VRC Race Series the long-awaited season kicks off

WORDS: PHILIP CHOU | IMAGE: RYAN CHEUNG

With the Covid restrictions in place for over four months, paddlers in Hong Kong could finally see a silver lining in May. The monthly Victoria Recreation Club Race Series kicked off its 2022 season with three races over a long weekend in Koa Nui style (Hawaiian meaning “great joy”).

Race One was a 1km sprint from Round Island to Chung Hom Kok beach, while race Two was an 8km course between the pumping station and the pandas (some of the land reference points for paddlers). Both races were held one after the other on the sunny morning of 7 May. At the start of the races, there were 65 canoes packed together on the water! There was a number of new paddlers participating for the first time. RHKYC had great results on the small boats categories with Dave Smith winning both races and Erin Juhl winning the OC1 women category in race Two, while Martina Redaelli won the sprint marking down the same time as another paddler from a different club (well done, Liz!).

Race Three was held on a public holiday just a couple of days later on 9 May. It was a 9km race that went through Repulse Bay, Ap Lei Pai lighthouse and Deep Water Bay on a hot, hazy morning without much wind. Despite the challenging weather conditions, it was remarkable to see all paddlers fully enjoying the race. RHKYC got second place in the OC6 mixed category (crew: Keith Lau, Anne Lueth, Nicola Kwan, Michelle Lau, Leo Yuen, Antony Woods), while Dave Smith and Erin Juhl continued their winning streaks in the OC1 categories.

The 2022 VRC Race One, Two and Three were also the last races in Hong Kong for John McLennan, who entered all races in the OC2 men category logging in fast times in all of them with help from VRC paddler Cameron Seymour. John’s next adventure will be in Hawaii. No one can forget his major contributions to the sport of outrigger canoe at RHKYC and his strong mentorship to others. John is one of the founding members who started the Outrigger team in RHKYC. John, you will be deeply missed!

VRC Race Series 2022 – Koa Mui Race Results Surfski Female

RACE 1 RACE 2 RACE 3 POINTS

KOA NUI RANKING

Winnie 1 2 2 1 4 6 11 1st Justine 2 3 1 2 6 3 11 1st Tats 3 1 1 3 2 9 14 2nd Claudia 4 4 4 4 8 12 24 3rd

OC1 Female

RACE 1 RACE 2 RACE 3 POINTS

KOA NUI RANKING

Erin 3 1 1 3 2 3 8 1st Marti 1 2 2 1 4 6 11 2nd Liz 1 3 3 1 6 9 16 3rd

Points Per Place

1st 2nd 3rd

Race 1 1 2 1 Race 2 2 1 2 Race 3 5 5 3

Surfski Male

RACE 1 RACE 2 RACE 3 POINTS

KOA NUI RANKING

Craig 1 2 1 1 4 3 8 1st Bruno 2 1 2 2 2 6 10 2nd Florian 5 5 3 5 10 9 24 3rd

OC1 Male

RACE 1 RACE 2 RACE 3 POINTS

KOA NUI RANKING

Dave 1 1 1 1 2 3 6 1st Indigo 3 4 3 3 8 9 20 1st Daniele 4 2 4 4 4 12 20 2nd Jess 5 3 5 5 6 15 26 3rd

Points Per Place

1st 2nd 3rd

Race 1 1 2 3 Race 2 2 4 6 Race 3 3 6 9