Jan-Feb 2012 Issue - the Aberdeen Boat Club

P.26 Horizons 2012/01-02 | SOUTHSIDE REGATTA
Photo by Michele Felder
3 & 4 Dec 2011
Words: Kevin Lewis
Aberdeen Boat Club ran their first
Southside Regatta two years ago;
its origins being a regatta run
jointly by Hong Kong clubs and the then
HKYA in the mid ‘90s. This year’s event,
which took place on 3 & 4 December,
proved a great success with some 95
entries across four divisions, sailing in
almost perfect conditions in Stanley Bay.
The Southside Regatta was again
selected by the Hong Kong Optimist
Dinghy Association as one of their annual
‘ranking’ regattas. It was also chosen by
the brand new Hong Kong 29er Class
Association as a selection event for
the 2012 Asian Sailing Championships.
Support for our regatta came from SLAM,
whose free event shirts and presence
at the event added a lot to its appeal.
Fragrant Harbour magazine also continued
its support providing a selection of great
prizes. ABC Vice Commodore David
Tait supported the event by lending us
his boat Contented Cloud which was an
ideal Committee Boat. And for the third
year in a row, ABC enlisted the expertise
of Australian Race Officer Greg Sinclair
who started the first of seven races on
Saturday at noon in clear sunshine and
winds of 10 – 15 knots
It was great to see the new high
performance 29er dinghies sailing, the
three ABC boats having arrived in Hong
Kong just one day before the start of
the regatta! Together with a strong
contingent from RHKYC and an entry
from the Sea School, the seven almost
brand new boats started first and sailed
their own windward – leeward courses.
Competition was intense as this was the
selection event for an important overseas
championship, and after Day One results
were mixed as only two boats managed
to sail the correct course in the first race.
Division A although perhaps not as
quick as the 29ers, was still the ‘fast’
division and competitors set off to sail the
outer loop of a trapezoid course. More
initial confusion resulted in a race being
abandoned as competitors failed to do
enough ‘loops’. Impressive sailing however
was evident throughout, with 470s, 420s,
a Moth, an RS500 and a selection of
Lasers providing ample opportunities for
great photos and close finishes. Good
consistent results in Day One came from
Wan Chi Wai, Vincent Luk and Kwan
Wing Ho, all from the Sea School, with
Benny Chan in a Laser 2000 and Akira
Sakai in a Laser Radial also sailing well to
end the day in the top five.
The slower Division B was also well
supported, particularly with five RS Fevas,
all being sailed by ABC Youth sailors, and
a strong entry of Laser 4.7s. We were
happy to welcome once again a team