As a recent convert to the exciting world of sailing, the news of the cancellation of this major sailing event in Hong Kong came as a big disappointment.

The World Sailing Teams Association, Louis Vuitton and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) have announced that preparations for the proposed “Louis Vuitton Trophy Hong Kong” will no longer continue.

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club has been instrumental in the promotion and organisation of this unique event and regrets that it has been cancelled.

The world-class sailing event involving America ’s Cup Class boats and racing teams was scheduled to be held on Victoria Harbour in January 2011.

However, it has become clear that many of the teams involved will now be focusing their resources on their preparations for the next America ’s Cup. A draft Protocol, which defines the terms for the 34th America ’s Cup, was released in recent weeks and includes between five and seven events in each of 2011 an 2012. This has made the Louis Vuitton Trophy Hong Kong schedule unfeasible to maintain for some of the competing teams.

The Louis Vuitton Trophy Hong Kong had been supported by the Hong Kong Government with an offer of funding from the Mega Event Fund and use of the new Pier 10 site in Central as a Race Village which was to be open to the public, free of charge. With the event in the planning stage only, no Mega Event Funding has been accessed and no work has been undertaken at Pier 10.

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, as on-water co-ordinator and one of the three organisers of the event, remains optimistic that other international sailing events will be staged in Hong Kong in the future.

“The Louis Vuitton Trophy had the potential to place Hong Kong on the map as a host city for major world class sailing events. The Club appreciates the tremendous level of Government support we have received in this attempt to bring the Louis Vuitton Trophy to Hong Kong . We remain confident that sailing regatta organisers will continue to consider the city and its harbour as a prospective venue in the future,” said Warwick Downes, Chairman of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s organising committee.

The America’s Cup winner, BMW ORACLE Racing, has indicated to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club an interest in staging an America’s Cup Championship event in Asia and will look at Hong Kong as a potential venue in that context.

“Should this happen, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club remains happy to assist.” Warwick Downes added.

Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, Yves Carcelle, who worked behind the scenes to provide support for the event said: ” Hong Kong , with its wonderful harbour and city skyline, would have made a superb venue for the Louis Vuitton Trophy and I hope that, in the near future, we can support the staging of an event of this caliber here.”

Read our story on the Louis Vuitton Trophy Hong Kong here

This is what we are missing out on:

After winning his first Major golf tournament at St. Andrews on Sunday, Mosselbaai-native Louis Oosthuizen must have been hounded by the media non-stop.

Here in Hong Kong he made the sports section of the free daily newspaper The Standard on Tuesday (July 20,2010).

I’m not sure where the headline “Ooh-la-la he’s cool” fits in but after the successes of the 2010 World Cup, Louis did his bit to keep South Africa’s name in the hearts and minds of the world.

Cheers Louis.

(click on the newspaper page above for larger view)

Much like the late-night shenanigans of the recently completed World Cup, this was one to stay up for.

I caught the final flurry of The Open at St Andrews where Louis Oosthuizen captured his first Major in fine, fine style, concluding at the 18th hole at about 01h30 Hong Kong time.

Mosselbaai native Louis Oosthuizen (or “Lewis Oorsten-howzen” as per the ESPN commentary team) just clinched his first-ever golf Major by winning The Open at the home of golf, St Andrews.

Oosthuizen won his first major title by seven strokes over runner-up Lee Westwood of England on the famed Old Course.

He also became the first player since American Tony Lema in 1964 to win his first major title at the birthplace of golf, firing a final-round one-under par 71 to finish 72 holes on 16-under par 272.

England’s Lee Westwood finished second on nine-under, his fourth top-three finish in the past five majors.  Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and England’s Paul Casey shared third on eight-under.

This historic win was made special when Oosthuizen, before saying anything else during his acceptance speech, wished former South African president Nelson Mandela a very happy 92nd birthday.

All hail our newest Champion:

Lodewikus Theodorus Oosthuizen.

The Champion at St Andrews… Louis Oosthuizen

This is mine! The Open 2010 Champions Louis Oosthuizen

Louis Oosthuizen embraces his caddy after clinching The Open title.

As my son Ethan will say: “Group Hug!”

Here in Hong Kong we’ve had the privilege of being exposed to the speed and excitement that go with the world of Extreme 40′s sailing.  Late last year, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) played host to six boats flown in especially for the Hong Kong-leg of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia.  Here are some of the pictures I took during this exciting week:

After the fun and excitement that went with a week of multi-hull sailing in November last year, we learnt that our harbour will again be host to yet another major sailing event early next year.

Just what is the Louis Vuitton Trophy? 

Well, from a novice to you, I fully intend to find out.  Therefore, here’s my first introduction to the world that is the Louis Vuitton Trophy, I hope you will stay with me throughout this experience:

From SailingNewsTV, the 2009 Louis Vuitton Final:

More news about the Louis Vuitton Trophy coming soon.  Stay close!