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Cruising Comments—COA Midsummer Rally 2014
Announcements
PRESS
RELEASE
Words Rob Winter
COA
Midsummer
Rally:
31
May
–
2
June
2014
returned from the prize-giving at HHYC after a most enjoyable long weekend on the COA
I begin writing this article having just
This
summer,
the
COA
is
organising
a
three-‐day
club-‐to-‐club
rally
with
three
A-‐to-‐B
Midsummer Rally. My journey started on Friday afternoon after slipping away early from work to deliver my boat from HHYC to
cruises/races
and
three
parties
in
place
of
the
usual
Mid-‐Summer
Macau
Race.
The
ABC for the Rally. We had a lovely sail until webased
loosely
around
the
popular
Phang
Nga
making no progress with both event
format
is
reached the Ninepins and realised that we were Bay
Regatta
in
Phuket.
The
wind and tide against us. So—on wentntended
to
and, after another threeompany
in
Hong
Kong
waters,
deepen
the
linkages
is
i the engine promote
cruising
in
c hours, we tied up at Middle Island. We then fought
our way through the rush-hour traffic to arrive the
clubs
as
well
as
provide
an
minutes tto party!
The next morning began with
between
at the skipper’s briefing with only excuse
o
spare.
a dawn taxi ride back to ABC. We were quickly out into the Lamma Channel and nervously crossed the busy shipping lanes.
Depending
on
Pier on Lamma to ourses
w rest of our crew.
After two hours we arrived at Yung Shue Wan Ferrywind
conditions
ccollect theill
be
15–20
nautical
miles
per
day.
To
keep
the
event
simple
and
light
hearted,
only
the
HKPN
handicap
system
will
be
used
and
protests
are
s10:58:49 on the first pursuit race across to Cheng Chau. The windtwas light
We set off from the start line at our allotted time of trongly
discouraged
as
there
will
not
be
a
protest
committee
o
hear
them!
and got lighter and as we reached the middle of the (empty) shipping lanes. Our speed dropped to half a knot and there was
The
timetable
will
be
as
follows:
nothing left to do except break out the roast chicken, sandwiches and beer and watch helplessly while faster, nimbler yachts
with high-tech sails quietly passed us. The wind picked up slightly as we Briefing,
RHKYC
Kellet
Island
we rounded the
Fri
30/05/14—18.00
Skipper’s
approached Shek Kwu Chau and
rocks behind it to the first cut off at Shek Kwu Chau light at 15:00. Gambling that the race had been cut short at that point, we
made our way directly towards Silvermine1/05/14—Leg
1—ABC
to
Silvermine
Bay
Sat
3 Bay.
• 11.00:
Start
Middle
Island
• Finish
and
a Lady Soko at the finish line
There we were met by Richard Winter on the mothership nchor
at
Silvermine
Bay
and, as we arrived into the bay, Ken and
• Sampan
s the anchorage away from the shallows. Down went the anchor, which
Jeremy from DBYC did a great job of spacing us out inervice
provided
• and sheets packed away, it was over the
took instantly in in the soft, gluey mud. Sails 18.30:
Skipper’s
debriefing/briefing
side for a quick swim to cool off and
• 19.00
‘til
23.00:
DBYC
Party
on
the
Beach!!
socialise with neighbouring boats before catching the sampans to the beach. A refreshing rinse in the public showers by the
beach, a change of clothes and we were ready to party. At the Silvermine Beach Resort, a glass of ice-cold draft beer from
Sun
01/06/14—Leg
2—DBYC
to
ABC
the Hong Kong microbrewery—donated by 10.00:
Start
Liquid Asset—lay in wait for us. For a $20 donation to the TREATS
• our sponsor at
Silvermine
Bay
charity, we slaked our thirst in the heat, reflected onand
day’suevents and watched the local herds of cows and beachgoers
• Finish
the raft
p,
ABC
Middle
Island
wander past. The day