The fifth celebration of these beautiful islands and their protected anchorages was arguably the best yet! Some 17 boats participated, ranging from mini yachts, junks and stink-boats to elegant swans.The assorted crews, some 100 revellers, descended on South Soko to enjoy the festivities.The weather was typically kind, with the forecast thunderstorms registering a DNS.
The racing fleet of eight yachts made a speedy passage, arriving soon after lunch, having enjoyed a cracking downwind sprint. Most boats had gone through the Sunshine Island Gap, but some left Hei Ling Chau to port, gaining advantage from a shorter course but punished by the predictable wind shadow behind the long sea wall.Typically short-handed in these social events, several yachts opted for a safer but slower goose-wing sail plan, whilst the braver flew spinnakers and chutes, but lost ground by taking a more southerly track to optimise wind angles.
The new kid on the block, lovely ketch Passion Too, owned by Paul Wright, sailed a stormer under Captain Cusack’s command, gaining an impressive second over the line. However, no one could catch the well-known seadog Paolo, single-handing Rosemary to take the Soko Cup with an impeccable performance. Later, there was much difficulty in identifying a worthy recipient of the Toilet Seat Trophy. Xakanaxa kindly stepped up to admit a serious case of spinnaker abuse with confusion on how to attach shackles – hardly a crime, but the only real candidate.
Garry Smith followed the fleet on his vroom-vroom, impressing the girls and capturing some fantastic action photos, which are available on the DBYC website (for a modest sum - all proceeds to the DBYC Xmas party).His junk also brought a medley of non-sailing party animals, including a beach-cleaning contingent, who started the wood collection and site clearance for the evening’s festivities.
The evening started with beach cocktails, followed by a BBQ and prize-giving. The serious singing and boozing was kicked off by a contingent of worthy gentlemen from the Hong Kong Welsh Choir, in fine form, who had stowed away on various yachts and Garry’s junk. In the best Rorke’s Drift tradition, they sang long into the night around the bonfire, and on various yachts thereafter, as blearily reported in the morning.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny. Shore parties soon gathered the waste and debris, which was stowed away on pre-allocated yachts and junks. The walking tour group gathered at 11 am for exploration of this interesting island, with its ornamental lake, rice paddies, grottoes, beaches, abandoned refugee camp and jungle paths. As energy levels ebbed, yachts slipped quietly away. All participants were grateful that these beautiful and fascinating islands have been saved from the ravages of industrial or residential development and continue to be available for us all to enjoy.
A great weekend. Special thanks to certain unsung heroes for making the event possible: Isabel W for general logistics, Garry S for providing the junks, Andy P for the technicals of the pursuit race, St John C for commodorial contributions, and not least the Welsh Choir for adding zest to the shore-side entertainment. But the top accolade must go to those dinghy owners who in the early hours ferried a great many of us, some seriously tired and emotional, back to our boats. Without them, we might still be there...
Richard Winter
Sokos Org
