Force hosts Police World Sailing Championships
After two years of preparation and having secured the endorsement of the Hong Kong Police Sports Council and the Hong Kong Sailing Federation, the Hong Kong Police Sailing Club hosted the 12th Police World Sailing Championships in the superb waters of Hong Kong between October 21 and 27.
The Championships were inaugurated in 1991 and are held every two years with the venue rotating based on a vote at the preceding event. It is the first time the event has been held in Hong Kong and also the first occasion when foreign crews have legitimately raced Hong Kong registered vessels in a competitive sailing event in Hong Kong. There was therefore considerable interest in the event amongst the local sailing community.
The Championships were blessed with superb easterly winds and clear blue skies and featured a total of 13 teams from three continents. Switzerland (Lucerne and St. Gallen), Germany (Lower Saxony and Hamburg) and England (Dorset and Lancashire) were represented by two teams whilst the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Austria and Australia entered one team with Hong Kong entering three teams. All team members were either serving or retired Police or law enforcement officers.
Teams chartered the new, agile and fast J-80 racing yachts sourced by the Police Sailing Club through the J80 class association with the assistance of the three local yacht clubs and private owners. Racing was based from three great sailing locations, starting at Middle Island before moving up to Sai Kung and Port Shelter and then concluding in the spectacular Victoria Harbour.
Racing got underway on October 22. Team Switzerland 2 made the early running with consistent starting, boat speed and handling, finishing the day with a scorecard of 1, 2, 2, 3. Pressing hard were Team Netherlands, the current World Champions, and Team Switzerland 1 who have won this event several times in the past.
The second day of competition provided a spectacular backdrop for the crews, with a passage race from Lamma to the Hebe Haven Yacht Club in Sai Kung. The day saw Switzerland 2 asserting itself just finishing ahead of an improving Hong Kong 1, also a previous champion.
The third day saw a busy three-race schedule in changeable conditions with both light and heavy spells of wind over the two short round-the-buoys race and the longer island race. Once again, Switzerland 1 posted a strong set of results, being chased hard by Switzerland 2, Netherlands and Hong Kong 1, steadily improving and recording two 2nd places.
After a lay-day on Thursday, the 4th day of the competition started with a light wind round-the-buoys race and then another exciting passage race to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) in the harbour. This race saw both heavy winds and great surfing conditions around the Nine Pin Islands under asymmetric spinnakers and, at the end, Hong Kong 1 skippered by Steve Tait and crewed by Mike Armstrong, Gary Leung and Haak Chai Lau stormed into the pole position to finish 1st at the RHKYC in Causeway Bay.
The final spectacular race was held in refershing winds in the harbour. Switzerland 2 led Switzerland 1 by only one point. Netherlands were in the 3rd place, but only two points ahead of Hong Kong 1, so everything was to play for. Racing in rather tricky winds in the harbour, the final battles were fought, and it was the Swiss Teams skippered by Freddie Geisser and Roger Schumacher that took first and second places, followed by the German Team of Rolf Lange, with Hong Kong in a close fourth position.
That left Switzerland 1 at the head of the leader board. After fantastically competitive sailing, in closely matched exciting racing yachts, the final standings were, in order, Switzerland 1, Switzerland 2, Netherlands, Hong Kong 1, Germany 2, Germany 1, England 1, Australia, Hong Kong 2, Northern Ireland, Hong Kong 3, Austria and England 2.
The event concluded in the Senior Officers Mess of Police Headquarters where Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung and Director of Marine, Mr Francis Liu, were the guests of honour.
Special thanks go to the RHKYC, Hebe Haven Yacht Club and the Aberdeen Boat Club as well as the Marine Department and Hong Kong Sailing Federation without whose support this event would not be possible. The Hong Kong Police Teams are now eagerly awaiting the outcome of the selection of the host for the 13th Police World Sailing Championships.
Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung presents the Overall
Championship prize to Switzerland 1
Mr Tsang presents the first runner-up prize to
Switzerland 2
Mr Tsang presents the second runner-up prize to the
Dutch Team
Vying
for position at the start of the last race in the Harbour on October 27
Hong Kong 1 lean out as they sail close to the wind in
the harbour
Competitors enjoy strong winds in the
harbour on the last race of the Championships
Hong Kong 1 competing hard against Switzerland 2 in
the harbour