HKRNVR Memorial Vase 2024
by RHKYC Media 18 Jan 14:24 NZDT
13 January 2024
HKRNVR Memorial Vase Pursuit Race 2024 © RHKYC / Guy Nowell
67 boats turned out on 13 January in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour to compete in the HKRNVR Memorial Vase held in honour of the Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (HKRNVR), a defence force originally formed by members of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
The trophy was gifted in memory of all HKRNVR amateur sailors who engaged in regular patrol duties around the waters of Hong Kong to help ensure its security. The Deed of Gift contains the proviso that the race should take competitors into those waters once patrolled by the HKRNVR.
The day began with around 10kts of easterly breeze on the start line at Hung Hom. Race Officer Gareth Williams opted for a course of 8.1nm; sending the fleet upwind through Lei Yue Mun Gap and rounding TCS4 before returning into the eastern end of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour to satisfy the requirement of the HKRNVR Deed of Gift.
This event is conducted in pursuit race format with a succession of starts based on RHKATI ratings. Racing began with the Pandora fleet at 1400hrs, and the faster fleets started later to catch the slower fleets and overtake them. Leading up the rounding at TCS4 was Pandora Panopae in 13kts of breeze. Once the fleet rounded the Junk Bay mark and returned to Victoria Harbour, the area was full of colourful spinnakers showcasing the vibrancy of the harbour at its best.
The classes which made the best of the conditions were the Etchells and Ruffians. At the end of the day James Badenach on The General finished 52 seconds ahead of Ruffian Victory 9 helmed by Wan Kit Kot/Mike Lam. Etchells Madness helmed by Charlie Manzoni claimed third place.
Gareth Williams praised the professionalism of his race management team saying “Originally, I would have liked to have selected the longer course taking sailors out to Shek O, however it was predicted that the wind would soften after the start, so a shorter course was opted for - which results in multiple challenging loops at the end of the race. My wonderful team did an amazing job of marking the results. There was plenty of wind and I hope everyone enjoyed the race."
This race is the third event of the Top Dog Trophy Series which is designed to identify the most successful boat over a variety of pursuit racecourses and conditions. The provisional results for Top Dog Trophy Series 2023-24 showed Wan Kit Kot on Ruffian Victory 9 in first place, followed by another Ruffian, Buster helmed by William Mairs in second, and Denis Martinet / Drew Taylor’s Cape 31 Capitano in third place overall. The final winner will be determined after the Tomes Cup on 27 April 2024.