4 Pe ak s: dr op -o ff
fro m St ell a
4 Peaks
Mojito
Words Kylie Ayson
Photos Roy Pontilla
4 Pea ks: ATÉ cre w
Double-Handed Race
Words Steve Trebitsch
The key to any successful sporting campaign is of course
meticulous planning, training and organisation. Alternatively, you
can just have a few too many beers while enjoying seafood at
Yau Ley on a fine Sunday afternoon and coerce the owner into
entering a team. While not highly recommended, this approach
seemed to work well for Team Mojito.
The boat was entered with hours to spare, runners were found,
including some kind of superman hill runner, which pleased
everyone. Hills were allocated over a Monday beer at Hebe.
Jobs were discussed, and the boat preparation went into
high gear. Food bought, rig tuned, gas connected, sails
packed, life jackets, maps, charts, GPS and VHF—what had
we forgotten?
Oh yes, Superman got sick on Friday night and couldn’t make
it! We hesitated for about 15 seconds, but there was going to
be no stopping this team! Just three runners and six on board,
Team Mojito was still in high spirits and ready to go.
We made it to the start on time and the brains trust at the back
of the boat decided on a pin end port start, this paid off as we
reached the windward mark well ahead of all the other boats
and stayed with the leading boats all the way into and then out
of Sai Kung.
42 Hebe jebes • Mar/Apr 2014
Team spirits, even on the aptly named Mojito, ebbed during the
night as the frustration of wind changes, tide changes and the
compacted fleet took their toll. Somewhere off Stanley it looked
like boats were lining up on an invisible start line. Hours of hard
work negated by those fickle winds. We soldiered on, runners
ran and sailors sailed. We dined on haute cuisine and spirits
started to lift again. Amazing what a warm meal and hot cup of
tea can do. That and the increasing breeze giving us a much
needed lift on the way to Lantau.
Despite the frustrations we finished with gusto and headed to
Middle Island for a big breakfast. The tall stories started even
there and will grow bigger still I’m sure. We had fun, we had
plenty of laughs and just really enjoyed being on the boat and
competing as a team. The race is really challenging and requires
meticulous planning, either that or just a crazy streak!
Despite Superman missing the race, we did OK as we had
Superwoman on board instead! Congratulations Nicole
Arnulphy on, deservedly, winning the Best Female Runner
award—so proud of you.
Thanks to the organising team at ABC, what a great event. I
do think that the poor guy at the top of Lantau Peak deserves
a medal for standing up there in the bitter, freezing cold, either
that or a hot water bottle!
Sunday 19 January dawned bright and sunny with the
forecast suggesting potential for some sporty conditions, at
least for the start. I was racing with Inge Strompf-Jebsen on
the GP26 Stingray. After rigging up and