It’s a race organiser’s nightmare, and one realised too often in Hong Kong. Days of strong winds before and after race day, but Sunday morning dawns to a flat calm. And so it was for DBYC’s latest regatta on 27 May. Plans for two Olympic courses looked doubtful, but the fleet of a dozen boats headed hopefully for the first start off Hei Ling Chau at 1000. The sun shone and spirits were high but no breeze materialised and the race was cancelled after half an hour, leaving time for an early lunch and an earlier start for the afternoon race.
The grass by the old DBMC clubhouse proved a perfect spot to hold the BBQ picnic and watch for signs of breeze, which began sporadically out on the course. Cerveza Sol sponsored the very welcome cold beer, and the refreshed crews headed for the second start at 1400. Calm prevailed, though, and the start was again delayed for about twenty minutes, when a local northerly breeze sprang up. The Race Officer was quick to grab the opportunity and, electing for a downwind start, dropped the AP and let the fleet go six minutes later.
The spinnakers didn’t fly for long, though. Instead, a light south-easterly teased the boats on the now windward leg – a cat’s paw here, a sweltering hole there. The right side of the course proved best and Island Girl reached the windward mark first, best able to nurse her speed between puffs. The chutes reappeared on the two reaching legs toward Peng Chau, as the crews worked hard to milk any apparent wind and avoid the holes containing groups of stalled boats. The sexy new X-442, Rhythm Stick, was able to take the lead at this stage, only to misplace the leeward mark, heading instead for the Committee Boat. By the time their navigator had recovered his bearings, they were half a mile dead to windward of the mark and much of the fleet were passing on the beat.
Rounding the windward mark then became even more difficult for some of the boats as a loop of its cable snagged the boats as they passed. Shockwave became completely entangled at one stage, requiring the crew to go over the side to free the keel. Lorien took this as a hint and attempted a bottom scrub to reduce the effect of her lush growth.
The Race Officer considered finishing the race on the second full beat after two hours of racing, but conditions were freshening when the decision was taken to try for the full course. This effectively shut out the slower boats as the wind again faded, precluding the back markers from reaching the finish before the 1800 cut-off.
Even the front boats had their work cut out in the extensive calms. Island Girl had built a comfortable lead as she headed for the last mark, only to fall into a hole within sight of the finish, allowing Rhythm Stick to close. The two boats then drifted together with the ebb for a frustrating half hour, as Arconia and Sabi Star rounded the wing mark at speed only a mile behind.
However, Rhythm Stick managed to snatch Line Honours, redeeming their earlier mistake and cheating Island Girl at the last. Sadly, Yellow Bolero missed the finish by only five minutes after a screaming last two legs, as the Committee Boat departed at 1800 to retrieve the marks before dusk.
The prize-giving supper was held at the Discovery Bay Marina Club that evening, with the DBMC Challenge Cup going to Arconia, first on handicap. Sabi Star took second and Island Girl third place. The generous range of prizes was sponsored by Tango Martinis restaurant, The Boathouse, Stanley and Stormy Weather Bar & Grill. FH also contributed a number of prizes, including a sample of International’s new Optima anti-foul. The ‘Rear End’ trophy went, of course, to Rhythm Stick for services to navigation, along with her hard-won Line Honours.
More boats are joining the growing Discovery Bay fleet for these popular ‘fun and friendly’ cruises and races. Anyone interested in forthcoming DBYC events, including the Tsing Ma Regattas from DB – Gold Coast, should contact info@dbyc.net for details.
|
