Lipton Trophy

The first constituent event of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2025–26 – the World Maritime Merchants Forum Lipton Trophy – unfolded on the 6th of December under ideal conditions in Victoria Harbour. An easterly breeze of 8 to 10 knots set the stage for a day of tactical racing.

The fleet numbered 61 boats and the racing followed a pursuit format, with staggered start times determined by RHKATI ratings. Unlike normal yacht racing, a pursuit race sees competing boats given staggered starting times based on handicap. The slowest boats (the Pandoras) started first, followed by the faster boats in pursuit.

By the way, welcome to Mark Thornburrow’s Bliss 2, making its debut in club racing. He and his crew started 70 minutes after the Pandoras.

Race officers, Gareth Williams and Sean Taylor, selected a challenging course that sent competitors beating up the harbour to Tai Koo Shing, before hoisting spinnakers for a run down to Hung Hom. The fleet completed four and a half laps of this windward / leeward circuit, finishing downwind at Kowloon Bay. A spreader mark at the leeward rounding helped maintain adequate space in the busy waters.

As the day progressed, the wind softened to around 5 knots, compressing the faster divisions that started in lighter breeze. Competitors worked hard to find low-current patches while staying in the strongest breeze, balancing boat speed with positioning.

ROs Williams and Taylor shortened the course at Tai Koo Shing, close to the target finish time. The Pandora, Windfall, helmed by Tom Ho, was holding off the faster classes until the very end, securing 1st place with a massive lead of 5 minutes ahead of 2nd-placed VX One, Pawley, helmed by Eliot Cargile, followed by Flying Fifteen, Mana, helmed by Leigh Riddell, in 3rd place.

The Top Dog Trophy Series consists of four races. The other three events that make up the series are the Sun Hung Kai & Co Around the Island Race on the 13th of December, the HKRNVR Memorial Vase on the 10th of January 2026 and the Tomes Cup on the 25th of April 2026.