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The 12th Tsing Ma Regatta on 2/3 May 09 proved challenging in more ways than one...
Race 1 started in a brisk SE'ly that had a lot of boats racing on the edge, both on the initial beat to Kau Yi Chau and the ensuing spinnaker reach from the Bridge. Then followed Party 1: Dockside at Gold Coast Marina, with the crews similarly challenged – in a shower of Tanduay, some were seen to be broaching horribly, and many ended up overboard. Which led into Party 2: Dinner at the GCYCC Voyagers Restaurant, and Party 3: Prize-giving in the round at the Marina Clubhouse. Getting the picture...?
Sunday's lighter airs, particularly early on, demanded a little more finesse on Race 2 – in short supply after the excesses of the previous afternoon and evening. But it was a long race, and by the time Party 4: Prize-giving (pronounced 'price-gouging') on the DB Marina Headland came around, many of the light-weights had to retire hurt. Others simply blew a gasket at the cost of a very average burger.
Asking around, many skippers had developed theories for what did and didn't work in the conditions. Aegean's James Oliver credited winning Race 1 to reefing early – a sentiment shared by Crystal and Boadicea. There was certainly plenty of antifoul to be seen on most of the race...
Harlequin credited their performance on both races to their new UK-Halsey A3 assymetric. Cut for high-reaching, it pointed nicely - even in the gusts, where chasing symmetrical-equipped boats simply couldn't follow. And on Race 2, in light airs, it still worked when beam-reaching for best VMG. It seems more and more boats in the fleet are adding an assy', and many are retro-fitting bowsprits to make the most of them.
And so to the juicy details... in ‘shorthand’, to save space:
Start 1: where's the windward mark? Where are Div B…?! Only Crystal and Sipadan away on time, leaving Epic wrapped around the ODM, and St John turns back, sure the others must be right! So a busy second start, with both Divs broaching all over each other, and Xena still starting a beat to an imaginary mark! Rosemary starts with the Div A boats, still gets called OCS on the radio, denies all knowledge (they are actually 10 mins late) but the RO will have none of it so Paolo gives in and returns to restart anyway. Harlequin broaches under Tom Pepper II on the line, forcing them over early, but feels bad about it and throws a 720. TPII apparently feels even worse and throws an arbitrary 360!?
And so on. A busy 20 minutes - and that wasn't the half of it...! Tactics take a turn as the fleet split either side of Siu Kau Yi Chau, then it's a drag-race to the Bridge, spinnakers up and a colourful, fun-filled hour of reaching through the gusts to The Brothers. Hoots of delight as a competitor broaches, then whoops! Here we go ourselves – dump that vang!!! Which one is CP5? Can we wear the assy all the way there? Yes, just, then fine reach to finish. What a daft place to string the dinghies, then Toot! Handshakes and beers all round. What a race...
The blame for the ensuing Tandy-fueled dockside party at the Gold Coast must lay squarely with Xena (particularly Jing) for breaking into the cases of rum intended for prizes. Also with Ken Wiltshire on Authority, for admitting it was his birthday and inviting everyone to go for a swim with him. Add ridiculous amounts of very cold beer, then mix with 20 crews of thirsty sailors. We will leave the pictures to tell the rest of the story...
Next morning, Race 2 back to DB. Oh dear, must we…? A pursuit race, it's always tricky for the handicappers to judge – and given the tides on the TMR, almost impossible. Especially in light airs, and especially when the wind kicks in an hour after the first boats have started. They never stood a chance. And the Marine Police never knew what hit them, as the artificially compressed fleet approached the Bridge as a pack. Or maybe a gaggle. Forced to the outside of the channel, Xakanaxa enjoyed particular attention from a loudhailer-equipped, Chinese-screaching guard vessel (must thank them later), but few got through without a squawk. Then back to the tidal tactics for the beat to Kau Yi Chau and a shortened course to finish off DB.
Intrigue Plus simply flew and was impossible to catch. Xena, Authority and Harlequin converged excitingly at the turn, but that order remained unchanged to the finish. And so it was, as the inverted fleet dragged over the line - a sure sign of a 4-hour pursuit race stretching to a 5. A quick check of the numbers, though, and theoretically corrected times would have made little difference to the results - 11th and 12th places would have swapped, and that’s all!
So congratulations go to the crews of, in Race 1: Aegean (Div A & Combined) and Sipadan (Div B), and in Race 2 & Overall: Intrigue Plus (Div A & Combined) and Rosemary (Div B). But quite frankly, everyone who took part in this challenging regatta will consider themselves a winner. Click here for the full results.
So, great sailing, Tandy-fueled parties, and prizes all round – what more can one ask for? Suffice to say the small army of volunteers and the cracking turn-out made this an event to remember.
With particular thanks to Bevin, Marcus & crew aboard Committee (and party) Boat, Outsider, and Sytske on the sporty AYS RIB – especially for all their efforts to shepherd the fleet safely through the Tsing Ma gap. We couldn't do it without you...
Please send any good pics you may have of the fun & games (on & off the water) so we can include them here, along with the thousands of action shots taken by Pink Yeung, Dave Wharton and Marcus Bray.
