CRUISING
CRUISING
On 29 November we held the inaugural Dusk ‘til Dawn island
race. Yachts competed to record the fastest lap of Kau Sai Chau
between 07:00 and 15:00 hrs for prizes of Mount Gay ‘Hebe Tee’
rum kettles. The keenest racing crews completed multiple laps
while other more relaxed entrants completed only one circuit. Start
and finish times were self recorded by photographing a GPS and
Whatsapp-ing the photos to the race officer. We had great winds
which blew from 15–20 knots, making for some exciting reaches
through Rocky Harbour.
to put together a highly entertaining day of sailing challenges and
merriment. Sailing instructions were collected at the bar and, as usual,
participants ended up at Yau Ley Restaurant for lunch, a quiz and prizes
of wine. While the skies were overcast, it was a breezy day—perfect for
sailing and luckily we escaped the rain that fell on Christmas Day. The
overall winner was X-Terminator who managed to complete all the boat
handling challenges. Other boats participating included Ichiban, Eclipse,
Top Kat and Ate and everyone was greatly impressed and entertained
by the enthusiastic delivery of the crew song competition.
First prize went to Ichiban with 1.33.35 on HKPN corrected time,
second place to Goddess with 1.48.08 and third place to Modesty
Blaise with 1.52.35. The prizegiving was held on the Victoria
Recreation Club’s (VRC) beach at Emerald Bay and the prizes were
rapidly consumed on the spot, followed by an informal self-catered
BBQ. Some boats weaved their way home after dark, while others
stayed overnight to enjoy breakfast the next morning at the VRC.
This event will become a regular fixture in the sailing calendar so
mark your diaries for 28 November 2015 if you want to join the fun
next year.
On New Year’s Day members gathered for a grand day out on Hap Mun
beach for the HHYC annual New Year’s Day beach BBQ. The skies
were blue and the sun shone. Over 10 boats sailed to the beach, while
members and guests without boats took advantage of the Club’s free
ferry service on the Fraser Doig. There was keen participation in the fun
and games on the beach. Some braved the water for a New Year’s Day
swim, others joined in the beach games including a three-legged race,
egg throwing competition, egg and spoon, etc. The traditional tug of
war was hard fought with—at one point—42 people a-heaving and of
course everyone enjoyed the beach BBQ.
13 December also saw the first Commodores’ Christmas Cup.
This was a joint club event between HHYC, RHKYC, ABC and
DBYC organised by the COA and comprising four simultaneous
pursuit races starting in Port Shelter, Hong Kong Harbour, Middle
Island and Datum Rock converging at Chesterman Buoy. This
was then followed by a common second leg around Castle Rock
finishing at Round Island. We had a fresh breeze, blowing up to
20 knots, but nice flat seas which made for some great sailing.
Twelve boats entered and Eagles Quest carried off first prize
for division C, Dolphin Six for division D and Lady Butterfly
took first prize for the common second leg (all divisions). The
prizegiving was held on the beach at South Bay followed
by an informal self-catered BBQ. This event will take place
again this year, probably on 12 December, so watch
www.coahk.org for details.
Boxing Day saw the annual HHYC
Treasure Hunt organised by Cathy
Delany-Hobbs, who managed
34 Hebe jebes • mar/apr 2015
The next big cruising event is the Chinese New
Year Macau Race from 19–21 February, which
will have already taken place by the time you
read this. This time we will be mooring up on
the newly built pontoons at Fisherman’s
Wharf, which will put us right in
the middle of the action for the
Chinese New Year celebrations
in Macau. Should be a
marathon party weekend!.
This year HHYC are also
planning more ‘Sailaway’
days in