Heading for San Fernando

News from this week's Royal Hong Kong YC classic

The 2005 San Fernando Race, supported by CB Richard Ellis, will start at 1200 on Thursday 24 March with 25 competitors reporting to the Junk Bay start line, east of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour.

While not all entrants will be in contention for the SCMP Trophy for Line Honours, first presented to C R Goodlet and Gail Force in 1981 and most recently to Benoit Lesaffre and Atmosphere in 2001, they will all be racing against the rest of the fleet on IRC and/or HKPN handicap.

One such boat, Dr Lee Kai Hung's 18m one-off design, Koon Woon, was disappointed to see its HKPN rating slashed from 1200 to 730, however the boat boasts the youngest competitors in the race, 15 year old Jessica Wong Tsz Wing and her brother Jefferson Wong Chung Shing, just 13.

According to father Christopher Wong Ching Lok, both have been sailing since they were around two years old and have raced to Macau and China, as well as racing regularly in local events. Jessica successfully completed her Emergency First Aid and CPR training in preparation for the big race, taking time out from her other interests which include athletics, swimming and music. Jessica and Jefferson will be in family company, with Mum Florence, Dad Christopher and Uncle Wong Ching Lam also joining the boat for the race.

By the end of tonight's Welcome Party, charity events being run in conjunction with the Race are expected to raise in excess of HK$150,000 to continue the Club's long term support of the Full Gospel Faith Temple Orphanage in San Fernando.