South Africa's My Side wins slow race to Shenzhen

South Africa's My Side wins slow race to Shenzhen

The 11th edition of the China Cup International Regatta opened with the passage race from Hong Kong to Shenzhen today. With around 1,500 sailors from 40 different nations and regions, this event is more international than ever and the competition tougher by the year. In the hotly contested one-design fleet of Beneteau 40.7s, Ellian Perch’s crew on My Side Team from South Africa threw down the gauntlet by winning their fleet. Yiihua Pocket Emirates Team New Zealand finished second, the Kiwis desperate to win this event at their third attempt. Among the crew are two of the winning America’s Cup crew from earlier this year, Josh Junior and Andy Maloney.

In terms of line honours, Frank Pong’s 75-footer Jelik led the way in a race that saw very light winds from start to finish. Principal race officer Simon James had taken the precaution of putting in two gates on the race course that could also serve as early finish lines if the fleet failed to make it in time to Daya Bay. It was just as well James instigated this fall-back, as most of the fleet only made it to the first gate, so light was the breeze, rarely getting over 5 knots.

In the IRC divisions, it was Standard Insurance Centennial Sailing Team who won Class A, TongJi Blue Sharks-Ocean Link Team who took Class B, and perennial winner Shenzhen Seawolf who won Class C. Seawolf’s tactician Dominic Law said the light airs and rolling swell made it hard to keep the boat moving. “When you were on port heading out to sea, it was difficult sailing into the swell; it was easier on starboard tack. We could see the other boats struggling as they were racing towards the first checkpoint.”

Among those to suffer in today’s fickle conditions was the defending champion in the Beneteau 40.7s, Wanhang Longcheer. “There were seams of breeze that you either got or you didn’t,” said Longcheer’s Australian professional Steve McConaghy. “We didn’t seem to get much luck today, we had boats sailing around either side of us and we were left with nothing.” A sixth place for Longcheer is not a disaster but it’s going to require a strong performance over the next three days of inshore competition if the defending champions are to retain their crown.

Jono Rankine has won this regatta before but knows it’s harder than ever to repeat that feat, especially in the 40.7s. He’s skipper of Cheunk Kong Sailing Team, a mixed crew of professionals and amateurs. “We had a terrible start but we kept on chipping away and found a bit of breeze. We were between 8th and 5th for most of the race, so it was good to end up 4th by the finish.”

On Friday the inshore racing begins, with 11 racing classes competing across four race courses:

· The 2017 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) Finals held in the One Design M32 Class (with M32 Qualifying being held on Oct.24th-25th)

· One Design Beneteau First 40.7 Class

· J/80 Class

· HKPN A Class

· HKPN B Class

· IRC A Class

· IRC B Class

· IRC C Class

· One Design Bavaria Cruiser 37 Class

· ASAF Keelboat Cup Class

· One Design Youth Class

* The China Cup International Regatta 2017 takes place over four days from 26th October to 29th October in the waters of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. There are around 1,500 sailors representing almost 40 different regions and nations including: New Zealand, Australia, USA, Great Britain, Russia, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, Welsh, Canada, The United States Virgin Islands, Belgium, Austria, Tunisia, Oman, India, South Africa, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau and China. China Cup International Regatta, approved by General Administration of Sport of China, is co-hosted by the Water Sports Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and Chinese Yachting Association as well as Shenzhen Municipal Administration of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It is the largest China-initiated international sailing regatta, and the biggest First 40.7 regatta in the Asian-Pacific region. China Cup International Regatta has been awarded 'Asian Regatta of the year' on four occasions at the Asian Marine and Boating Awards, and by brand value is recognised as one of the top 10 sporting events in China.