICE W2x Gareth Hart Chi wai Song M4x+ Ng Kong Wan Chiu Hin Chun Lam San Tung Matt O’Callagan Mark Welles Michael Johnson Chris Hanselman Ian Brownlee Guy Parsonage Mark Hughes Chris Knollman Liam Baker Paul Kidman Mark Saveli Cedric Podevin Luke McGinnetty Marcel Chambers Michael Johnson Hamish King Ng Kong Wan W4x+ Melissa Russell Katy Dhupelia Michelle Farrell Alex Mihos Marina Ros Chi wai Song Marjorie Tan Sen Daley Marianne Kolding Lisa Williams Estelle Davies Jasmine Monteil Isa Scheunpflug Anna Fisher Michelle Fry Hui Wing Ki MIXED 4x+ Hui Wing Ki Ng Kong Wan Chiu Hin Chun Isa Scheunpflug Rachel Humpreys Jasmine Monteil Andrea Tomassi Andrew Lawson Mark Hughes Mark Welles Alex Bidlake Francesca Zino

Time (seconds)

2k Handicap (seconds)

Age Adjusted Time (seconds)

Time Adjused Ranking

107

19.9

102.025

85.9

2.4

85.3

A

97.7

51.9

84.725

F

88.4

8.8

86.2

B

110.5

32.9

102.275

E

87.3

15.4

83.45

C

WINNER

Age Category Ranking

C

WINNER

110.4

6.4

108.8

B

115.4

24.9

109.175

D

106.4

18.4

101.8

C

99.7

1.6

99.3

A WINNER

94.6

7.6

92.7

B

99.5

16.9

95.275

D

85.6

19.9

80.625

C WINNER


ROWING AND PADDLE SPORTS TRAINING

http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/RowingSection.aspx www.facebook.com/RHKYCRowingSection/

Rowing Training 賽艇訓練 YOUTH ROWING (AGE 12 TO 18) COURSE TITLE

COURSE DATES

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Youth Development Programme 青少年賽艇發展計劃

Weekend AM and Weekday PM

Time: Weekend AM and Weekday PM Content: Improving boat maneuver skills and enjoying recreational rowing; Introduction to high-performance fine rowing boats, and preparation towards local and overseas races Location: Middle Island, Shek Mun Rowing Centre, and Kellett Island

Private Coaching

Any available time

Content: Tailored course with specific requirements, for complete beginner or intermediate or high-performance rower Time: two 90-mins sessions Class: 1-to-1 coaching, two students maximum

私人課程

ADULT ROWING (AGE 18 OR ABOVE) COURSE TITLE

COURSE DATES

COURSE DESCRIPTION

[Level 1] Weekend Introduction Course #2021/AR1

23 to 24 January

[Level 1] Weekend Introduction Course #2021/AR2

27 to 28 February

Time: 1300 to 1530hrs Content: Introduction to the sports and boathouse, basic techniques and safety guidelines Location: Middle Island Class: 3 to 6 students per class

[Level 1] Weekend Introduction Course #2021/AR3

27 to 28 March

[Level 2] Intermediate Skills

Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

Time: Thursday, Thursday and Sunday; 1000hrs to 1200hrs Content: A total of eight weeks for improving boat maneuver skills and fitness with self practice time and crew boat experience under coach supervision Location: Middle Island

[Level 3 to 5] Rowing Training

Weekday and Weekend

Target rowers: Graduates from Level 2; or Experienced Rowers (Scull / Sweep) Content: Train with club crews, experience the real club crew environment, and train towards intermediate and long term goals Location: Middle Island, Kellett Island and Shek Mun Rowing Centre

Private Coaching

Any available time Time: two 90-mins sessions Content: Tailored course with specific requirements, for complete beginner or intermediate or high-performance rower Class: 1-to-1 coaching, two students maximum

成人賽艇初級訓練班 #2021/AR1

成人賽艇初級訓練班 #2021/AR2

成人賽艇初級訓練班 #2021/AR3

成人賽艇技術課程

成人賽艇訓練

私人課程

JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

37

Rowing

General Enquiries: rowing.manager@rhkyc.org.hk or 2239 0322 Rowing and Paddle Sports Manager Nick Crabb Rowing and Paddle Sports Assistant Manager Ellen Leung Head Rowing Coach Ben Rowe Rowing Coach Keith Cheung Rowing Coach Chris de Kock Paddle Sports Coach Melissa Davis


Where Does Your Food Waste Go? Sustainability Really Matters f the 11,428 tonnes of municipal solid waste landfilled each day in 2018 in Hong Kong, some 3,565 tonnes (or 31%) comprised food waste! In line with its sustainability policy to minimise (and support new technologies that minimise) its environmental footprint, the Club has adopted a multi-pronged approach to reducing, reusing and recycling its food waste. Reduce. Members now have options to order ‘medium’ sized portions of certain popular dishes to minimise the potential for food waste. That said, given the increase in portion and plate sizes across the developed countries over the years, perhaps a mind-shift is needed towards consuming just the right amount of food, rather than supersized portions. The F&B team has also downsized menus and eliminated dishes that are rarely ordered to address the problem of unused ingredients. Reuse. The Club is a partner of Foodlink Foundation – a registered Hong Kong charity dedicated to fighting hunger, building self-sufficiency, and fostering nutritional wellness among those in need. The Club participates in Foodlink’s Hot Food Program and Banquet Program by keeping surplus food refrigerated until collection by Foodlink where it is then re-heated and served on-site to those in need. In total, our donations to Foodlink over the past two years translated to an average of 50 meals a month for its beneficiaries. Recycle. As it turns out, we cannot turn water into wine but we can turn food waste into water. The kitchens at the Kellett clubhouse are running a trial of an ORCA machine which converts food waste (pretty much everything other than ribs from tomahawk steak cuts) into liquid using ORCA’s proprietary microbial mixtures. The liquid can be safely discharged into the Club’s existing plumbing, saving the original food waste a trip to the landfill. The trial machine digest 13kg of food waste per hour and is being used approximately 12 hours a day. That’s over 4000 kg of food waste a month! Food is expensive. Beyond the sticker price to the consumer, food production typically involves deforestation, the use of fertilisers and pesticides and the consumption of fossil fuels in transportation, so please be aware of the food cycle and eat mindfully and consciously.

38

| JANUARY 2021 AHOY!


Club Mark Laying Boats

Noel Croucher was built in 1975 in the UK and was fitted with a Ford Lehman engine of about 125 horse power. She is 32 feet long and 11 feet six inches wide. The Aquastar company is still in business today although they are now located in Guernsey and build motor yachts. The Noel Croucher has been re-engined at least twice. The present John Deere engine was installed in 2007. The Noel Croucher is based in Middle Island.

Marine

embers will be well acquainted with the Clubs motor boats that they see out on the race course. These craft are used mainly for mark laying and as secondary committee boats. We have four Cheoy Lee 28 feet open cockpit launches; named M63, M64, M65 and M66; one Cheoy Lee 28 covered launch, Kellett VII and the Noel Croucher, an Aqua Star fishing vessel.

Noel Croucher

Kellett VII

M66

Builders plate of Noel Croucher

The Club purchased the M64, M65 and M66 from Cheoy Lee Shipyards in 1984. The M63 was purchased in 1986. The craft are 28 feet three inches in length and 9 feet six inches wide. These vessels were originally fitted with a Sabre 120 hp engines and cost $159,500.00 each. All four craft were re-engined between 2002 and 2007 with larger engines so that they could achieve 17 knots. This made it easier to get to the other end of the race course to move the marks. The M boats are all based at Kellett Island. Kellett VII is also a Cheoy Lee but she was built in 1992 at a cost of $1,300,000 for Hebe Haven and named the Kam Loong. She is 28 feet three inches in length and 9 feet six inches wide which is the same hull as the M boats. She is fitted with a Perkins 120 horse power engine and this engine is still in the vessel. The Club purchased her in 1995 and she is based in Shelter Cove. As members will note these vessels are becoming Grand Old Dames, especially the Noel Croucher, and therefore the Marine Committee are in the process of sourcing replacement vessels to take over their role as mark layers, committee boats and as store boats to operate between Kellett Island and Middle Island. A specific has been drawn up and quotations have been asked for from various boatbuilders. Watch this spot for further developments. Happy Boating.

Builders certificate for M65 JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

39


Ship Shop

Harken 29mm Fly Block

Marine

727 Sailbags The Midinette – Vendée Globe Iconic bag Le Vendee Globe race is the only non-stop, solo yacht race around the world without assistance. In this dedicated collection, you will find a selection of 727 Sailbags iconic bags made with sails that competed in the previous editions of this extraordinary event. The Vendée Globe Midinette is made from 100% recycled sails. The Midinette is a small pouch that holds all your day-to-day items. Like all clutches, you carry it in your hand. It can be used as a toiletry bag or as a travel accessory!

Harken soft-attach Fly blocks are designed to provide strength without mass, providing sailors with big power in a low-aero package. Designed specifically for high-tech line, these efficient blocks have an incredible working load for their small size. Fly blocks are perfect for use on foiling dinghies and sportboats and for vang cascades and backstay systems on Grand-Prix racers. 29 mm blocks feature a one-piece titanium outer race/sheave, stainless steel ball bearings and inner race, and composite fiber-reinforced sideplates.

$1,190

$630

Star brite Ultimate Aluminum Polish 16oz Star brite Ultimate Aluminum Polish maintains the beauty of new and restored aluminum and is ideal for all unpainted aluminum surfaces.

$150

RYA Foiling Book G110 The growth of foiling is the most exciting thing to happen to dinghy sailing and windsurfing in recent years. As well as specialist foiling boats and boards, conversion kits have brought fast, flying fun to sailors seeking speed. The RYA has launched the SAILfoiling and WINDfoiling courses to enable you to learn how to take part safely in this exciting activity, and this book is the official supporting text to the RYA’s Foiling courses and will help you progress by focusing on the fundamentals of foiling. It outlines the key skills required for both SAILfoiling and WINDfoiling with first half of the book dealing with foiling equipment, control systems and set up as well as launching, leaving, returning and landing. It then goes on to explain how to help readers get started with their first flights and once that’s mastered that there are more tips to aid sustained flight. There is also some incredibly useful information to help finesse tacking and gybing. The only book to cover foiling for both sailors and windsurfers, RYA Foiling will get you ready for take-off!

$120 40

| JANUARY 2021 AHOY!

Marine Business Non Slip Mat The non-slip mat is made of high quality carpet that is ultra-resistant to the sun’s rays. Greet your guests with the security that they will not fall, thanks to this nautical article’s non-slip base.

$390


Sail Racing Salinity Sweater with RHKYC Logo

Sail Racing HKRW Tee

Salinity Sweater made in 100% cotton loose terry, heavy washed look. Sail Racing woven bloc logo label at chest and inverted tonal print at sleeve. Bottom and sleeve hem in folded shell fabric. with RHKYC Logo.

$730

Marine

$290 to $340

Zhik Juniors Neo Spandex Pants Our junior’s performance range is made to support our upcoming Olympians and World Champions with the most comfortable materials and design on the market. Incorporating cutting edge material technology and features taken from our adult range and proven to excel. The junior’s neo pant provides a stretchy lightweight bottom for warm and cool conditions with a durable and padded seat panel.

$560

Maui Jim Big Wave Polarized Sunglasses Enjoy more time Sailing, kayaking, paddling, or kiteboarding with highperformance water sports sunglasses. Our patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technology combines powerful polarised lenses with treatments to enhance time on the water—oil proofing, waterproofing, and a CLEARSHELL® protective finish all protect against scratches. These specialized sunglasses eliminate glare off the surface of the water, block 100% of harmful UV rays, and even protect the skin around your eyes.

All PolarizedPlus2 sunglasses provide unparalleled colour enhancement and contrast for a most beautiful day doing your favorite water-based activities. See every detail in the waves and experience vibrant hues with premium sunglasses from this high-tech collection. Protected eyes mean less fatigue, so you can stay on the water as long as you like. The view’s better from here.

$2,060

Call David in the Ship Shop on

2239 0336 or email shipshop@rhkyc.org.hk JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

41


BOAT BUILDERS

REGATTA YACHTS LTD

MARINE PRODUCTS

CARS

Marine

93 Che Keng Tuk Road Sai Kung, Hong Kong T: (852) 2791 4106 E: info@pierceymarine.com www.pierceymarine.com

Builder and repairers of pleasure boats, fibreglass and woodwork specialists, riggers, fitters, metal workers, painters and all kinds of marine work. Slipway available.

BOATS SUNSEEKER ASIA LTD No. 19 Po Chong Wan Shum Wan Road Aberdeen, Hong Kong T: 3105 9693 F: 2580 1769 gordon@pinecrest.com.hk office@sunseeker.com.hk www.sunseeker.com www.sunseekerasia.com.hk

Contact: EVA WONG Email: regattayachtsltd@gmail.com Tel: 2719 8875 Fax: 2358 0621 Lot 491 DD 210 Hebe Haven, Sai Kung

SUNSEEKER

New Territories

GRAPHICS BOAT CHARTER

Hong Kong Catamaran Club Ltd 香港雙體船會 www.cata.hk

TRAINING

RONSIL DEVELOPMENT LTD Unit 702-703 7/F, Cheung Tat Centre No.18 Cheung Lee Street Chaiwan Hong Kong T: 2834 1633 F: 2834 0201 ronsil@netvigator.com BOAT NAMES / LOGOS / NUMBERS

Jeanneau SO44I

MARINE PRODUCTS

Beneteau 34

STORM FORCE MARINE LTD Posillipo Technema 52

Scape 39 Catamaran

Yacht Charter – Hourly, Daily

時租 意大利遊艇 法國風帆 (單、雙體) with chartered license + insurance + licensed crew 婚紗攝影;公私聚會;維港遊、海鮮宴、環島遊;私人練船

• Italy San Lorenzo 57ft deluxe yacht for 39 p • Italy Posillipo Technema 52ft deluxe yacht for 30 p • South Africa Scape 39 ft Catamaran for 37 p • French Jeanneau SO44i for 13 p • French Beneteau First 40.7 for 10 p • Beneteau Oceanis 34 for 6 p • Beneteau First 21.7 for 4 p

Team Building 團隊訓練 ASA Worldwide Recognized Bareboat Charter Certification 25119398

Charter@cata.hk 42

| JANUARY 2021 AHOY!

+852 53135542

hkcata

601 Sunbeam Centre, 27 Shing Yip Street Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Contact: Simon Boyde T: 2866 0114 M: 9031 2555 sales@stormforcemarine.com www.stormforcemarine.com MARINE PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTER AND CHANDLERY

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REACHING THE BOATING COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG? ...then Ahoy! should be your choice. If you are interested please email ahoy@rhkyc.org.hk or contact the PR Department on 2239 0307 or 2239 0312


Other Sports As you know, it has been a very difficult year. With 100% of the Hong Kong golfing population stuck in Hong Kong, getting bookings at Kai Sau Chau has been very difficult. Hence the limited number of matches that we have been able to play. That said, we have participated in two competitions recently. One match against the Ladies Recreation Club (LRC) and the Hong Kong Golf Societies par-3 competition at Clearwater Bay Country Club. In anticipation of being able to play more golf next year, Chris and I have attended the new members briefings to promote the RHKYC non-core sport of golf. We look forward to welcoming new members! Renewal of the KGS membership takes place in January. W O RD S: PAT RICK SHERRIF F | IM AGES: PAT RI CK SHERRIF F / SIM O N W O N G / VA N CE L EE

Match report for the KGS versus LRC 30 Sep 2020 Despite the threat of rain (Black rain storm warning), the weather conditions for the match were absolutely perfect. We were able to field 12 players for the match which was a four ball better ball matchplay competition.

KGS and LRC teams

half a point. Many thanks to the LRC for their invitation and organisation. Special thanks to our Commodores brother-in-law, Vance Lee, for his input as well. Our only member to win a prize was Simon Wong. He won a closest to the pin. Congratulations. Simon Wong accepting the Annie Cup from Vance Lee

The LRC employed a golfing app which gave real-time scores for the competition. It was a closely fought match with lots of good humour! Some memorable shots too. Simon Wong’s was exceptional. It certainly saved our match and probably the competition. He thinned a Greenside pitch shot with the ball destined for the South China Sea but, remarkably, the ball hit the flag of the pin and landed 1 foot from the hole! In the end, The KGS ended up winning the Annie cup for the second year by a margin of

mentioned! Gentlemen, well done for making the 7 am Tee off time! Chris and I look forward to seeing you next year to celebrate the end of 2020 and the start of 2021.

Many thanks to all the KGS players and congratulations to all. Hong Kong Golf Societies Par 3 Cup Clearwater Bay Country Club. 30 Oct 2020 The KGS was able to field one team of four players for this event. The team captain was Andrew Wong. They did a great job of arriving at Clearwater Bay on time for a 7 am start. We had eight players enrolled for the competition but in view of the early start, one flight of four players was entered. Unfortunately the team was unable to stay for the prize-giving which started at 6 pm. The results were made public several days after the event but we were not

KGS team. David Lee, Andrew Wong, Patrick Pender, Eugine Li JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

43


Information correct at time of print. For the most up to date information please contact the Club

PRE-DINNER TASTING Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs ‘Pure’ NV

Events | Promotions

Monthly ‘Wine Dinner Table’ Each month in the Steakhouse, we’ll feature a specially selected wine for a wine club table. Only one exclusive table will be available per night with advance booking required. In January, we’re featuring ‘Domaines Albert Bichot Grands Vins de Bourgogne’. Come and enjoy a wine-pairing night available at $1,388 per person for a booking of 6 persons or $1,588 per persons for a booking or 4 to 5 persons. Note that the minimum booking is 4 people.

MENU AND WINES Hokkaido Scallop Carpaccio with Black Quinoa, Razor Clam and Oscietra Caviar, Peach Foam Albert Bichot, Domaine Long-Depaquit Chablis 1er Cru ‘Les Vaillons’ 2017 [AT94] ❧ ❧ ❧ Char-grilled US New York Strip, Caramelised Fig, Chimichurri Albert Bichot, Domaine du Pavilion Pommard ‘Clos des Ursulines’ Monopoly 2014 ❧ ❧ ❧ Roast Duroc Pork Chop, Duck Liver, Ratatouille, Blue Cheese Sauce Albert Bichot Nuits-Saint-Georges 2014 ❧ ❧ ❧ M5 Stockyard Wagyu Rib Eye Steak, Black Truffle Gavy or Grilled Boston Lobster, Wild Mushroom and Sweet Pepper, Garlic Butter Sauce Albert Bichot, Domaine du Clos Frantin Gevrey Chambertin ‘Les Murots’ 2017 ❧ ❧ ❧ Cherries Jubilee, Vanilla Ice-cream Albert Bichot Crème de Cassis De Dijon ❧ ❧ ❧ Freshly Brewed Coffee or Gourmet Tea Vegetarian Menu available upon request.

Feng Shui Master with Briefing on Year of the Ox Regatta Room | 30 January 2021 | 1300 to 1600hrs Come and join us if you are excited to know more about what lies in store in the Year of the Ox from our invited Feng Shui Master! Feng Shui is written as “wind and water” in Chinese. The term refers to geomancy, but encompasses geography, astronomy, astrology and meteorology. The theory stems from a holistic philosophy that views total connectivity of everything in this universe – from the date and time of your birth to the orientation of space which affects the flow of your qi (electromagnetic energy). Master Zhong Yong Han has been learning Feng Shiu since childhood with the family earning a living with Feng Shiu for generations. As a MBA and member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, Master Zhong is an expert in housing management. He deeply felt that the property environment where people live or do activities is closely related to people’s physical and mental health and development. Combining his studies, Master Zhong is now a tutor at Wisdoms World and famous for teaching Feng Shui from a scientific perspective and popular among students. HK$328 per person with Chinese Dim Sum and Tea served during the class. For reservations, please contact the Banquet Team on 2239 0339 / 2239 0327 or email banquet@rhkyc.org.hk

44

| JANUARY 2021 AHOY!

January Event Guide Sichuan Night Regatta Room Friday 22 January 1900hrs to 2130hrs $388 per person Enjoy a variety of Sichuan specialties with family and friends at the Regatta Room!

Antipasti and Pasta Night Regatta Room | Saturday 23 January | 1900hrs to 2130hrs

$388 per person Time for an Italian food journey – let’s enjoy our chef selected antipasti, pasta and live cooking stations. For enquiries and reservations, please email the Banquet Team at banquet@rhkyc.org.hk or call 2239 0339 / 2239 0327.


Ruinart Champagne Dinner

PRE-DINNER TASTING Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut N.V. (Magnum)

Compass Room | Thursday 14 January

Ruinart adopted his uncle’s pioneering vision and ambition for ‘wine with bubbles’ with the first delivery going out in January 1730. Due to great success, six years later in 1735, Maison Ruinart concentrated its business on the burgeoning champagne trade and since then the Maison has kept the standards of excellence of its founders. Pre-dinner Tasting 1900hrs Dinner 1930hrs Price $1,088 per member and $1,250 per non-member Speaker Ruinart Ambassador Reservations Call Lizzy Tung in the F&B Office on 2239 0386 or email events@rhkyc.org.hk

MENU AND CHAMPAGNES Marinated Salmon Trout with Citrus and Soy, Boston Lobster Meat Salad, Vermicelli with Lobster Oil, Leek Powder Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut N.V. ❧ ❧ ❧ Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, Blackcurrant Jelly, Celeriac Purée Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut N.V. ❧ ❧ ❧ Grilled NZ Gurnard Fish Fillet, Sautéed Manila Clam, Lime Beurre Blanc Sauce Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut 2007 ❧ ❧ ❧ Roast US Prime Rib Eye, Ratatouille, Natural Jus Dom Ruinart Rosé Brut 2007 ❧ ❧ ❧ Chocolate and Cameral Cake, Almond Tuile Ruinart Rosé Brut N.V. ❧ ❧ ❧ Freshly Brewed Coffee or Gourmet Tea VEGETARIAN MENU Plum Tomato Tataki, Roast Button Mushrooms and Shallot Salad, Red Capsicum Dip ❧ ❧ ❧ Vegetable Roulade, Blackcurrant Jelly, Pesto ❧ ❧ ❧ Braised Mushroom Ravioli, Black Truffle Cream ❧ ❧ ❧ Char-grilled Vegan Meat, Rataouille, Green Beans in Tomato sauce ❧ ❧ ❧ Chocolate and Cameral Cake, Almond Tuile ❧ ❧ ❧ Freshly Brewed Coffee or Gourmet Tea

盤菜 Poon Choi Rooftop | Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February | 1830hrs to 2230hrs Lunar New Year is just around the corner, so it’s the perfect time of the year for family reunions, relaxation and spreading the joy of the festive season with loved ones. The Rooftop at Kellett Island offers the perfect location for a sumptuous Poon Choi gathering. Our exquisite Poon Choi layers include Abalone, Conpoy, Chicken, Prawns, Seasonal Vegetables, and more! Enjoy a Poon Choi plus Sweet and Sour Pork and Steamed Rice for 4 persons at only $1,398 with a glass of soft drink per person included. For reservations, please contact the Banquet Team on 2239 0385 / 2239 0339 / 2239 0327 or email banquet@rhkyc.org.hk Guest limits and table sizes depend on the prevailing social distancing measures.

Wine of the Month Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Marlborough, New Zealand Pale lime to pale straw. An abundance of fresh passion fruit pulp and freshly grated lemon zest lift from the glass. The palate has a phenomenal acid drive. There is a concentration of ripe fruit here only seen in the best of years but enough minerality to give the wine complex. [Suggested food pairing: sashimi, bluff oysters and trout risotto] $338 per bottle Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Syrah VDF 2018, Rhône, France Clear red purple colour with dark purple reflections. Strong nose, this Syrah shows aromas of red fruits (cherries, blackcurrant) and spices with delicacy. The attack is concentrated and fruity.On the palate, this wine is powerful with a beautiful structure and silky tannins. The greedier finish is full of red fruits with a very nice length. [Suggested food pairing: grilled meats, cheese] $298 per bottle Available in all F&B outlets. JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

45

Events | Promotions

The House of Ruinart was the first Champagne House to be established by Nicolas Ruinart in 1729. Ruinart, a Reims draper like his father, started his first account ledger devoted to “wine with bubbles” on 1 September 1729 and that ledger serves as the ‘birth certificate’ for the first Champagne House ever created.


PRE-DINNER TASTING Banfi Tener Vino Spumante Brut N.V.

Events | Promotions

Castello Banfi Wine Dinner Compass Room | Thursday 21 January Castello Banfi is a family-owned vineyard estate and winery located in the Brunello region of Tuscany. This award-winning estate was founded on the philosophy of blending tradition with innovation, and the estate is recognised as a pioneer in elevating the standards of Italian winemaking. Dedication to excellence has won the approval of aficionados the world over. Capturing honour after prestigious honoru, Castello Banfi is a constellation of single vineyards encompassing over three dozen varying subsoils. The estate is renowned for its clonal research that allows noble grape varieties to thrive in their optimal terroir, creating not only a consistently outstanding Brunello, but the ultimate expression of Montalcino Super Tuscans.

MENU AND WINES Japanese Hokkaido Scallops and Rock Melon Carpaccio, White Turnip Pickles, Lime Zest Banfi Le Rime Toscana IGT 2019 ❧ ❧ ❧ Oven Baked Alaskan Cod Fillet, Scampi Tartar in Onion Cream Sauce Castello Banfi San Angelo Toscana IGT Pinot Grigio 2018 [WS88] ❧ ❧ ❧ Chicken Saltimbocca, Porcini Mushroom Ravioli Castello Banfi Cum Laude Toscana IGT 2016 [WA93] ❧ ❧ ❧ Braised Wild Boar, Borlotti Beans, Aged Pecorino Cheese Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018 [WA88] Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2015 [WA91] ❧ ❧ ❧ Chocolate Pudding, Amaretti, Strawberry Compote Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG 2019 ❧ ❧ ❧ Freshly Brewed Coffee or Gourmet Tea VEGETARIAN MENU Japanese Mushrooms and Rock Melon Carpaccio, White Turnip Pickles, Lime Zest ❧ ❧ ❧ Poached Artichokes, Avocado Tartar in Onion Cream Sauce ❧ ❧ ❧ Porcini Mushroom Ravioli, Truffles ❧ ❧ ❧ Char-grilled Asparagus, Borlotti Bean, Aged Pecorino Cheese ❧ ❧ ❧ Chocolate Pudding, Amaretti, Strawberry Compote ❧ ❧ ❧ Freshly Brewed Coffee or Gourmet Tea

Pre-dinner Tasting 1900hrs Dinner 1930hrs Price $688 per member and $788 per non-member Speaker Mr Paolo Fassina Reservations Call Lizzy Tung in the F&B Office on 2239 0386 or email events@rhkyc.org.hk

Clay Pot Delights and Double-boiled Soup in the Bistro 1 to 31 January CLAY POTS

煲仔

Braised Lamb Brisket with Bean Curd Skin 枝竹羊腩煲 $358 Preserved Pork, Pork Sausage, Chinese Liver Sausage $98 and Duck Leg Clay Pot Rice 臘味油鴨煲仔飯 Pork Patty, Salted Fish Clay Pot Rice 鹹魚肉餅煲仔飯 $98 Chicken, Conpoy, Black Mushrooms Clay Pot Rice 北菇瑤柱滑雞煲仔飯

$98

Beef, Raw Egg Clay Pot Rice 窩蛋牛肉煲仔飯 $98 Pork Spare Ribs, Preserved Vegetables Clay Pot Rice 欖菜排骨煲仔飯 $98 D O UBLE- B O ILED S O U P S

燉湯

Fish Maw, Monkey Head-shaped Mushroooms 猴頭菇燉花膠 $98 Snakehead Fish, Chinese Herbs 天麻川芎燉山斑魚 $98 Dried Conch, Pork Shank, Chinese Yam, Wolfberries 准山杞子螺頭燉豬 Black Chicken, Chinese Herb and Red Dates 北芪紅棗燉竹絲雞

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| JANUARY 2021 AHOY!

$68 $68


Glaetzer 2018 Vintage Release Wine Dinner Compass Room | Thursday 28 January PRE-DINNER TASTING

Glaetzer Consistently Rated Five Red Star Winery – James Halliday

Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz consistently ranks among the best wines of any given vintage and has been included at the Outstanding level in the Langton’s Classification. Langton’s Classification is a ‘form guide’ of Australia’s best performing and most prized wines, and is arguably the most famous and widely respected wine classification outside Europe.

Pre-dinner Tasting 1900hrs Dinner 1930hrs Price $698 per member and $798 per non-member Speaker Ben Glaetzer, Owner Winemaker (via video) Reservations Call Lizzy Tung in the F&B Office on 2239 0386 or email events@rhkyc.org.hk

Bleasdale Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2018 MENU AND WINES Toro Tartar, Smoked Paprika Marinated Salmon Fillets, Red Capsicum Coulis Glaetzer Wallace Shiraz Grenache 2018 [RP91] ❧ ❧ ❧ Sous-vide French Range Chicken Breast, Potato Scone, Beetroot Dip Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz 2018 [RP92] ❧ ❧ ❧ Char-grilled Australian Lamb Loin, Portobello Mushroom, Caramelised Red Onion and Tomato Glaetzer Anaperenna Shiraz Cabernet 2018 [RP97] ❧ ❧ ❧ Braised US Beef Short Rib, Pan-fried Dutch Calf Liver, Blueberry Jus Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz 2018 [RP98] ❧ ❧ ❧ Lamington Cake ❧ ❧ ❧ Freshly Brewed Coffee or Gourmet Tea VEGETARIAN MENU Vine Yellow Cherry Tomatoes and Purple Cauliflower, Red Capsicum Coulis ❧ ❧ ❧ White Asparagus, Potato Scone, Beetroot Dip ❧ ❧ ❧ Wild Mushroom Risotto, Portobello Mushroom, Caramelised Red Onion and Tomato ❧ ❧ ❧ Braised Beyond Sausage and Artichokes, Blueberry Jus ❧ ❧ ❧ Lamington Cake ❧ ❧ ❧ Freshly Brewed Coffee or Gourmet Tea

Home-made Chinese New Year Puddings Be sure to include our popular home-made Chinese New Year Puddings in your Lunar New Year celebrations. Puddings will be available from 25 January to 11 February (and please note that 4 February is the deadline for ordering). Each Club-branded Chinese New Year Pudding Box will be packed with two 600g puddings of your choice at only $228/box. Chinese Turnip and Preserved Meat Pudding 臘味蘿蔔糕 Sweetened Water-Chestnut Pudding 香甜馬蹄糕 Sweetened Glutinous Pudding 椰汁年糕 48 hours advance order is required. The order form can be downloaded from the website or obtained from any F&B outlet. All puddings ordered but not collected will be charged. For orders and enquiries, please call Lizzy Tung in the F&B Office on 2239 0386 or email events@rhkyc.org.hk

Monthly Wine Fairs Kellett Island Wednesday 6 January, 1830hrs to 2030hrs Shelter Cove Friday 8 January, 1930hrs to 2130hrs For reservations, please call Lizzy Tung in the F&B Office on 2239 0386 or email events@rhkyc.org.hk

JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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Events | Promotions

Established in 1995, by Colin Glaetzer, Glaetzer Wines is a family-owned boutique winery producing super premium Barossa Valley red wines. Today, Colin’s son, the internationally acclaimed young winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, carries on the winemaking traditions. The iconic flagship Amon-Ra Shiraz has become a ‘cult wine’ in Australia, and was featured in the famous Japanese manga series ‘Drops of God’.


CLASS SECRETARIES

Club Lines

Sailing Secretary Dennis Chien sailing.secretary@rhkyc.org.hk Big Boat Maiyo Hood cruiser@rhkyc.org.hk Dinghies Dominick Hardoon dinghies@rhkyc.org.hk Dragon Josephine Cheng dragon@rhkyc.org.hk Etchells Bo Lee etchells@rhkyc.org.hk Flying Fifteen Carlyon Knight-Evans flyingfifteen@rhkyc.org.hk Impala Patrick Kwan impala@rhkyc.org.hk J/80 Andrew Blank J80@rhkyc.org.hk Match Racing Seah Chin Yew matchracingsec@rhkyc.org.hk Pandora Joseph Wong pandora@rhkyc.org.hk Ruffian Jim Ryan ruffian@rhkyc.org.hk Sportsboats Amanda Chen sportsboat@rhkyc.org.hk Youth Sailing Class Jono Rankine ysc@rhkyc.org.hk

SPORTS CONVENORS

Bowling Convenor Simon Boyde bowling@rhkyc.org.hk Golf Convenor Patrick Sherriff golf@rhkyc.org.hk Snooker Convenor Gordon Robinson snooker@rhkyc.org.hk Squash Convenor Francis Longuepee squash@rhkyc.org.hk

CLUB CONTACTS

General Manager Mark Bovaird 2239 0300 mark.bovaird@rhkyc.org.hk Executive Secretary Polly Lee 2239 0301 Club Operations Manager Jacco Klip 2239 0338 Financial Controller Fred Wong 2239 0315 Membership Manager Tracy Leung 2239 0371 Head of PR & Communications Koko Mueller 2239 0342 PR Manager Janice Lam 2239 0340 Member Events & Communications Manager Jody Hui 2239 0312 Corporate and International Partnerships Manager Antony Phillips 2239 0353 Marine Manager Alan Reid 2239 0308 Boatyard Manager Matthew Morgan 2239 0311 Sailing Manager Ailsa Angus 2239 0395 Sailing Coordinator Gloria Yeung 2812 7063 Assistant Manager | Sailing Iris Yang 2239 0314 MI Sailing and Marine Manager Jono Rankine 2812 0172 Assistant Manager | Regattas and Events Nikki Claringbold 2239 0363 Assistant Manager | Race Management Brenda Davies 2239 0362 Rowing and Paddle Sports Manager Nick Crabb 2239 0322 Boatyard Office Manager Connie Chan 2239 0304 Facilities & Technical Manager Raymond Ng 2239 0303 Human Resources Manager Susanna Chung 2239 0310 Ship Shop Manager David Ho 2239 0336 Assistant Marine Manager Joanne Ho 2239 0309 House Manager Lorence Leung 2239 0352

ROYAL HONG KONG YACHT CLUB

Kellett Island, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, SAR Kellett Island Tel: 2832 2817 Fax: 2572 5399 Middle Island Tel: 2812 7202 Shelter Cove Tel: 2792 2744

www.rhkyc.org.hk www.facebook.com/rhkyc www.facebook.com/rhkycrowingsection www.facebook.com/rhkycevents www.facebook/rhkycsharks www.twitter.com/rhkyc

Membership Movement ORDINARY MEMBERS Mr John Giles Crook Mr Niels Worsee Jensen Ms Leung Wing Ying Stephanie Mr Shing Chun Yu Mr & Mrs Butt Cheuk Fei Bruce Mr & Mrs Chen Ricky Ching-wu Mr & Mrs Chen Yu Paul Mr & Mrs Chun King Leung Stephen Mrs Jessica Daswani & Mr Praveen Daswani Ms Ho Ka Chun & Mr Kenneth Leung Mr & Mrs Jess Andrew Knebel Dr & Dr Lau Sze Lok Mr & Mrs Edoardo Tocco Mr & Mrs Vincent Yum FULL MEMBERS Mr Cheung Kam Hei Albert Ms Stephanie Tovoli CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP STATUS FROM JUNIOR TO ORDINARY Miss Chan Man Chong Melody JUNIOR MEMBERS Ms Michelle Huntley Fry Mr Jean-Marc Partice Nosbusch Mr Carl Albert Johan Torstensson Miss Wong Sin Man Joey SHORT TERM MEMBERS Mr Alastair Robert Kelly Mr James Ross Tennison CORPORATE NOMINEE SUBSCRIBER Miss Law Lai Yee Cecilia Mr & Mrs Liu Jianxun INDIVIDUAL DEBENTURE MEMBERS Mr & Mrs Li Haixiang Mr & Mrs James Gordon Mitchell CADET MEMBER SPONSORED BY A MEMBER Huang Zixi Li Rui Tong Erin Emilia Leila Roehrich Lea Mina Roehrich William Cerini Whitehead CADET MEMBERS Chloe Anne Becker Choi Cheuk Ue Chazmin Liu Wenbo Ava McDonald Fallon Sasha Chloe Smith Angela Ruizhi Song Sylvia Yum Valerie Yum STUDENT USAGE CARD Ms Au Yui Hang Coco Mr Chan King Lung Miss Lam On Ni Mr Wu Chi Hong Kelvin

By order of the General Committee, the following fees will be increased as from 1 January 2021:

CAR PARKING

Annual Fee – Motorcycle Annual Fee – 5-day Shelter Cove car parking label Hourly rates (for Kellett Island only) After 50 hours free car parking per calendar month Maximum hourly charge per calendar month | JANUARY 2021 AHOY!

INTRODUCTORY SCHEME Ms Chan Chore Ling Shella Mr Chan Chun Ming Jimmy Mr Chen Chuen Jimmy Ms Chung Chi Yan Iris Mr Matthew Oliver Erickson Mr Peter Hui Mr Lee Po Lai Mr Damien Peter Massingham Mr Oei Chuen Shek Joseph Mr Fon Francis Tran Mr Tse Po Mr Tsui Pui Hung Mr Thomas Frederick Watson Mr John William Huia Woods Mr Yip Moon Wah ABSENT MEMBERS Mr Benoit Descourtieux Mr Ieong Weng Hang Harry Mr Edward Anthony Larmour Ms Tanya Morris-Hough Mr Benoit Rouillon Miss Tung Ching Yee Mr & Mrs Craig Anthony Di Giulio Mr & Mrs Nozomi Fukazawa Mr & Mrs Sander Bas Holman RESIGNATION Mr Chan Yap Fay David Mr Jeremy Robert Howell Mr Lee Ho Yeung Mr Steven Neil Ponton Mr & Mrs Cheung Sum Sam Mr & Mrs Adrien Pierre-Antoine Baptiste Marie Fondeur Mr & Mrs Christoph Ganswindt Mr & Mrs David Checkley Mills Mr & Mrs Misao Saito Toby Cavanagh Chan Guo Liang Jet Chau Wing Fai Karen Joseph Zachary Chong Wei Tzieh Moena Fukazawa Reina Fukazawa Adelaide Jane Howell Sean Taylor Howell Lee Wing Hong Harwood Nina Buckup Marinelli Antoine Jules Clovis Mornet Gabriel Jean Alfred Mornet Harry Marshall Mowbray Pong Hei Man Christian Rautenberg Mark Roberts Alice Warner

New Fee Notice Annual Fee – 7-day car parking label Annual Fee – 5-day car parking label

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December 2020

OLD $3,750 $2,600

NEW $3,825 $2,650

$470

$480

$1,490 $21

$1,520 $22

$3,150

$3,300


JANUARY 2021 AHOY! |

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