Around the Island Race returns Saturday with 1,500 sailors
The Sun Hung Kai & Co Around the Island Race returns on Saturday with about 1,500 sailors, including Asian Games medallists. Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the 45km event features a pursuit format and favourable wind forecasts.
The Sun Hung Kai & Co Around the Island Race, organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, returns to Victoria Harbour on Saturday, bringing together about 1,500 sailors from more than 200 teams. The traditional event, with a history spanning more than 160 years, features a 45-kilometre circumnavigation of Hong Kong Island in a staggered pursuit format, with fleets starting in batches according to their ratings.
Commissioner for Sports Polly Chong Man-ting will officiate the starting ceremony. Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club commodore David Norton said this year’s line-up features top athletes, following the Hong Kong sailing and windsurfing teams’ success at the Asian Games, where they won four gold, four silver and two bronze medals.
Among the competitors are sailing gold medallists Ethan Kiu and Louis Polson in the 29er class; silver medallists Tiffany Mak Hiu-tung and Emily Polson in the 49erFX; silver medallist Nicholas Halliday in the big-boat division; and 49er bronze medallists Akira Luke Sakai and Russell Williams Aylsworth. Sailor Peter Jessop will also compete. In windsurfing, silver medallist Ma Kwan-ching will be joined by Cheng Ching-yin, Au Ling-yeung, Asgar Kikabhoy, So Long-yin, Curtis Ho Chun-kiu and Yuen Ching-suet. Kikabhoy won the windsurfing category last year.
Norton said the participation of elite athletes will be prominent in nurturing young local talent. He said 15-year-olds Kiu and Louis Polson could serve as role models for their peers. He noted that having these young people taking part gives excitement to other children who are starting to sail.
Norton also highlighted the variety of scenery along the course. Sailors will pass the skyscrapers of Victoria Harbour before heading along Hong Kong Island’s southern coast, with its rock formations, clear waters and rolling swells, and then loop past Stanley on their way to the finish.
Windsurfing made its long-awaited return to the event last year after a 22-year hiatus, though frustratingly calm conditions forced about half the fleet to retire. With forecasts predicting winds of up to 20 knots – about 37 kilometres per hour – on Saturday, Norton said conditions could be favourable for several class records to be broken. International competitors from Perth, Europe and the United States are also expected to add to the competition.