Autumn Regatta

A record 113 boats took part in the Volvo Autumn Regatta, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s first major event of its 2026-27 sailing season. Traditionally contested over two days, and three races, the regatta is open to all keelboats and remains one of the most popular local sailing events. This year’s regatta attracted almost 600 competitors across seven one-design classes, Sportsboats and Big Boats.

Due to the state funeral of former chief executive, Tung Chee Hwa, on Sunday, the 20th of September, the regatta was shortened to a single day, with the first warning signal brought forward by one hour.

Competitors were greeted on Saturday, the 19th of September, with near-perfect sailing conditions, with clear blue skies and an easterly of 6-8 knots. Race officer, Barry Truhol, set the start line off Hung Hom, with the Division 0 Big Boats starting at 1245, followed by the remaining Big Boat divisions, Sportsboats and one-design fleets.

A total of 29 Big Boats competed across four divisions. As expected, the Etchells class fielded the largest fleet with 16 entries, while the Flying Fifteens J/80 and J/70 classes were also strongly represented with 14 boats competing.

Adding an international flavour to the regatta were 19 sailors from Royal Perth Yacht Club, who travelled from Western Australia to experience Hong Kong sailing and compete aboard Rampage 28, MNOG One and Manbude.

Mark Dymond and Simon Cosoli of RPYC praised both the racing and atmosphere: “From what we’ve experienced, Hong Kong has an incredibly vibrant sailing scene. There is an amazing variety of boats on the water, and the atmosphere is fantastic. It’s been wonderful,” said Mark. “Back home in Perth, on the Swan River, we’d be lucky to see 80 boats, even on a busy day.

“The scale of participation here, both in terms of the number of boats and the people involved, is truly remarkable,” said Simon. “I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it elsewhere. It’s been great and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of it.”

All classes completed two races in Victoria Harbour. Courses ranged from 3.16 to 6.86 nautical miles, with the Big Boats sailing between one and a half and two laps on courses stretching between Shau Kei Wan and Hung Hom. The one-design fleets raced on courses between Shau Kei Wan and Tai Koo Shing.

As the afternoon progressed, the breeze steadily built to 10 knots with gusts reaching 12. Beneath brilliant blue skies, colourful spinnakers filled Victoria Harbour as the boats raced downwind against Hong Kong’s spectacular skyline. What a sight!

Reflecting on the day’s racing, a delighted Truhol said: “With the regatta reduced to a single day, I needed to ensure that everyone could complete two races. I set courses of around an hour and a half for the faster boats and approximately an hour for the slower classes, then turned the fleets around as quickly as possible to get a second race completed.”

After two competitive races, Noel Chan’s Rampage 38 emerged victorious in Big Boat Division 0. In the remaining Big Boat divisions, overall honours went to Nick Southward’s Admiralty Harbour Whiskey Jack (Division 1), Steven Wu’s Boracay – Jelik 5 (Division 2) and Triple A (Division 3).

There was also an impressive performance from the visiting Royal Perth Yacht Club team aboard Manbude, helmed by Ben Fitzhardinge and Bill Quinn, which secured 2nd overall in Big Boat Division 1.

In the one-design classes and Sportsboats, Madness came out on top in the Etchells class.  As for the rest, the Dragons were won by Phyloong II; the Flying Fifteens – Mana; the Impalas – Gnu; the J/80s & J/70s – Jelignite; the Pandoras –  Windfall; the Ruffians – Scallywag; and the Sportsboats – Phoenix. All picked up silverware in their classes.

With strong racing, a record turnout and spectacular weather, the Volvo Autumn Regatta was one to remember, setting the tone for another exciting year of yacht racing in local waters.

 —photos Guy Nowell / RHKYC