Four Peaks Race

The first Four Peaks Race was held in January 1985. Fifteen sailboats started in Junk Bay and covered Ma On Shan, Lantau Peak, Mt Stenhouse and Violet Hill. Put together by the noted author and sailor, Stephen Davies, the event was based on the British Three Peaks Race. Since then, it has been kept to a similar format with the start moving to Shek O and, later in the 1990s, to Tai Tam Bay. The order of the peaks has changed intermittently – this year the sequence was Ma On Shan, Violet Hill, Lantau and Stenhouse.

The Four Peaks Race is more than a race – it's a physical and mental challenge and, without doubt, one of Hong Kong's great sporting events. Not only does it put incredible demands on the competitors but the level of organization required is staggering. This year, more than 40 volunteers consisting of scrutineers, time keepers, peak officials and control room staff, made sure that all went according to plan for the 19 entrants and some 150 sailors and runners.

Not forgetting the lavish prize-giving the following Friday, with the club's F&B division swinging into action to serve prize-winners and their guests a never-ending flow of Italian-themed dishes and delicacies – all included in the race entry fee of HK$2,288!

Considering the above, it is fair to say the annual Four Peaks Race is the Aberdeen Boat Club's signature racing – and social – event.

38th edition

After a hiatus of two years, the event returned last year (2023) and attracted 11 starters.

This year, the Solaris Four Peaks Race 2024 – the 38th edition of the race – saw 19 boats enter with 18 showing up in Tai Tam Bay on Saturday, the 3rd of February, for the staggered starts at 1030, 1035 and 1040. Sadly, Crystal didn't make it.

Race officer, Gideon Mowser, welcomed competitors while the outer distance mark was being laid. Ten minutes later, the gun for the five IRC entries was fired. At 1030, in a clear start, Stefan Fillip's Neo One and Glenn Smith's Wild Card led the division out of Tai Tam Bay. Juice, Arcturus+ and Wicked followed in 6-8 knots of easterly breeze.

At 1035, the seven-strong PHS A division was released with Philippe Moriau's Rhy & Rue leading the way. Six boats in PHS B took off at 1040, with the breeze holding steady.

The runners from the J-99, Juice, put in a strong performance up and down Ma On Shan to record a Let-go time of 01:25:33. Wild Card's team put in the second fastest time, with Neo One's Ainhoa Mombila & Hyan Chang coming 3rd with a Let-go time of 01:36:06.

By this time, the number of boats still in contention was 15 – Lewis Cerne's Wicked, Steve Metz's Illusion and Wayne Robinson's Sawadee had thrown in the towel.

First boat to drop its runners at the next peak – Violet Hill – did so a long way out. In fading light, Neo One's Ainhoa Mombila & Thomas McManners had a time-consuming (and tiring) paddle across Chung Hom Wan to the Repulse Bay Public Pier. This possibly contributed to their disappointing 5th for Violet Hill. Tonny Chung's Foxzhead did well to record a 3rd behind Andy Pidden's Juice and Wild Card.

It was dark by the time Neo One offloaded its runners on Lantau Island, followed by Wild Card and Juice. After an amazing one and a half hours, Neo One's Hyan Chang & Thomas McManners passed through the Lantau check point to record a Let-go time of 01:36:41.

Juice placed 2nd and newcomer, Rock Steady, chalked up a 3rd in one hour, 43 minutes and 45 seconds.

Mt Stenhouse on Lamma Island is now the last and possibly trickiest of all four peaks. In the past, runners have been 'lost' on this 353-metre climb where, in parts, it can mean ascending on all fours, depending on route taken. After Wild Card's Callum Brechin & Frank Weyn chalked up an impressive Let-go of 01:27:26, Norman Ngao & Mayank Vaid's 01:33:52 for Rhy & Rue did skipper Philippe Moriau proud. In 3rd, another new name, Arcturus+, showed that girls can do it too – Fiona Cheung & Yan Pui Ha recorded a Let-go of 01:41:00.

Prize-giving

The Solaris Four Peaks Race 2024 benefitted from a co-ordinated publicity campaign by sponsor, Solaris Yachts Asia. Led by Solaris' head of marketing & communications, Yilina Liu, there were podcasts, advertisements, videos and interviews with crews and race management.  

The prize-giving and presentation of awards was held on the Coffee Shop verandah, Friday, the 2nd of February 2024. It attracted more than 60 people while eight different languages could be heard among the crowd – international indeed!

Winner of IRC Premier was Wild Card, followed by Neo One and Juice.

PHS Division A saw Rhy & Rue take the honours, with Jelik 6 in 2nd and Rock Steady, 3rd.

Interestingly, Jelik 6, a J-80, was also the smallest permissible boat in the race, measuring just 8 metres overall.

The third division – PHS B – was won by Easy Breezy II with newcomer Rising Sun in 2nd and Foxzhead in 3rd.

Nothing compares with Hong Kong's Four Peaks Race – "endurance, pain and fun" is what it's all about. Those who take part, year after year, wouldn't want anything less.