Light start for San Fernando Race

Lindsay Lyons reports on the Royal Hong Kong YC's offshore classic

Despite unpromising conditions early this morning, Race Officer Joachim Isler was able to give the 19 entrants in this year’s Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) San Fernando Race a Victoria Harbour start off Kellett Island in 6 to 8 knots of easterly breeze.

Keen to get underway after weeks of preparation, some of the fleet were over-eager and over the line. Culprits included Strewth, Wizard and Walawala from the racing division together with Blauwvoet and Nauti Cruiser from the Premier Cruising Division.

With the breeze filling in throughout the day and a Hong Kong Observatory’s forecast of strengthening winds backing to north easterly over the duration of the Race, boats made good progress out of Hong Kong. Leading the fleet through the eastern gateway to Hong Kong, Lai Yue Mun Gap, was Geoff Hill’s TP52 Strewth, overcoming her faulty start.

With a healthy mix of seasoned competitors and China Sea virgins, the entrants all have different targets in mind. With over 20 years of China Sea races behind them, Peter Churchouse’s crew are well prepared for the trip. According to dock talk, the Warwick 64 was victualled with a 2006 Italian Soave and a 1998 Hock Medoc Grand Cru so “Won’t be going thirsty” and clearly mean to complete the race in style.

On the other hand, Tipsy Frenz owned up to having one of the largest crews, principally because of skipper Leon Chan’s ambitions to introduce the joys of offshore sailing to more of the local community and the inclusion of four new Chinese offshore sailors on the boat.

Whatever the reasons, the 2009 San Fernando Race is shaping up to be a quick one, and everyone should be re-living their experiences at the post-race party in San Fernando on Sunday.

The first San Fernando Race was inaugurated in 1977, and it has reached the 16th edition this year. This Category 1 Offshore Race of 480 miles is organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.