Hong Kong Race Week - Day 1
by Lindsay Lyons 18 Feb 2016 03:55 PST
16-21 February 2016
A constituent event of the ASAF Youth Cup
The first proper day of racing started on a positive note today with more wind than forecast on the race course varying between 4 and 8 kts.
Co-organised by Hong Kong Sailing Federation and Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Hong Kong Race Week 2016 kicked off with an Opening Ceremony on Wednesday night.
Over 100 boats were on the race course at Area B where RO Sofia Mascia and ARO Lucy Sutro were able to set three races with a course length of 0.4nm (about 40 minutes each) and each race with two starts. The wind was 050 from NNE and light; about 5 to 7kts and a bit variable forcing the committee boat to move twice. In accordance with IODA guidelines, the 'U' flag was used on all starts, resulting in only two boats OCS.
The windsurfers, slated to race the area off Chung Hom Kok, only found 2 to 3kts of breeze shifting by 60 degrees so RO Barry Truhol "stealthily approached the Optimist course area, and politely asked to share!" Area B's RO Mascia kindly agreed so a course was set up nearby where the wind was 4 to 6kts at 040; marginal but the windsurfers were eager to start. Truhol was happy with the day saying, "The wind generally stayed constant and we got in three races. The windsurfers faced cold weather, but I'm really impressed with their stamina. Well done to them."
Area C saw the Laser Radials, 4.7s and the 2.4mRs sailing windward / leewards with the Laser Radials and 4.7s on a long course and the 2.4mRs on a short course. As the first race got underway at 1109hrs, the wind axis was 050 and they had about 8 to 10kts. RO Brenda Davies reported, "Competitive starts throughout the day; particularly in the Radial and 4.7 classes and the first 4.7 start attempt was a general recall and they got away cleanly on the second attempt."
The wind then was shifting right and then left and whilst they were resetting the course, the wind settled back actually pretty close to where it had been at the start allowing the RO to set course axis of 055 and about 9kts of breeze at the start of Race 2.
Davies said, "One Radial was OCS but knew that he was and came back straight away; the other starts were clear. The races were a little bit short as the wind was picking up so we then moved the top marks to extend the course lengths." Two Radials were called OCS in Race 3 and the 4.7s had a general recall followed by a clean start. The 2.4mRs were clear. Added Davies, "For Race 4, we again had one OCS in the Radials and the other two classes were clear and the wind was a good 8 to 10kts; sometimes even 11 kts... so good steady breeze from 055. It was a good day and there was great team work by the race committee and sailors. They will be looking forward to a warm shower and something hot to drink I'm sure."
Over at Area D, a very steady wind at Beaufort of 5kts at 1000hrs building to 8 to 9kts allowed RO David Norton to complete two races for the 29er fleet and four races for both the 420s and 470s. Norton said, "An uncertain forecast for tomorrow encouraged us to get a little ahead of schedule." He went on to report, "Close starts and great competition amongst all the fleets and let's hope for more of the same tomorrow. Although the temperatures were somewhat cold, if we could add some sunshine to the mix it would be welcomed by all!"
And the last word goes to Principal Race Officer, Charlie Manzoni; "We had great racing today; much more wind than forecast; we got four races in for all fleets except for the Optimists and the Windsurfers who only got three and two for the 29ers because the wind was a bit more tricky around the Middle Island area... so a great day's racing; little bit cold but everyone seems happy and that's a great result!"
Provisional results as of today are available online at www.hongkongraceweek.com