- Ladie’s Helm Race tomorrow (Sunday)!
- Typhoons
- Safety
Ladies Helm Race
This Sunday (tomorrow) is the Ladie’s Helm Race. Big prizes, food,
drink and a great time are on offer. Both boats and ladies are still
needed. We have experienced boat owners ready to offer their boats and
crew for interested lady helms. Remember, the helm must be a lady, so
if you normally sail with your beloved, it’s her turn to helm! If interested and not yet signed up, IMMEDIATELY contact either Ting or Gabriel .
We
already have 10 confirmed helms and the weather looks perfect! But
we’re still keen to get more participants for this so if you’re keen
but don’t have crew please contact our race officer Gabriel, he’ll see
if he can fix you up with someone.
Briefing will be at 11am with the first race at midday.
Food and a small prize giving ceremony once we get back to the beach.
See you there!
Typhoons
Signal 9 was hoisted as Typhoon Molave passed Hong Kong last weekend. Mercifully, it went to the North which meant the predominant wind was from the West which saved us from a tide surge and a repeat of the damage caused by Tyhoon Hagupit last September. But still, it was a solemn reminder that we need to be on our guard. Make sure your boat is secure, the cover tied on properly and drop your mast, particularly if your boat is a Hobie 16. And please keep an eye on the weather forecasts and be prepared to come to the beach to help prepare for future weather events. The club has a Typhoon watch system in place and you will probably be notified by the club if the weather situation deteriorates, but this relies on certain committee members being in Hong Kong which may not always be the case.
Safety
And while we’re on the subject of bad weather, the club has had two incidents recently on two different weekends which could have been far worse. Both involved people sailing while a Typhoon Signal 3 has been hoisted. One involved a boat being damaged and not returning to the beach which nearly caused a call-out of the emergency services. The other did require the emergency services being called out. Some points need to be made as a result:
- Check the weather before you go out. In both cases, the weather situation was rapidly deteriorating and a check on the weather would have shown it was not sensible to go sailing.
- Know your own limitations, and that of your crew. Both of these incidents involved novices which in hindsight should not have been on the water in these conditions.
- Let someone know you are going sailing. And call them as soon as you get back to land, either at DB or any other location
- Wear a lifejacket. It’s a club rule which is not open to interpretation. It’s mandatory!
- Your boat is not insured if you sail when the T3 signal is hoisted. As insurance is mandatory in Hong Kong waters for all boats over 4m in length, if you sail you are breaking the law.
