Yes, it’s been 10 YEARS already, since the DBYC’s first event back in September 1999, so we decided to hold a fun pursuit race, raft-up and party to celebrate!
About 20 boats entered, sailing a double figure-of-eight course around the local islands. Their actual route was left to the tacticians though, so long as each boat rounded each island mark twice, and sailed each of the figure-8's in opposite directions. Given the 'Pirate' theme of the race, this gave ample opportunity for the boats to arrange close passes to water-bomb their competitors!
Hong Kong Resorts generously loaned 'The Bounty' for the occasion, to act as a very striking Committee Boat guarding the Start/Finish line, as well as the Gate between marks. This also gave the 'Race Committee' (more 'Pirates', of the junior variety) plenty of scope to pelt the racers as they sailed by.
The wind started fresh E'ly, favouring the early starters, led off by Koala - the only boat to have also entered that very first DBYC regatta, back in '99. And the chase was on...
Unfortunately, not all tacticians (or skippers) had read the Sailing Instructions in sufficient detail. Bliss was blissfully unaware of the need to sail through the Gate between marks (DOH!!!), and Soko and Aegean totally missed the requirement to alternate between marks in figure-of-eight fashion (double-DOH!!!).
Equally, for some boats the water-fights were far more important than racing. Skellum's saucy crew, in particular, seemed to be trying to board 'The Bounty' at one stage.
Sexy new cat, Square Bear joined the fun for her first DBYC event, sporting a bevy of bikini-clad babes across the foredecks - an impressive start. However, prize for best-dressed boat, with by far the most convincing 'Pirates' (indeed, the best ever crew outfits) went to the Viking hordes aboard Authority, casting fear into the hearts of all who approached her.
The race to the line proved exciting for the bulk of the fleet, choosing Hei Ling Chau to port as their last mark. Harlequin and Tom Pepper II led the tussle for the line, just ahead of Vega and Xakanaxa - all finishing within seconds of each other. But no, who was that, fine-reaching to the finish from the opposite direction...?! The Viking hordes on Authority! And yes, they managed to cross ahead of all the spinnakers to take a convincing and well-deserved first place in 3 hrs 51 mins.
Having worked up quite a thirst over the 25 nm course, the boats then rafted-up in the shallows of DB bay after the race to enjoy a few cases of hard-earned, ice-cold beers courtesy of new sponsor Beer Lao - and boy, did they taste good! Then ashore to Hemingway's for dinner and speeches to mark the events of the DBYC's first 10 years.
And the toast...? Here's to 'The Next 10 Years'...!
Our thanks go to Race Officer St John Cameron and his motley crew, John Karas on his support boat and, of course, to our sponsors: 'The Bounty', Beer Lao
and Hemingway's for their generous support.
Below are the first of the event photo's, courtesy of Michelle Cameron, Erin Leslie, John Karas, Marcus Tomblin and Gary Stokes. Please send any good pics you may have taken to 10years@dbyc.net so we can include them here. Thanks!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
