BMW Autumn Regatta 2024: Experience Exhilarating Sailing at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
BMW Autumn Regatta 2024 at Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club – Overall
The BMW Autumn Regatta commenced in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour under rainy conditions on 8 September, marking the official start of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s 2024-2025 sailing season.
Traditionally a two-day event, the regatta’s first day was canceled due to Super Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm in Asia this year, which passed near Hong Kong shortly before the event. As a result, the club was unable to safely launch boats due to insufficient time to release them from their typhoon ties.
Despite heavy showers, 88 boats participated in the regatta. The first to get underway were the Big Boat Divisions 0, 1, 2, and 3, followed by the Sportsboats and seven one-design classes. All classes completed two races starting off Hung Hom, with a beat up the harbor to Shau Kei Wan or Tai Koo Shing. After rounding the marks, the fleets hoisted their spinnakers and sailed back to either Hung Hom or Kowloon Bay, finishing near the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.
Racing conditions proved to be challenging, with 10 starts required as wind speeds fluctuated between 2 kts to 8 kts, testing the sailors’ skills in low wind and inconsistent conditions. The wind ultimately died down after the last fleet, the Dragons, started at 1400 hours. Following more rain, the race management team decided to shorten the courses for the Dragons, Flying Fifteens, Pandoras, Ruffians, and Impalas.
Race Officer Barry Truhol expressed satisfaction that conditions allowed the regatta to proceed. “When I went out to do a wind check this morning, there was zero breeze at Shau Kei Wan and only 3 to 4 kts at Gate Buoy – it was not looking good! However, when we arrived at Hung Hom, there was about 4 to 5 kts of easterly breeze; just enough to get the boats going. All classes were assigned shorter courses, each lasting around an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. As the next course unfolded, the wind disrupted the racing, prompting the team to shorten the course at Dock Buoy for multiple classes while allowing others to continue racing. Ultimately, the races lasted about an hour and a half, and everyone was back in the bar by 1630 hrs, which I hope kept them all happy.”
In the Big Boat Divisions, the overall winners were Noel Chan’s TP52 Rampage 88, Henning Mueller’s Zesst, Dean Chisholm’s Darling, and Alfred Lau/Castor Kong’s Easy Breezy II in their respective divisions. In the One Design classes and Sportsboats, the winners included Dragon – Celines, Etchells – Gunga Din, Flying Fifteen – Second Wind, Impala – Taxi, J/80 – Footloose, Pandora – Solstice, Ruffian – Victory 9, and Sportsboat – Phoenix.
Alex Tanaka, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Singapore, has a deep passion for the sea that began in childhood. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the National University of Singapore, Alex has built a reputation for insightful and engaging storytelling. Their work captures the excitement of sailing and the intricate details of maritime life, making them a respected voice in the sailing community. When not writing, Alex enjoys exploring new waters and participating in local regattas, always seeking the next adventure on the horizon.