J/109 WHISKEY JACK Wins China Cup

(Hong Kong, China)-  The China Cup consists of passage racing and around the buoys racing over the course of a weeklong bacchanalian festival of sailing the gorgeous China Seas.  As usual the Royal Hong Kong YC were fabulous hosts and ran a terrific regatta.  The passage race from Hong Kong to Longcheer last Friday was an uneventful affair which went to a short finish at 'the corner'.  The start was notable for a General Recall for one of the fleets; this allowed the combined IRC A and B fleets to get away in clear air. 

Saturday was a washout. After a delayed start to the program, to allow Government officials to get to Opening Ceremony (taking place on the second day of the regatta - go figure), the breeze failed to cooperate and the fleet floated around from 1200 hrs to 1630 hrs when the RO signaled ‘AP over A’ and we all went ashore.  In the interim, entertainment was provided by skinny-dipping Russians, a display of spreader-diving, and large numbers of water-fights – all good stuff as crews sat ‘on the grill’ in the uncharacteristically hot October sunshine right next to Daya Bay nuclear power station.

Sunday’ forecast was for more breeze – lots more breeze – and it was plum right.  Nothing less that 10 kts, and a max of 17 kts, made for good racing on the flat water of Da Ya Wan. Once again, a class act from the Royal Hong Kong YC race management team, and all divisions completed two windward-leewards and a triangle-sausage-sausage geometric, thereby making back one of the races lost yesterday.

Star of the show all day was Nick Southward’s J/109 WHISKEY JACK, scoring 1-1-2 in IRC B, and leading the combined A and B fleets over the line in the second race of the day. 'The boys were on fire' said Southward later. 'They sailed their socks off today, it was hard work.'   The program continues.....hope for the best for J-109 sailors Nick and crew!

For more sailing and regatta information, please go to Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.