Out on the race course, we realized that the wind was not as strong as expected and the races became quite tactical, with crews looking for wind in different corners of the course.

Alexandra Nitsch and Thomas Wadle confirmed their great results from the “Nationals” by taking two wins ahead of Choi Fung and Joe Shieh, with the reverse order in the remaining race. A clear sign how Brian Phipps’s training is paying off!

Coming back to the beach everyone was steaming in their dry suits since in the meantime the sun had come out and the racing was very tight around Peng Chau with only three minutes separation between the first and the last boat.

After racing, all shared some hot tea with rum, some having a beer as well.

Don’t forget, our next club race is in two week’s time (Feb 18) and the Cheung Chau Challenge with the Hobie Club is on the weekend of March 3rd. So make sure everyone gets some practice races in before that.

— Christoph Merz, Race Officer

Sailors share a well-earned cup of hot rum tea after Dragon Series #1. From left to right: James Branch, Ross Taylor, James Ford, Martin Kidgell, Thomas Wadle, and Joe Shieh. Photo: Christoph Merz.

Overall

R1

R2

R3

After a cold, gray morning, the sun came out during the island race. From left, Chris Fraser, Alex Nitsch, James Branch, Ross Taylor. Photo: Christoph Merz.

Few of us have been out on the water lately, as this holiday season has brought HK the coldest and greyest weather in memory. Hopefully it will warm up soon! In the meantime, this is a good time to consider getting one of our warm semi-dry tops, if you haven't already. 

Our Annual General Meeting is coming up on February 25 at 1630 in the D'Cafe restaurant in DBRC. The agenda is here and more information is here. We hope all members will attend and cast their vote to decide whether to incorporate LBC as a non-profit limited company.

Also planned for February is the Dragon Series of three club races, leading up to the annual Cheung Chau Challenge, in which LBC sailors face off with our rivals from the Hobie Club. For details, see the event calendar.

We hope to see you on the beach soon!

— Joe Shieh, Commodore
 

Discovery Bay Recreation Club

Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 1630 hrs

Preliminary Agenda

(Revised 8 Feb 2012)

1. Call to order

2. Approve minutes of previous general meeting (16 April 2011)

3. Commodore's report

4. Treasurer’s report

5. LIOCC report

6. LIRC report

7. Vote on whether to approve incorporation documents as (a) new constitution and rules of LBC and (b) basis for incorporating LBC as a limited company

8. Vote on whether to incorporate LBC, Ltd., as a limited company; transfer club assets to LBC, Ltd.; and dissolve LBC as a society

9. Election of General Committee Officers for 2012-13. Posts to be elected: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer, Beachmaster. Also, the sailing, paddling, and rowing divisions shall each appoint one representative.

10. Election of Sailing Committee Officers for 2012-13. Posts to be elected: Sailing chairperson, Race Officer, Social Secretary, Training Officer, Regatta Chair.

11. Fees. (a) Motion to establish a $500/year fee for storage of small dinghies less than 4.2m in length, the same fee now charged for kayak and canoe storage. (b) Other fees to remain unchanged.

12. Any Other Business

13. Schedule Next General Meeting

MINUTES OF GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING

January 12, 2012

A regular meeting of the Lantau Boat Club General Committee was held at the Discovery Bay Recreation Club on January 12, 2012. A quorum was established and the Commodore called the meeting to order at 19:40.

Members present: Joe Shieh, Commodore
Chris Fraser, Secretary
Andy Keith, Social Secretary
Ulrike Weckler, LIRC Representative (Treasurer)
Kobi Janssen, LIOCC Representative (Secretary)

In attendance: Bob Wilson, LIRC
Adie Leung, LIOCC

Regrets: Chan Yu Ting, Vice Commodore (Training)
Don Nettleton, Treasurer
Christoph Merz, Race Officer
James Branch, Beachmaster

1. Approval of Minutes

The Committee approved the minutes of the previous committee meeting (Nov 28, 2011), which were circulated in advance and posted on the website.

2. Treasurer’s report

The Treasurer submitted a detailed report in absentia. As of January, the Club had approximately $345,000 in its accounts. LBC reimbursed LIRC $30,736 for a boat rack and oar box. The regatta cost was just under $112,000. The club purchased new anchors and ropes for Awah’s boat.

3. Incorporation

Drafts of the new Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, and Bylaws have been prepared. These will be circulated to members of the General Committee, Incorporation Subcommittee, and Club at large for their comments. Revised versions will then be submitted to the Members of the Club for their approval at the Annual General Meeting.

Action: Secretary

4. AGM Schedule

The 2012 Annual General Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 25, at 16:30 at the DBRC.

5. New Oc1/oc2 Rack

The LIOCC proposes to build a compact boat rack on the left side of the sail hut to store roughly one dozen OC1s or OC2s. The rack will replace a table now standing by the hut on which a pair of OC2s are stored and will not take up any additional space. It will not be a permanent structure or require a cement foundation. The LIOCC also proposes to install paddle storage cabinets in or behind the hut. The Committee approved both proposals.

Action: LIOCC

6. Membership cards

The plan to issue membership cards will be postponed until the beginning of the new membership year in April.

7. Boat parking and waiting list

Several boats stored on the beach have not been sailed in more than one year. A few are no longer seaworthy. To open up boat parking spaces for members and prospective members on the waiting list, the Committee will notify owners of unsailed boats in the back row that their parking privileges will not be renewed after March 31. Other owners will be notified that their boats may be moved to the back row.

Action: Secretary

8. Kayak Parking

A work party will be scheduled, probably around February 18, to survey the kayak/OC1 racks and remove any unregistered or abandoned boats. LIOCC representatives will be invited to assist.

Action: Beachmaster

9. Next meeting

The Committee will meet next in mid February, if necessary, to make final revisions to the incorporation documents before the AGM. The meeting adjourned at 21:30.

Respectfully submitted,

Chris Fraser
Secretary
 

Alex and Christoph rounding the windward mark. Photo: Andy Keith.

Despite cold temperatures, cloudy skies, and a bit of rain on the first day, and thick fog on the second, Race Officer Brenda Davies managed to fit in four races on Saturday and two on Sunday for a total of six.

After a few troubles in the first three races, Alex — the only lady helm in the regatta — and Christoph showed marked improvement in the fourth through six races, with a best finish of second place in Race 4 — an impressive showing for their first F18 regatta.

Choi and Joe had to deal with a broken tiller on Saturday but still managed to finish all the races in the middle of the field.
 

Choi and Joe before a start on Day 1. Photo: William Fung.

This year's HK F18 champions are Mike Scantlebury and David Harris, also champions of LBC's Air Canada Asian Open Regatta last November. Mike and David took bullets in four of the six races and had the regatta wrapped up before the final race.

Last year's champs, J. C. Broyelle and Doris Hung, were unable to complete the regatta, receiving DNC/DNF for the last three races.

Full results are available here, and this page will be updated as photos become available.

Joe and Choi at the windward mark. Photo: Andy Keith.

LBC members are encouraged to read all three documents and suggest changes or revisions in advance of the AGM. If approved by the LBC Committee and Incorporation Subcommittee, these will be incorporated into the final drafts presented to the Club at the AGM. Comments may be sent to the Secretary or posted in the "Comments" box on this page.

PDF versions of the three documents are linked below:

• Proposed Memorandum of Association
• Proposed Articles of Association (with minor revisions indicated by underlining)
• Proposed Bylaws (with minor revisions indicated by underlining)

• Approve minutes of previous meeting
• Commodore’s address
• LBC incorporation plans: review incorporation documents and plan next steps
• Discuss and approve/reject proposal for new OC1/OC2/kayak rack
• Boat parking / waiting list: discuss removal of unsailed boats
• Kayak parking: removal of abandoned kayaks
• Schedule 2012 AGM
• Membership cards
• Succession planning: seek nominees for club officers for 2012-13
• AOB
• Schedule next meeting