Two weeks of unseasonably dank weather cleared just in time for this autumn’s Discovery Bay – Gold Coast Regatta. Saturday dawned fine and clear, with the wind settling into an Easterly 3-4 and a flat calm sea – champagne sailing.
Sadly, five boats were forced to cancel in the days leading up to the event (always a problem for race organisers in Hong Kong), leaving nine starters, ranging from 24 to 56 feet. As well as local DBYC yachts, visitors joined the fun from Clearwater Bay, Middle Island and the Gold Coast. Four motor vessels also turned out, assisting as committee, support and safety boats.
Saturday’s race started off the DB marina at midday. There appeared to be some confusion after the warning signal, with spurious calls from an on-looking MV apparently reporting a delay to the start. However, the Race Officer, aboard Silver Dawn, was unaware of the confusion and signalled the start on time. Island Girl and Arconia ignored the melee around the Committee Boat and started clear on Port at the left end of the line. The rest of the fleet quickly found their feet, though, and chased after. There then followed three critical tactical decisions – and the boats that selected the wrong option suffered horribly as a result.
Clearing to the north of Peng Chau, the fleet split into two, with some taking an immediate tack to the Southeast - wrong! The majority persevered on starboard, lee-bowing the last of the ebb tide exiting the Ma Wan Channel then tacked late to gain 1˝ knots of tide toward the turn at Kau Yi Chau.
Approaching the cliffs of Kau Yi Chau, many boats stayed wide to avoid the lee of the island – wrong! They fell into the usual hole to the west of Lamma and had to claw their way back against the ebb. The others beat tight up the east side of Kau Yi Chau, still just in the breeze and protected from the worst of the tide.
Clearing Kau Yi Chau, the fleet then appeared to blossom, as cruising chutes were raised in a colourful reach towards the Tsing Ma bridge. Entering the Ma Wan Channel (the wider span of the bridge), the wind became light and flukey and many of the lead boats chose the eastern side of the channel – wrong! They might as well have anchored, as they met the outer sweep of the current in light airs and parked for the next hour. The chasing boats tip-toed up the inside, and the chortling could probably be heard from the bridge above.
Clearing the channel to the northwest, Island Girl, leading from the start, also lost the wind and was forced to tack close to the north shore to gain any ground against the last of the tide. The chasing pack then ran her down as the breeze filled in again from the southeast, sometimes gusting strongly through the Lantau passes. Aisling V provided some extra entertainment at this stage, as her genniker tack shackle exploded loudly, turning heads on boats half a mile away. Only Yellow Bolero, the smallest boat, chose not to use her chute and was left behind, unable to take full advantage of the gusts.
Rounding The Brothers to turn north towards the finish off the Gold Coast, most boats held their chutes, concentrating on each other and the sprint to the line at Pearl Island – wrong! The flood was now building and, before anyone could say "S**t, drop the spinnaker!", the leaders could no longer lay the finishing line and had to beat hard into the tide to finish. Followed by the next boat - and the next. The only boat looking (or thinking) far enough ahead to pick up the problem, Yellow Bolero, came charging over the line on a single tack, hot on the heels of the faster boats and secured a well deserved first place on HKPN.
A five hour race in varying conditions, a varied fleet of boats and, first to last, they crossed the line only 38 minutes apart. Foster’s Lager sponsored the dockside beer call on arrival at the Gold Coast marina, where war-stories abounded. An excellent prize-giving dinner was held that evening in the Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club, sponsor for that evening’s prizes, with Island Girl taking Line Honours, Yellow Bolero first place, Arconia second and Sabi Star third on HKPN.
On Sunday morning, the Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club arranged a special buffet breakfast, followed by the Race briefing and group photo shoot. Eight boats started in light airs, occasionally southerly 1 – 2, although with tidal assistance, being on the ebb throughout. The decision was made to continue with a motoring option with suitable penalties, as allowed by the Race Instructions - thus preserving a racing return to DB.
There then followed a very tactical four hour race, with boats motoring between 60 and 90 minutes in total, as the breeze came and went. This strongly favoured the more powerfully engined boats (Soko could motor at 8 knots; Shockwave at 4) – a factor that will be addressed for future races.
Hot favourite, Touch of Class, discovered her prop fouled under the Tsing Ma bridge but elected to sail on to Kau Yi Chau where, unfortunately, the wind died completely. She then had to be towed to the finish by her partner from Clearwater Bay, Aisling V, securing the traditional DBYC ‘Rear End’ trophy - the toilet seat, inscribed FINERE EST OMNUS or ‘To finish is everything’.
Soko finished first, well ahead, chased by Island Girl, always in the lead group. Sabi Star took third place (despite attempting to cross the wrong side of the Committee Boat at the finish!), and the prizes for Race 2, provided by the Discovery Bay Marina Club and Fragrant Harbour Magazine, were awarded in finishing order.
The overall DBMC Challenge Cup was awarded jointly to Arconia and Sabi Star (both with 6 points) in a very close contest, with Soko (6 ľ points) and Island Girl (7 points) just behind.
The Discovery Bay Marina Club and the Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club were the main sponsors of the event, with additional prizes provided by FH. The all important beer sponsorship was provided by Foster’s Lager and The Beer Bay of Discovery Bay.
These DBYC ‘fun and friendly’ events are proving very popular amongst those cruiser owners who are keen on less serious races and rallies – just out for a brisk sail and a beer. Those interested in participating should contact info@dbyc.net for news of future events.
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