HKISC Day 1

The Hong Kong Invitational Sportsboats Championships started with a bang with strong winds, multiple breakages, and lots of very fast downwind legs. Race Officer Russ Parker set a mixture of windward/leeward and geometric courses off the coast of Lamma Island testing the reaching (and broach recovery) skills of the fleet.

(c) Joyce Ravara/HKSBA

Peter Backe and Frank van Kempen lived up to their pre-event billing by battling for the lead in the sportsboats fleet, each winning two races and setting up a match race for the overall victory tomorrow. The J80 fleet looks like a competition between the North Sails Hong Kong loft, with John Hodgson (crewed by Tim Somerville) just edging out Steve Trebitsch and Simon Blore on Jazz.

Most of the sportsboat fleet trialled new kites provided by Zoke and with winds topping at 25 knots they were all grateful for the crispy sailcloth. 

A total of 24 boats took part in the first four races of the championships, with three more to come. The Sportsboat Association is very grateful for the organisation of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the sponsorship of Grey Goose Vodka, who provided day prizes to the top competitors.

Results after Day 1:
Sportsboats
1. Fly by Wire, Frank Van Kempen 6pts
2. Black Magic, Peter Backe 7pts
3. Exocet, Gaetan Verhaegge 19pts

J80
1. J Chi, John Hodgson 5pts
2. Jazz, Simon Blore 8pts
3. Hakwakti, Dan Tulborg 12pts