SLAM SAILING CENTRE
SLAM SAILING CENTRE
Dragons Squad News
2015 Hong Kong Race Week Report
Words Grégoire Bourrut Lacouture
The actual racing started on Saturday. After an early departure
from Hebe Haven, our team reached Middle Island by sea.
The wind and swell were significant and even early on was a
bit worrisome. 15 knots of wind plus waves up to one metre
were recorded in Area A (the Optimists’ sailing area).
At 09:15, the race committee gave the instruction to launch
the Lasers. Zachary and Christie were a little worried by
the conditions, knowing that they did not have experience
with this weather in Sai Kung. Shortly after passing Middle
Island, they started to capsize and decided to retire from
the race immediately—and they were joined by many others
during the day.
The second edition of Hong Kong Race Week, co-organised
by the HKSF and RHKYC, was held 13 – 18 February. It was
2015’s first major regatta for all dinghy classes including
Optimists, Lasers, 29ers, 420, 470, windsurfers and 2.4mR.
Around 350 sailors from Hong Kong, UAE, China, Macau,
India and Taiwan competed in four racing areas.
Dear Dragons,
The Dragons sent a team of 10 Optimists, one Green Fleet,
two Lasers and two safety boats. Prior to the event on the
Friday, Alfred and his team sent two trucks to Middle Island,
and arranged the registration of all Dragons sailors as some
were still at school. After strict measurement checks—
where Alfred had to find missing paddles in order to comply
with the ISAF rules—the event held a practice race for
competitors, management and volunteers to check and
familiarise themselves with all aspects of the event.
By 09:40, the Optimists were ready and within 15 minutes,
all 80 boats were flying around the island to Area A.
Good practice for most of them: hiking out, reaching,
jumping in and out of the water before the first signal
scheduled for 10:55. It was just too much for Bincker who
decided to take shelter on Alfie’s boat. The remaining sailors
took to the race at full speed. Arthur was in great control
ending the first race 10th followed by Nicolle and Pasu.
It was a little bit more complicated for the others who
capsized a few times but still finished. The second and third
races were very similar with better results overall as they
learned how to manage the wind and the swell. At the end
of day one, Arthur was still leading despite hurting himself
in the second race.
The first part of the year comprised mainly of some training
for our Dragons and a well deserved break for Alfred who
went back to Kenya for a month.
The highlight of Chinese New Year was the second edition
of Hong Kong Race Week at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht
Club where the team unveiled their brand new Dragon bibs
(and they are stunning!) While Alfred was away, the team
also had the chance to train with Andy Service—another
opportunity to improve techniques and tactics.
親愛的 Dragons隊員:
今年上半年的主要活動，是為Dragons隊員進行一些訓練，以
及讓 Alfred回老家肯尼亞度過一個月的假期。
農曆新年假期的重點項目是在香港遊艇會舉行的香港帆船賽
周， Dragons隊員更展示了他們全新的隊衣 (編輯按: 他們實在
令人讚嘆)! 在Alfred不在的時候，隊員有機會跟Andy Service
接受訓練—是另一個改進技巧和策略的機會。
12 HEBE JEBES • MAY/JUN 2015
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