Pong pulls ahead

Lindsay Lyons reports on day two of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Timberland Spring Regatta

With a steady 10 knot easterly blowing early Sunday, Race Officer Jimmy Farquhar was able to treat spectators to a start in front of the Clubhouse for Race 2 of the 2005 Timberland Spring Regatta. Only one boat, Etchells Marianne II, was called OCS and conditions were brisk as the Cruiser class led the way up to Tai Koo Shing.

Frank Pong’s Jelik immediately drew away from the fleet, causing the No.2 committee boat to be scrambled to ensure that there was a finish line ready for her. She claimed the gun half an hour ahead of nearest rival, Cave Canem but the downside of such pace was the wait of nearly 2 hours for all the other classes to finish!

By the start of Race 3, the breeze was building to 18 knots, tempers with it, and some colourful language was overheard as boats, in particular the Impala fleet, jockeyed for position at the Committee boat end of the line. Keeping clear of commercial shipping added to the fun, with the Pandora fleet given the prospect of starting around a barge under tow, however the fleet managed to fit in two great races by the end of the afternoon.

Red flags were arbitrated over post-race beers and with no protests to be heard, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club was delighted to welcome Timberland Marketing Manager, Ms Janice Lee to present the prizes.

Overall Results :
Cruiser IRC
1st Jelik Frank Pong 1.1.1
2nd Cave Canem Simon Boyde 4.2.2
3rd Outrageous Gerry Daughton 2.3.3

Cruiser HKPN :
1st Fast Company John Pyke 1.1.2
2nd GA Arthur Ho 2.2.1
3rd Xanadu II Ben Chong 3.3.3

Sportsboat :
1st Shenanigans JP Churchouse 1.4.1
2nd R2B2 Mark Houghton 3.1.3
3rd Tornado Y.K Szeto 4.3.4

Dragon :
1st Fei Chi Karl Grebstad 1.1.1
2nd Phyloong Phyllis Chang 2.7.2
3rd Kamloong S. Chow 5.2.5

Etchells :
1st Wanchai Belle Patrick Pender 1.4.3
2nd Mango Jam Warwick Downes 4.1.4
3rd Easy Tiger Marty Kaye 5.2.2

Flying Fifteens :
1st Ffirecracker Andrew Malone 1.1.1
2nd Noisy Forefather Sam Chan 3.2.2
3rd Fox & Hounds Howard Williams 2.3.7

Impala :
1st Ling Yuan H Wong 3.1.1
2nd Taxi Clarice Yu 2.2.3
3rd Impala 1 Gaston Chan 5.3.2

Pandora :
1st Panache Raymond Ng 1.1.2
2nd Windfall Tom Ho 2.2.3
3rd Solstice K.W.Chair 3.4.1

Ruffian :
1st Schavuit Ambrose Lo 2.1.1
2nd Brigand J Bolton 1.3.2
3rd Victory 9 Lai Wing Yit 3.2.3

Sonata :
1st Chopstix George Strome 1.1.1
2nd Jil Jik C.L.Yu 2.2.2
3rd Goodie Dennis Tin 3.4.4