Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Spring Regatta - Day 1
by RHKYC Media 18 May 2013 14:55 BST
18-19 May 2013
Heavy overnight rain meant that conditions on the morning of before the first race of the RHKYC Spring Regatta were humid and windless but, undeterred, Race Officer Simon Boyde was out on the water early to rustle up a breeze and came back to shore with reports of 3 to 11kts SSW at the possible marks of the course.
As the best conditions were to the west of the usual race area, Boyde selected courses 71 and 72, more commonly associated with the Club's Friday night Sunset Series racing. These courses included the start/ finish line as a gate for every lap, which caught out several competitors and forced 12 retirements after racing as boats were alerted to their error.
With great conditions for watching from the shore, there were gusts up to 15kts and several spectacular broaches along the Avenue of Stars. There were other moments where the breeze died and a strong ebb tide gave boats some problems in clearing the finish line, but ultimately, only one boat was out of time.
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