BMW Autumn Regatta 2024 at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club - Overall
by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club 9 Sep 01:32 PDT
7-8 September 2024
The BMW Autumn Regatta got under way in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour in rainy conditions on Sunday 8 September, with 4 to 5 kts of easterly breeze, officially kick starting the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club 2024-2025 sailing season.
Traditionally a two-day event, the first day was cancelled due to Super Typhoon Yagi - Asia's strongest storm this year, skirting past Hong Kong a few days before earlier. Due to Yagi's influence, the Club was left with insufficient time to release boats from their typhoon ties and safely launch fleets ready for racing on Saturday.
88 boats turned out despite the heavy showers throughout the day. The first classes to get started were Big Boat Divisions 0, 1, 2 and 3, followed by the Sportsboats and the seven one-design classes. All classes took part in two races with the start off Hung Hom followed by a beat up the harbour to Shau Kei Wan or Tai Koo Shing. Once around the marks, the fleets hoisted their kites and headed back to Hung Hom or Kowloon Bay and after completing their respective courses, crossed the line off the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.
It was a day of challenging conditions for racing with 10 starts to get away whilst the wind speed oscillated from 2kts to 8kts; challenging sailors' ability to navigate in low wind and patchy conditions. The wind completely shut down after the last fleet, the Dragons, started at 1400hrs. After more rain, the race management team shortened the course at Hung Hom for the Dragons, Flying Fifteens, Pandoras, Ruffians and Impalas.
Race Officer Barry Truhol was pleased that there was enough wind to get the regatta going. "When I went out to do a wind check this morning, there was zero breeze at Shau Kei Wan and only 3 to 4kts at Gate Bouy - it was not looking good! When we arrived at Hung Hom, there was about 4 to 5kts of easterly breeze; just enough to get the boats going. All classes were sent on shorter courses that lasted for an hour or one hour 15 mins. However, for the next course the wind played havoc with the racing, so we decided to shorten the course at Dock Buoy for multiple classes and keep the rest of the classes racing. The races ended up lasting about an hour and a half and everyone was back in the bar by 1630hrs so I hope they're all happy. "
In the Big Boat Divisions, Noel Chan's TP52 Rampage 88, Henning Mueller's Zesst, Dean Chisholm's Darling and Alfred Lau / Castor Kong's Easy Breezy II took the overall wins of their respective divisions. For the One Design classes and Sportsboats, Dragon - Celines, Etchells - Gunga Din, Flying Fifteen - Second Wind, Impala - Taxi, J/80 - Footloose, Pandora - Solstice and Ruffian - Victory 9 and Sportsboat - Phoenix lifted the silverware in their respective class.