Timberland Spring Regatta

Lindsay Lyons reports from day one of the Royal Hong Kong YC event

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club were delighted to welcome Timberland’s General Manager for Greater China, Tony Kwan, who fired the cannon today to mark the official start of the 2005 Timberland Spring Regatta, held in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.

77 competitors braved a heavily overcast day and the constant threat of rain to complete the first race of the three race series. Race Officer Jimmy Farquhar opted for a Club Line start and a medium length course in the 10 knots of easterly breeze. A model of restraint, the fleet recorded no OCS in spite of combative starts in the Etchells, Impala and Sportsboat classes and the wind filled in to 14 knots giving a good afternoon’s racing to all.

In the largest class, the Etchells, Wanchai Belle maintained her winning ways, finishing ahead of Gunga Din and Lickety Split, while in the Cruiser IRC division, Frank Pong celebrated getting back into action by taking line honours and first place on corrected time ahead of Gerry Daughton’s Outrageous. Giving Ffree Fire a well deserved rest, Sam Chan took Noisy Forefather to third place in the Flying Fifteens behind Howard Williams on Fox & Hounds and Andrew Malone on Ffirecracker.

Another two races will complete the 2005 Timberland Spring Regatta tomorrow, starting at 1125hrs with the Cruiser Class.

Day 1 Results :
Cruiser IRC
1st Jelik Frank Pong
2nd Outrageous Gerry Daughton
3rd Rampage Dennis Ma

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

Sportsboat :
1st Shenanigans JP Churchouse
2nd Gambit Keith Mowser
3rd R2B2 Mark Houghton

Dragon :
1st Fei Chi Karl Grebstad
2nd Phyloong Phyllis Chang
3rd Hung Tai Kwong Ming Hon

Etchells :
1st Wanchai Belle Patrick Pender
2nd Gunga Din Nick Burns
3rd Lickety Split Rod Maynard

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

Impala :
1st Shikari Peter Robertson
2nd Taxi Clarice Yu
3rd Ling Yuan H. Wong

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

Ruffian :
1st Brigand J Bolton
2nd Schaviut Ambrose Lo
3rd Victory 9 Lai Wing Yit

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