Fernando race cancelled

Governor blames SARS epidemic

It was with great regret that San Fernando Race Chairman, Vic Locke, faced the sailors assembled at last night's welcome party and announced the cancellation of the 2003 San Fernando Race. At the eleventh hour, the acting Governor of La Union province issued a request for cancellation of the race and withdrew permission for any boat from Hong Kong to land at San Fernando due to its increasing concern about SARS, effectively pre-empting any problems arising from the approaching typhoon Kujira.

The overwhelming reaction of the sailors was one of great disappointment, however Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is in the process of finalising a replacement race of around 200nm so that the entrants can still test their offshore skills. The start will remain at Junk bay on 17 April at 1200hrs, but the race will not, unfortunately, finish in the sun, sand and palm trees of the Philippines.

The new course will be unveiled at tonight's Skippers' Briefing, however the Clipper Fleet will not now be able to join the fleet as they must continue their round the world journey to their next port of call, Singapore.