China Sea Race starts

Lindsay Lyons reports on the flying start of the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit's concluding event

In Hong Kong, the final event in this season's Omega Asian Yachting Circuit got off to a flying start at 1200hrs today, with 25 boats enjoying a steady 15 knot Northerly breeze that caused both Stella Minter Ellison and Moonblue II to shred their kites.

Race Officer David Salter chose to set a long start line, perpendicular to the Rhumb line with no windward mark to allow all boats clean air and a downhill start. While most boats elected to start at the outer end of the line, Brian Petersen's Elliot 45 Maverick II stayed inside to benefit from a fast, clean start with seven other entrants joining her to take the westerly route round Ninepins.

Top Omega Asian Yachting Circuit contenders Ray Ordoveza's Clariden Karakoa, Fred Kinmonth's Stella Minter Ellison and Neil Pryde's Hi Fidelity chose the easterly route, along with Frank Pong's Jelik, which quickly pulled into a commanding position at the head of the fleet ahead of Sam Chan's Ffree Fire.