So while it's not quite what was planned (no shipping deal so few (no?) overseas entrants) we're still looking forward to a awesome weekend (13th/14th) of sportsboats racing. With the promise of sponsored kites for the mixed SBR fleet we've got 13 Magics racing, 2 Longtzes, an FT10 as well as the Hugh Welbourn/DSS "Brace Brace Brace".
Possibly the best Magic fleet turnout worldwide since the heyday of the HK fleet in terms of numbers, there is also some talent at the top end of the fleet. The favourite has to be reigning HK Magic Champion Frank van Kempen on "Fly by Wire", but he can expect to be pushed very hard by Peter Backe ("Black Magic") who has been pushing the envelope of sail development and Steve Bourne ("Merlin") who has finally quit complaining about the holes in his sails and brought a new set. Dark horses (literally - who would order an entirely black machine and then sail it in the HK summer sun?!) are the guys on "Bracex3", who have finally started showing some serious pace in strong breeze. Helmed (I think) by HK 470 Olympic contender Sam Sakai, the innovative horizontal lifting foil might prove to be the weapon it was promised to be. Or will it be difficult to handle in the expected 1m swell and fail to correct out the 5mins it gives to most of the rest of the fleet?
Reduced to a weekend event, with 7 races in forecast 17-20knt winds on the "world's" race course off Lamma in the South China Sea, there should still be plenty of excitement. Oh yes, there are also some J80s racing in a one design fleet as well - almost forgot...
Results online here:
http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/article.aspx?c=2&a=1577
and tracks will be published here asap:
http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/article.aspx?c=2&a=1522
Possibly the best Magic fleet turnout worldwide since the heyday of the HK fleet in terms of numbers, there is also some talent at the top end of the fleet. The favourite has to be reigning HK Magic Champion Frank van Kempen on "Fly by Wire", but he can expect to be pushed very hard by Peter Backe ("Black Magic") who has been pushing the envelope of sail development and Steve Bourne ("Merlin") who has finally quit complaining about the holes in his sails and brought a new set. Dark horses (literally - who would order an entirely black machine and then sail it in the HK summer sun?!) are the guys on "Bracex3", who have finally started showing some serious pace in strong breeze. Helmed (I think) by HK 470 Olympic contender Sam Sakai, the innovative horizontal lifting foil might prove to be the weapon it was promised to be. Or will it be difficult to handle in the expected 1m swell and fail to correct out the 5mins it gives to most of the rest of the fleet?
Reduced to a weekend event, with 7 races in forecast 17-20knt winds on the "world's" race course off Lamma in the South China Sea, there should still be plenty of excitement. Oh yes, there are also some J80s racing in a one design fleet as well - almost forgot...
Results online here:
http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/article.aspx?c=2&a=1577
and tracks will be published here asap:
http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/article.aspx?c=2&a=1522
ah David, now you see why i have kept asking you ages before, even when you're at UK & not yet here, just to write to my little queries...
ReplyDeleteabsolutely should you write more, just for me to even know more & now... hahaha... much wider the sailworld readers to share even more your feelings & thoughts... hopefully more response???!!!
good luck you the new shirt new sticker with new sails magic teamstoo??!! have to race mine tomorrow at different hk sea though, so c u definitely this sunday... constantly 20kt wind?? you sure??!! cheerscy