Well, I can’t believe how quickly it has gone, but a year has passed since we formally created the Discovery Bay Yacht Club in May 2002.
Whilst we’d previously arranged many events as an informal group of yachting-minded friends, it was felt that to take it any further we had to form an association that would be recognized by other Hong Kong organisations - most importantly, the HKYA, our National Authority at ISAF.
Willing volunteers joined the embryo Executive Committee, which drafted the Club Constitution and applied to the Societies Registrar. One bureaucratic minefield later, we were organised, recognised and legal. All we needed was a membership - and thus was born our first recruiting drive?
Joking apart, we were overwhelmed with the strength of the response, very quickly gathering a membership of over 100, and adding more at every event. We now expect the Club to grow steadily as more yachts and ‘yawties’ are attracted to the area through DBYC events. Witness the number of new boats just arrived!
Our ‘fun and friendly’ philosophy has caught on. Since our first informal regatta in September 1999, the DBYC has hosted regular inshore races and cruises, which have been sponsored by local businesses, restaurants and marina clubs. In this way, the prizes have been many and varied, entry fees low, and the beer generally free!
The Tsing Ma Regatta has quickly become our signature event. Arranged twice a year, Spring and Autumn, it combines two challenging and scenic races under the Tsing Ma Bridge with the hospitality of the Discovery Bay and Gold Coast marina clubs. Postponed in April due to SARS, we hope to re-schedule this popular event very soon. We’ve balanced the challenge and excitement of racing, around the cans or local islands, with cruises to Mui Wo, Sunshine, Lamma, Cheung Chau and the Soko Islands. We also recently arranged our first sail training week, comprising Rules & Tactics briefings followed by ‘drag racing’ to put it all into practice. Well received, it was encouraging to see very tangible results as the crews learned to improve their performance at the start and on the beat. Requests have already been received for more training along similar lines, combining theory and boat handling.
It would be difficult to arrange these events without the generosity of our sponsors. Equally, our regattas would be impossible without the assistance of the various support crews - ashore and afloat. Many of our members are motor vessel owners, who provide invaluable assistance in race organisation and course safety. Plus, the committee boats and safety vessels all have to be manned, race courses laid, BBQ’s and picnics arranged, beer chilled. All of this is undertaken by volunteers who deserve our thanks and, I suggest, a big pat on the back when next you see them!
So now begins our second year. We will continue to focus on our main aims - to draw local sailors together in friendly and social sailing events, and to introduce beginners to the fun of yacht racing. But it’s your club. So with your support and your participation, I look forward to another rewarding year of DBYC-style sailing.
Yes, you guessed it - that’s ’fun and friendly‘!
See you on the water!
James Fernie
Commodore
DBYC
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