Monsoon Winter Series 2021, Race 6

from Hebe Jebes March/April 2022

General Manager's Report

冬季系列賽第六場賽事

Jelik 6 to leeward of Talkinghead (Monsoon Winter Series 2021, Race 6)

During the briefing for the race management team, there was talk of a southerly outside Port Shelter. Race Officer (RO), Rob Allen, noted reports of 12 to 15 knots but said that a more accurate assessment of conditions would be made when the committee boat, Hebe One, dropped anchor for the start of Race 6 of the Monsoon Winter Series 2021.

Leaving Hebe under clear blue skies and into 11 knots of southeasterly, Hebe One was positioned west of Kau Sai Wan and preparations began for laying the pin. No need for a windward mark as all divisions—IRC, J/80, HKPN and Shorthanded—would start together on Course 41. This, for a change, meant an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Kau Sai Chau with the distance on the water being some 15 nautical miles.

In brisk conditions, 16 boats approached the start at 1400. Wind bearing, 116 degrees. All got away cleanly and headed southeast past Shelter Island, making for Ma Tsai Pai. Wind speed, 10.8 knots. Approaching from the other direction was HKPN late starter, DEA II, which sadly never made the start window of four minutes. Likewise, Little Swallow.

In the three-boat IRC division, Talkinghead took an early lead, chased by Outrageous. The third boat, Ricochet, and its all-women crew, was in close contention. Two other entries – Quest and Goddess – did not compete but are almost certain to show up in seven days’ time for Races 7 & 8, the finals of the Series.

The J/80 division consisted of four competitive crews—Baring Asia 2, Jive, Jelik 6 and Jelik 7. Who would emerge victorious?

In HKPN, eight boats crossed the line on time with Temujin, close to the committee boat, gaining an early lead. Ichiban was quite a way back … but this order would change in due course.

The sole Short-handed entry, Miss LeVa, only allowed to compete in islands races, brought up the rear with determination and dignity.

在賽事管理團隊的簡報會上，其中提及到在牛尾海外有一股南風。而賽事主任 (RO) Rob Allen 亦留意報告中有指出屆時風速將達至12至15節，但他表示，要當會船 HEBE ONE 拋錨時，才能為2021冬季季風系列賽第六場賽事的情況作出更準確的評估。

HEBE ONE 在湛藍的天空下，以時速11節離開遊艇會並向東南方向前進，被安置在滘西灣以西，並開始準備放置梢。由於所有組別，IRC、J/80、HKPN 以及單人船都將在41號航線上出發，因此並不需要放置迎風標。而這種改變，意味著在水上逆時針環繞滘西灣的距離約為15海哩。

在輕快的節奏下，16艘船隻在下午二時到達起點。風向為116度。所有船隻均乾脆俐落地離開並向東南方向駛過牛尾洲，繼而前往孖仔排。風速為10.8節。而從另一個方向靠近的是HKPN線路遲了起步的DEA II，遺憾的是，它並沒有追上四分鐘的起航時間。同樣地，Little Swallow亦遇上相同情況。

在早期遙遙領先，緊隨其後的是Outrageous。而第三艘船 Ricochet與其全女性的船員，亦在激烈的競爭中。另外兩艘船， Quest 和 Goddes 則沒有參加比賽，但幾乎可以肯定的是，它們將會在七天後出現於第七和第八場的系列賽決賽。

在J/80的賽道中，由四支十分具競爭力的船隊組成的， Baring Asia 2、 Jive、 Jelik 6 以及Jelik 7。誰會取得勝利呢？

在HKPN賽道中，八艘船以及 Temujin準時越過了終點線，並靠近了本會船，初步領先。而 Ichiban則落後不少……但這個順序會在適當的時候改變。

而唯一一位單人船參賽者，Miss LeVa，雖然只被允許參加島嶼賽，仍伴隨著決心和尊嚴一同參賽。 Ichiban powers away

Temujin prepares to the start

Miss LeVa rounds Bay Island

At the front of the fleet, Ichiban and Talkinghead slipped through Rocky Harbour and the back passage towards Tai Tau Chau. The course would take them south between Sharp Island and Kau Sai Chau towards Port Shelter. But, with the wind easing to 5 knots, the RO decided to shorten course at Green Beacon and avoid a slow beat down the narrow passage into open water.

HKPN performer, Ichiban, having skilfully navigated through Wakeboard Alley, had gained the lead over the IRC boats and took overall line honours at 14:45:57. Barely two minutes later, Talkinghead finished at 15:47:10, taking IRC line honours.

On handicap, in IRC Talkinghead took 1st place with Ricochet 2nd and Outrageous 3rd. In the J/80s, Baring Asia 2, with Edmond Yew at the helm, won line and handicap honours, followed by Jive and Jelik 6.

The HKPN order on handicap was Ichiban 1st, Temujin 2nd and Lazy Piggy 3rd. Again, Ma Cherie 2e retired even though within sight of the line. Miss LeVa finished at 16:16:31.

在船隊的前面，Ichiban 和Talkinghead 滑過糧船灣海，從後方通過駛向大頭洲。而這航線將使它們在橋咀島和滘西灣之間向南駛往牛尾海。但是隨著風速放緩至5節，賽事主任決定縮短航線至綠色燈塔，並避免在狹窄的航道上緩慢地進入開放水域。

HKPN賽道的選手Ichiban，以嫻熟的技巧穿越滑板小徑，在IRC賽道中遙遙領先並以14:45:57的成績取得冠軍。僅僅約兩分鐘後，Talkinghead以15:47:10的成績完成比賽，獲得IRC賽道的第二。

在障礙賽中，IRC賽道的Talkinghead 獲得第一，而Ricochet及Outrageous 則分別排名第二及第三。在J/80賽道中，由Edmond Yew掌舵的Baring Asia 2贏得了主賽道及障礙賽中的第一名，而緊隨其次的是Jive 和 Jelik 6。

在HKPN的障礙賽中，Ichiban獲得了第一，而Temujin 以及 Lazy Piggy 分別獲得第二和第三名。而再一次地，Ma Cherie 2e 雖然在視線範圍內的賽道上，但還是退賽了。最後 Miss LeVa 以 16:16:31的成績完成賽事。