Despite news that tropical storm Fanapi may affect the Hong Kong weather, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s first race of the Autumn sailing season kicked off in Victoria Harbour yesterday.

The Club’s Autumn opener  is traditionally held in September, a month when it is impossible to predict if the event will enjoy the north east monsoon of autumn, or the tail end of the summer south westerlies. It is not unknown for the entire Regatta to be scuppered by a passing typhoon.

However, Race Officer Inge Strompf-Jepsen on Day 1 took a glass-half-full view of the available breeze for Race 1, getting the 110 starters in 11 classes underway in 35 degree heat, 5 knots of Westerly breeze and blazing sunshine, with all the fleets selecting Course 71, which kept the fleets in sight of the Club for the afternoon.

After light winds on Day 1, Day 2 delivered on the promised lift in breeze, with an 8-10 knot westerly blowing for the start of Race 2.

Race Officer Inge Strompf-Jepsen once again gave the bar crowd a treat, sending the fleets away from a Club start on a course using the western end of the race area. While the short course suited most of the fleets, Jelik 3 was left hanging around waiting for Race 3 for longer than she was racing, however this did not seem to dampen her spirits.

The Sunday turnout of 90 boats enjoyed up to 16 knots for their final race, taking in the eastern end of the race area. After a weekend of varied conditions (and varied sailing) just one protest was taken to the room before a lively Prizegiving was hosted on RHKYC Main Lawn.

Star Ferries steams past Hung Hom as Victoria Harbour fills with sails (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Typing this in my apartment in Hung Hom Bay, directly across from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Kellett Island HQ, I can see that Day 2 of the annual Spring Regatta is in full swing.  Judging from the angle of some of the boats, it looks as if they are again experiencing great conditions for some exciting sailing.

Yesterday, it was T-shirts, shorts and big smiles today for the first day of the RHKYC Spring Regatta. 

Sunshine and 18 knots of easterly breeze were provided to blow away the cobwebs during the around-the-cans race in the Eastern waters of the Harbour. Given the faultless conditions, the Race Officer, Simon Boyde, selected a Club start, treating spectators on the balcony to the sight of 93 boats in eight starts.

 Day 2 of the RHKYC’s Spring Regatta, Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Continues below:

Guy Newell captured some of yesterday’s action in this slideshow:

While I am typing this, Victoria Harbour seen through my window, is awash with billowing sails where the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is hosting their annual Spring Regatta.  Judging from the trees below and the sails in the harbour, the Regatta is is full swing. 

Across the harbour at the Hong Kong Football Club, the Asian 5Nations rugby tournament is also in full swing with Hong Kong taking on South Korea on the hard HKFC pitch.

The respective skippers appeared at a press conference at the HKFC yesterday:

Korea captain Kim Jeong Min and his HK counterpart Simon Leung Ho Yam at the HKFC yesterday.

The CEO of HSBC Hong Kong (middle) presented gifts to the Korean and Hong Kong coaches.

A drop-kick competition for U16 players to win a trip to Tokyo was held at HKFC