Round the Island

It was a record-breaking year for the Sun Hung Kai & Co Around the Island Race, as a freshening northeast monsoon brought a lively breeze to Hong Kong overnight. The 26-nautical-mile circumnavigation of Hong Kong Island took place on Saturday, the 7th of November in brisk conditions, setting the stage for some exceptionally fast racing.

The previous fastest elapsed-time record was set in 2013, when Nick Moloney’s Extreme 40, Aberdeen Asset Management, completed the 26nm course in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 11 seconds. The monohull record was also established that year, with Frank Pong’s Jelik completing the race in 2:29:29.

This year, however, the record books were rewritten. The IQFOiL fleet demonstrated its incredible speed around Hong Kong Island, with the fastest board completing the full 26nm course in just 1:47:10 and setting a new benchmark for the fastest elapsed time around Hong Kong Island. A further seven elapsed-time records were also broken by the one-design fleets.

Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the annual race brings together an extraordinary variety of boats, from dinghies and one-design classes to sportsboats, multihulls and some of Hong Kong’s largest racing yachts. The classic wooden ketch, Waltham Lady, added a distinctive touch to this year’s diverse fleet. The course creates one of the most spectacular sights on the local sailing calendar, with hundreds of boats racing against the unmistakable backdrop of Hong Kong’s sky and coastline. An impressive fleet of 195 boats took part in this year’s event, reinforcing its status as Hong Kong’s biggest annual celebration of sail.

Fresh from achieving a historic result at the Asian Games, gold medallists Ethan Kiu and Louis Polson joined the fleet in their 29er. Louis’ sister Emily Polson partnered Tiffany Mak in a 49er FX, while Akira Sakai teamed up with Russell Aylsworth aboard a 49er. Seven IQFOiL windsurfers also took on the challenge of racing around Hong Kong Island.

The fleet set off from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Kellett Island Clubhouse, with the first start at 0830 in a 6 to 8-knot easterly breeze. Given the sheer number and variety of boats, race officer David Norton set two start lines. The line closest to Kellett Island was used for the one-design fleets, and the outer line for the PHS, IRC and Hobie 16 divisions. During the starting sequence, the breeze strengthened considerably, building to around 15 knots around Victoria Harbour.

Competitors headed east through Victoria Harbour and the narrow Lei Yue Mun Gap before making their way towards Cape d’Aguilar and along the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. They passed Shek O and Stanley before turning towards Aberdeen and Green Island for the final stretch back into Victoria Harbour.

By the time the fleet reached Shek O, the breeze had built to 15 to 20 knots, with waves reaching 2 to 3 metres and creating exhilarating, challenging conditions. The stronger winds and building seas provided plenty of action, with several boats experiencing dramatic broaches and sail damage as crews pushed hard around the course.

The Around the Island Race is renowned for the dramatically different conditions encountered around Hong Kong Island. Crews normally have to contend with shifting breezes, localised wind shadows and strong tides while searching for the fastest route around the 26nm course. This year, however, the stronger easterly meant there was little respite. Even off Cyberport, traditionally one of the trickier sections of the course when the easterly is blocked by Hong Kong Island, the fleet slowed but never came to a complete standstill.

Ethan Kiu and Louis Polson’s 29er led from start to finish, crossing the line at 1153 and 30 seconds to become the first boat home. Just minutes later, Olympian Cheng Ching Yin powered across the line on IQFOiL No. 21 at 1157 and 10 seconds, despite having started some 80 minutes after the 29er fleet. His remarkable elapsed time of 1:47:10 set a new outright record for the 26nm Around the Island course, eclipsing the previous benchmark set in 2013. The record-breaking performance also earned Cheng the HKSF Cariad Trophy.

On corrected time, Akira Sakai & Russell Aylsworth’s 49er claimed the Sun Hung Kai & Co. Around the Island Race 2026 Overall title, with Ethan Kiu & Louis Polson’s 29er taking 2nd place and Flying Fifteen Mana, helmed by Leigh Riddell, completing the podium in 3rd.

Race officer and commodore, David Norton, summed up the race: “We could see from the forecast over the past few days that we were going to have great conditions, so we were expecting a race that would go all the way around the island, and we certainly weren’t disappointed. By the time we had finished the starts from the committee boat and headed back anti-clockwise towards Green Island, we had already seen a 29er and a windsurfer racing back into the harbour, which showed just how fast the conditions were.

“It was certainly challenging for some boats, but I think most competitors had a fantastic time. We were also delighted to welcome the Sports Commissioner this morning and give her a great demonstration of what sailing in Hong Kong is all about. It has been a wonderful day, and you can hear from all the happy sailors around us just how much everyone has enjoyed it.”