Summer 7

After suffering some damage during the start of Race 3, on the 30th of June, the club's regular committee boat, Shun Fung, was back in action for the final of the Aberdeen Boat Club's Summer Series 2024. The venerable Cheoy Lee has been a part of club events for many years and provides a stable platform for race management and an air-conditioned interior for hard-working race officials!

The Summer Series is promoted as much for its laid-back seafood lunches as it is for sailing. But, yachties being yachties, crossing a start line means 'race' and the series has produced some pleasing results so far. And Race 7 would be the overall decider for a number of entries.

In the premier racing division, IRC 1, Eddy Lee's Next was looking strong but could not ignore the big Swan 56, Parnassus, and the J/145c, Redeye, both just three points behind. In the number two division, two points separated Zesst and 2 Easy.

In PHS A, Crystal not turning up could mean a tie with Triple A, if Triple A won Race 7. In the event, Crystal did turn up . . . and Triple A did win. Water Rabbit was, by sheer perseverance, heading PHS B but a no show or poor performance could mean Generations or Rising Sun taking the glory.

Back to Race 7. After some time deciding a favourable location, Shun Fung dropped anchor in the usual place, southeast of Middle Island, at 1000. Race officer, Alex Johnston, had estimated a turnout of 16 boats but, when he made his welcome at 1020, there were 20 boats circling the committee boat. He and assistant, Jennifer Li, had chosen Course 41 (L) for the faster boats, and Course 41 (S) for the cruisers.

The longer course (L) took in a Tai Tam Club Mark, Castle Rock, another Tai Tam Club Mark, through a Chesterman Gate, with a finish off Round Island. Total distance – 12.7 nautical miles.

The shorter course (S) left out the second rounding of Castle and the Tai Tam mark and included instead Beaufort Island. At 10.9 nautical miles, not a great difference in course length but the RO was keen to get everyone back to the Middle Island club house in time for the grand prize-giving.

Under a blue sky, and 5 to 6 knots of wind from the southwest, the RO laid a windward mark in the direction of Lamma Island and, at 1025, fired a five-minute gun for IRC 1 and IRC 2. On schedule, seven performance craft crossed the line, with the race officer calling "All clear".

Five minutes later, nine boats in PHS A and five in PHS B got away, following the faster boats outside of Round Island. The biggest of all four divisions was, unsurprisingly, PHS A with a total of nine entries and a new name to watch – Momentai.



As the leaders rounded Bluff Head, the wind began to pick up. Big kites filled as the IRC boats did what was effectively 'two laps' of a 'windward/leeward' – Tai Tam to Castle Rock to Tai Tam to Castle Rock and on to the finish!

Initially, progress for the cruisers was slow but they, too, did well rounding Beaufort Island and leaving Castle Rock to starboard before heading for the Chesterman Gate and on to the finish.

First home was the Neo 430, Next, at 13:10:24. Then came Tom Attenborough's Parnassus at 13:21:05. Henning Mueller's Zesst took line honours in IRC 2. Handicap honours for these two divisions was much the same: Next claimed 1st in IRC 1 followed by Parnassus in 2nd and Redeye, with its unmistakable kite, 3rd. Zesst bested Jinn in IRC 2 with Sunny Leung's Manbude filling 3rd slot.

The relatively unknown Momentai demonstrated its prowess by claiming handicap victory in PHS A, a mere 27 seconds ahead of Triple A. In 3rd came the ever-competitive J/80, JeNa PaBe, helmed by Ben Chong.

Water Rabbit surprised all by winning PHS B on handicap. If ever there was a prize for perseverance, it should be awarded in perpetuity to Fukushima Kunihiro and crew, Emi Sekiguchi and Aya Ozawa. Rising Sun from Discovery Bay placed 2nd and Generations, 3rd.

Race 7 had a cut-off of 1600 and, for Boss in PHS B, the finish line was proving agonizingly difficult to reach in the dying breeze. But Arthur Cheng and crew stuck it out and finished at 15:46:32. Phew!

The clubhouse on Middle Island was packed for the grand prize-giving. Next and Generations sailors, in their distinctive red polo shirts, did 'fleet owner' Eddy Lee proud with all their awards and added a great 'vibe' to the ceremony. Series honours went to Next in IRC 1, Zesst in IRC 2, Crystal in PHS A and Water Rabbit in PHS B.

Well done guys and see you all next year.