BMW Autumn Regatta 2023 at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club - Overall
by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club 11 Sep 2023 09:57 BST
9-10 September 2023
2023 BMW Autumn Regatta © RHKYC/ Guy Nowell
The BMW Autumn Regatta got under way on 10 September in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour officially raising the curtain on Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's 2023-2024 sailing season.
Traditionally a two-day event held over a Saturday and Sunday, the first day of racing was cancelled after the worst downpour in Hong Kong's history on the preceding Friday brought work to a standstill; leaving insufficient time to safely launch boats.
Racing eventually got under way on the Sunday, in rainy conditions after a short delay. Just before noon in a 6 to 8kts south-easterly breeze, the Race Officer opted for a start in Hung Hom. Despite the heavy rain in the morning, 86 boats gathered at the start line including 25 Big Boats in four divisions.
All classes took part in two races. The Big Boat divisions were sent to sail 1.5 to 2.5 laps between Hung Hom and Shau Kei Wan, while the Etchells, J/80s and Sportsboats were set 1.5 laps between Tai Koo Shing and Hung Hom. Other classes were sent off on a triangular course between Tai Koo Shing, Kowloon Bay and Hung Hom or 1.5 laps between Tai Koo Shing and Hung Hom.
Gusting up to 12kts, most boat enjoyed reasonable racing conditions during Race 1, however heavy rain poured down prior to the second start, killing what little wind there was and soaking the sailors and race management teams. A southerly wind shift interrupted the start sequence for the Dragon class and resulted in a massive park up in the middle of the racecourse, with the race management team opting to shorten the course for many divisions.
Race Officer Barry Truhol was pleased there was enough breeze to start the first race; "when the race management team went out to inspect the race area, the weather wasn't bad and the wind was good and despite the rain, we decided to send the sailors out. Luckily the wind stayed in for the first race and was on and off during the second race which led to a shortened course. I hope that the two races were fair and good enough and I hope people enjoyed it."
In Big Boat Divisions, David Ho's TP52 Phoenix, Nick Southward's Admiralty Harbour Whiskey Jack, Raymond Wu's Tornado and Anton Tsang's Delight took the overall wins of their respective divisions. For one design classes and sportsboats, Dragon Dragonfly, Etchells Noddy, Flying Fifteen Kerfuffle, Impala Also Can, J/80 Footloose, Pandora Panopae and Ruffian Victory 9 and Sportsboat Pawley lifted the silverware in their class.