The 12^th Tsing Ma Regatta on 2/3 May 09 proved challenging in more ways than one...

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It was truly the best of weekends. The twinkling stars, clear full moon and son et lumiere provided a dramatic background to our celebration of this special place - the Soko Islands...

Organising an event like our annual Middle Island Regatta is not a solo effort but a great opportunity for a new Race Chairman (like myself) to take advantage of the advice, experience and resources of others. So before reporting on the excitement of the weekend I must take the opportunity to thank those who contributed to its success. Starting with The Cast...

It’s hard to say what a Race Officer’s job really is. I mean, he’s just that anonymous guy who pulls up the flags on the committee boat right? You know, those rags that are so small and distant that no one ever takes any notice of them. Invented in the 12th century weren’t they, so surely they don’t have any meaning these days when we can use VHF and GPS time, and of course “we just go by the horns and guns anyway don’t we”!!!

With Severe Tropical Storm Nuri battering our shores on Friday, a family picnic didn’t seem to be such a good idea, but she blew over quickly leaving clear skies and surprisingly calm seas. An ominous cloud over Hong Kong caused some consternation and we had a sensible change of venue to Sunshine Island.

Well, if you didn’t make it out on the water for this year’s DB Regatta, you should be kicking yourselves! Excuses akin to “the dog ate my homework” were coming thick and fast in the rain-filled days preceding the event, and about a third of the expected entries dropped out. Girls blouses, the lot of ‘em.

Sunday morning the 25th of May: The Day began with heavy rain showers however by 9.00 AM when the first yacht started the worst was over and a nice breeze had set up.

After weeks of bad news in which it seemed like the Gods were against us and we would not have a Tsing Ma Regatta this year - but against all odds, and with the stubbornness of your Commodore, we managed to pull it off very well. TMR11 was as exciting as ever, but with a modified route due to Mar Dep restrictions around the recovery of a sunken tug-boat near the Brothers.

The Disney Islands Regatta on 11th November started with a bit of excitement at the windward mark on Race 1, as Rosemary‘s mast went over the side! Nobody hurt, though, and not a lot of damage to the boat. Andy Kung’s support boat was standing by in seconds, but wasn’t really required as Rosemary motored back to the marina under her own steam.

Fourteen boats started off Discovery Bay, including visitors from the ABC, HHYC and RHKYC – with one of these visiting boats destined to win the DBYC Middle Island Regatta convincingly!

The return leg of the Regatta took sailors on a pursuit race from Middle Island to Chesterman Rock, south of Lamma to Cheung Chau Rock, Hei Ling Chau to starboard and to the finish near the entrance of the DB Marina Club.