May 2013

Congratulations to Antipodes for winning both Line Honours and IRC Overall, as well as her division, in the 2013 San Fernando Race. Members can read more about the Race in the features section of this month’s Ahoy!.

It was great to see such a big turnout at the Middle Island Regatta which was this year supported by Crocs. Congratulations also go to all winners and also to the race management team for doing a great job – with so many boats, fleets, marks and courses it was a challenge well mastered.

We are looking forward to the climax of the 1O1O 4G Match Racing Series  with the Hong Kong Nationals scheduled for Saturday and Sunday 4 and 5 May, followed by my invitation to drinks accompanied by a superb band after racing on Sunday.

The International Match Racing Regatta then follows on 9, 10 and 11 May. This will feature a number of well-known match racing personalities along with graduates from the ISAF Match Racing Umpires’ course which will be run to coincide with the event. On 10 May there will be a Speaker Dinner with World Champion Match Racer Ian Williams. 

Don’t forget the last major harbour regatta of the season, the Spring Regatta, scheduled for 18 and 19 May.

I am pleased to announce that the Club has once again won the Best Asian Yacht Club of the Year Award, and Best Asian Regatta of the Year Award for the China Coast Regatta, in the BMW Asia Boating Awards, and Yacht Club of the Year in the Asian Marine and Boating Awards. The General Manager and I were delighted to collect these awards on behalf of the Club and our thanks go to all the volunteer members and our staff, without whose effort and dedication to the Club the winning of these awards would not be possible.

It is also very pleasing that Hong Kong was named Asian Boating Capital of the Year at the Asian Marine and Boating Awards, which is a fitting testament to the work that the various sailing clubs and associations have done, and continue to do, in order to promote the sport of sailing.

On 14 April, the RHKYC Charity Foundation hosted 32 children and counsellors from the Tung Wah Group, the YMCA and the Aberdeen Kai Fung Welfare Association for a ‘Celebrate the Ocean’ Youth Programme.  Everyone had a great day out and you can read more about it on page 50.

Finally, once our elected committees have been voted in at the EGM on 11 June we will be seeking volunteers to join the various appointed committees without whom the Club could not function as efficiently as it does. If you would be interested in volunteering for any of these committees please do let me know as I am keen to be able to have them established and running as early as possible in the new committee year that starts in July.

See you at the Club and on the water!

Joachim Isler
Commodore