HKRNVR Memorial Vase 2025
by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club 13 Jan 08:14 UTC
11 January 2025
53 boats enjoyed some fresh (and cold!) sailing in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour on 11 January as they competed in the HKRNVR Memorial Vase. Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the race forms part of the Club's Top Dog Trophy Series, which combines the season's pursuit races to crown a winning helm for the year.
This event is held in honour of the Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (HKRNVR), a defence force originally formed by members of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The trophy was gifted in memory of all HKRNVR amateur sailors who engaged in regular patrol duties around the waters of Hong Kong to help ensure its security. The Deed of Gift contains the proviso that the race should take competitors into those waters once patrolled by the HKRNVR.
Race Officer Gareth Williams opted for a start line at Hung Hom and a course taking the fleet into Hong Kong's Eastern Approaches, using landmarks and rounding TCS4 before returning to the eastern end of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour to satisfy the Deed of Gift requirement.
A succession of starts based on RHKATI ratings began with the Pandora fleet at 1402hrs and culminated around an hour later with the Big Boat, Cape 31 Out of Africa, with the format of the race allowing the later starts to catch up with and overtake the slower fleets.
The race started in a light easterly breeze; however, it was a tricky day for both sailors and the race management team as the wind was patchy and shifty within the harbour due to the north-easterly being blocked by Kowloon Peninsula and bending around the buildings along the shoreline. During the Etchells start sequence, a westerly breeze sent the fleet off for an exciting downwind start. There was a significant park-up at Lei Yue Mun, and once the fleet cleared the gap, they were greeted by 9 to 11kts of northerly breeze, giving the Etchells and Big Boats the lift they needed to gain ground, with Etchells Good Thing taking the lead at TCS 4.
The lighter boats such as the Cape 31 and the VX One took off in stronger breeze and caught up with Good Thing at the front. In the end, Cape 31 Out of Africa crossed the finish line near Tai Koo Shing at 16h18m40s, with VX One F.A.B in 2nd place and Etchells Good Thing in third.
The third race of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2024-2025, Sun Hung Kai & Co. Around the Island Race, will take place on Saturday, 18 January.