Race 1 of this year’s Middle Island Regatta was the first time a DBYC event has been included in the COA Championship and it was a delight to welcome three new visitors to join the fun: GA, No One Else and Chota Seye. Also new to the DBYC fleet was Legs Eleven just arrived in time from her delivery trip from Subic.

Yes, it’s been 10 YEARS already, since the DBYC’s first event back in September 1999, so we decided to hold a fun pursuit race, raft-up and party to celebrate!

The scheduled day for the DB Regatta, aka ’The Booze Cruise‘, Saturday, 27th June, saw the arrival of TS Nangka.  The storm didn’t reach its forecast F7 winds, but was bad enough for us to cancel the Olympic course planned for that morning, even though the medals had already been engraved with Saturday’s date. After a revised briefing in the Bilge Bar at 1130 it was also decided to postpone Race 2 until Sunday. Luckily, Willy and his Whaler were still available to act as Safety boat for the race the following day.

Reading back on last year’s Stanley Cruise, we noted that Andy was able to provide stronger winds than in previous years. Back then we thought it was a good thing. This year he tried to top himself, and guess what, he did! All due respect, Andy, but we say in unison: for the sake of our sails, rigging and souls - cut back on the wind, will ya!

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.