65th Head of the Bay Regatta

WORDS: ABI WATT AND CHRIS KNOLLMAN | IMAGES: RHKYC 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

As the summer heat descended upon Hong Kong, competitors in the coastal rowing scene spent the month of May preparing for the 65th Head of the Bay regatta. Held on 22 May, the Head of the Bay was the first race of the year to take place under proper summer conditions; testing crews’ speed alongside their ability to navigate turns and obstacles in Deepwater Bay – either over a short course of 2,500m or a long course of 4,200m.

The morning dawned after a night of showers and the water was flat and calm with little wind. Volunteers arrived at 0730hrs to prepare for what would be a long day of directing crews, wrangling boats, timekeeping and keeping competitors safe on the course from RIBs. There was much to be done before the racing kicked off at 0900hrs. 91 boats were entered into the Head of the Bay, rowed by more than 180 competitors from eight different clubs, ranging in age and experience from middle school students to seasoned masters rowers.

The racing started off strong with the Open C4x+ setting the fastest time of the day on the long course in the first race. As the racing continued, juniors, novices, university and masters rowers competed in boats of

all sorts, from singles and doubles to coxed quads and coxed fours. For some of the middle school students on the precipice of summer vacation, the Head of the Bay was their final race of the season. And for others, like RHKYC Member Koichi Ohira, it was their final race with the Club before moving away from Hong Kong.

Despite the 34-degree heat, rowers showed up to compete, putting up some impressive times on the course. The fastest raw times of the day on the short course were set by Andrew Lawson (LBC) in the Open 1x at 13:07 for the men, and by Isa Scheunpflug and Rachel Humphreys (RHKYC/LBC) in the Women’s Masters 2x at 14:23 for the women. On the long course, Calvin Tang, Kelvin Chu, Matthew Lai and Chris Knollman, coxed by Abi Watt (RHKYC), set the men’s fastest time at 18:09 while the women’s was set by Estelle Davies, Chi Wai Song, Jasmine Monteil and Lisa Williams, coxed by Marianne Kolding (LBC) at 22:09.

But while most competitors were focused on rowing their best races, some showed up with the intent to do some good while they were at Middle Island. Throughout the course of the day, rowers diligently removed litter from the beach on which most of the boats and people were gathered – a simple but helpful gesture that brought the Club’s focus on sustainability to light. As climate and environmental issues rise in importance, measures like the RHKYC Pick Up Plastic initiative, debuting at Middle Island in the form of plastic-collection bags that allow rowers to scoop up litter while out on the water, empower individuals to tackle the increase of plastic in our environment.

The Head of the Bay proved to be a successful day, bringing together people of all ages and skill levels to compete side by side at Middle Island. As always, the fun continues. Although summer has arrived with a vengeance, we can be sure that the enthusiasm of our rowing community will continue, and crews can be found preparing for the next competition.