Most improved probably goes to The Battler HKG 903 with Mark Jukes and Michael Coates who have shown some great speed both in the harbour and at the Class Champs at Lamma. With new sails, this is a team who
will surely win a race this season as well. Another team who joined the first place ‘buy the beer for the boys’ group was Richard Kendal and Sue Godfrey in Capoeira HKG 1046 who won the 4th race of the Farquhar series after getting the downwind tactics spot on. Four boats were nose to tail at the last windward mark and Cameron Ferguson, who was calling tactics for 1046, got it right by hugging the airport runway on the last run (or do we call it the cruise terminal side now?) and with more pressure they sailed away to an easy win. Finally there can’t be a report about the Hong Kong Etchells without reference to the Cowbuoy Trophy, which hasn’t so far got a clear leader for this season. No doubt one will make an appearance before the season is too much older! This year the consistent theme has been the ‘put-upon’, rather than the ‘wrong do-ers’ with Ian Fleming, Richard Nieto and their crew in Incoming HKG 1047 seemingly able to drag the offenders to them despite their best efforts to keep clear! Jamie McWilliam and Laurence Mead both did turns after port and starboard incidents with 1047 (who were blameless in both cases!) but they
have shown good speed too once they get a bit of clear air and people stop blocking their way. Where does the fleet need to improve? Probably most of the fleet is over-trimming sails, especially off the start line, and are also seeking to point too high especially in light and fluky winds. Despite its reputation as a high pointing design, an Etchells still needs to be given its legs and a bit more speed and a bit more twist is often the difference between the front and middle of the fleet. Downwind the same applies, most of the front boats will sail closer to the wind to keep the speed on, whereas further back a slow running, pole back, set-up often seems to be the order of the day and unless the boat is fully at hull speed then this always hurts long-term. Much more to come this season! If you’re not already part of the fleet but have thought of racing in the class, let Ronan Collins know and he can almost always get you out with a boat as a taster on the harbour – there are often boats wanting crew come Saturday morning. Contact etchells@rhkyc.org.hk for more information.
FEBRUARY 2014 AHOY! |
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Sailing
Within the fleet there are some great battles going on. The grand master James Farquhar, 3x11 HKG 787, has won races with his trusty team of Warwick Downes and Andy Lam while Simon Watson, Matt Norton and Marty Kaye in Easy Tiger HKG 887 are still up there in the Etchells Ladder (all races in the season to count) and the Skip Etchells Trophy (best 60% of the season to count) after their win in the Autumn Regatta back in September. Mark Thornburrow is an irregular competitor in the local fleet with Dream On HKG 1269, but he had a win during the Farquhar Series and can usually be found in the first three. Nick Burns in Gunga Din HKG 1243 (who has had some crew changes this year) was in the top three mid-season before his international travels took him away from the fleet, but hopefully only for a short spell. He then announced his return in spectacular fashion with two bullets in the first weekend of January when the fleet had two races in a light but warm northerly breeze.