Flash #2 2006

Jan 12th, 2006

Upcoming Events

2006 Calendar Now Available!

Dog Series 1, 2, 3 – January 15

The first series of the year kicks off this Sunday the 15th.
Forecast is for 17-20 degrees and Force 4-5. Much warmer and plenty of wind! Leave the beach at 1:00.

Ken Wiltshire will be leaving us to head back to New Zealand very shortly. Maybe he’ll be back later, maybe he won’t. Let’s have a few drinks on the beach after racing this Sunday. We’ll fire up the Barbie – as we’re not sure of numbers it’s probably best to make this a bring-your-own meat event. Not Dog, please!

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News

Beach Updates

New Blocks Arrived! — The new rectangular boat blocks have arrived. Wayne Smal and Neels have done an outstanding job and fitted most of them already. We could do with a hand to get the rest finished Sunday lunch time – should only take 10 minutes if we all pitch in before sailing.

Membership Fees Due

If you have not already sent your check to Steve Wallace, please do so quickly. You will want your boat covered by insurance for 2006 as soon as possible and definitely before your next sail!

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Sailing Report

Christmas Sail Around Lantau – December 26-27

By Thomas Cheng
On behalf of our team (IQ, Wing, Ah Keung, Alex, Fung, Clara, Clara's daughter, Vivian, Cynthia, Ah Ed, Ah Shan, Andy, Wah Mui)

Day 1: Discovery Bay - Kap Shui Mun Bridge - Sha Chau - Sha Lo Wan
We are a group of 11 people, sailing with three Hobie 16s and two Dart 18s. The youngest crew member is Clara’s 12 year old daughter. The wind force predicted for that day is B.F. 4-5 NW. When we started, the wind was not so strong, so it was good for us to pick up our skills. Outside Disneyland, though, the wind started getting stronger. It took us only 45 minutes to arrive at the first checkpoint - Kap Shui Mun Bridge (the bridge next to Ma Wan). Sailing under the bridge, brought us to the channel between Tuen Mun Highway and North Lautau Highway. Then we sailed downwind all the way to HK International Airport. Suddenly, we decided that we should to go to Sha Chau Marine Park. Landing on the beach, enjoying the sun shine, walking around the island, visiting the temple with whale fossils, taking photos --it was so much fun. From Sha Chau to Sha Lo Wan, the wind dropped to 1-2 knots and we could not sail directly to Sha Lo Wan because of the restricted area near airport. There was a lot of turbulence generated from the planes, so even there are only 3-4nm, it took us 1.5 hours to reach Sha Lo Wan. Sailing under the landing planes, it is just like I can touch the plane. It is amazing! At night, we had delicious BBQ food prepared by Clara.

Day 2: Sha Lo Wan - Fan Lau - Discovery Bay
After eating a big breakfast to prepare for the long long sailing day, we started at 10am and continued going anticlockwise around Lantau Island. The wind is weak until Fan Lau. The Chinese White Dolphin woke us up, swimming under our boat. It is really a good experience to sail with the dolphin! Round the tip of Fan Lau, sailing upwind at BF 4-5 NW, everybody got prepared for trapezing. IQ and Wing's Hobie 16 leading all the way until our first checkpoint - Pui O. At that time it is already 3pm. Gathering all the boats, we had a quick lunch on the boat and planned for the remaining journey. The first boat (my Hobie 16 sailed with Ah Keung :>) arrived in Discovery Bay at 6pm and two other boats managed to catch the sunset wind to arrive in Discovery Bay soon after. Because of the dark, we called Ah Wah to tow the remaining two boats back to the beach.

Anyway, we had an enjoyable sailing trip around Lantau Island in TWO DAYS. (Not 4 days as Richard predicted)

And we are looking forward to the sailing trip/camp to Soko Islands!

Richard Carrey
Commodore, Lantau Boat Club