China Coast Regatta 2009 - big bang for the last day's racing

5:28 AM Mon 19 Oct 2009 GMT

'Ray Roberts’ Evolution Sails, winner of IRC A. RHKYC China Coast Regatta 2009' Guy Nowell/RHKYC Click Here to view large photo

The Big Bang Theory of yacht racing says that as long as there is plenty of breeze on the last day of a regatta - then that's OK. The China Coast Regatta was a great success. Fact.

It was softer that expected yesterday, but what a difference a day makes. 29 of 30 entrants reported to the start line in a meaty, bouncy 21 knots of breeze for the start to the last day of Hong Kong's favourite three day inshore series. All Divisions were ready for a final windward leeward, followed by an Islands course to take them back to RHKYC Kellett Island for the Overall Prize-giving party.

With FfreeFire 52, Strewth and Mandrake over the line at the start, the two main contenders for Racing Div A were given a head start, with Evolution Racing taking the race on handicap, just over 90 seconds ahead of Full Metal Jacket and Jelik II taking Line Honours. After discard, this left FMJ 3 points adrift of Ray Roberts' new TP52 going into the final race of the series.

Racing Div B was remarkably well behaved, given the conditions, and it was clean starts all round as Ambush yet again drew away from the fleet on the first leg. The big battle had been shaping up between Rick and Inge Strompf's Orient Xpress and Dr. Ian Nicolson's Intrigue, but the fight ended with Intrigue losing their main halyard and goose-winging the final leg with what can only be described as a double headsail. The 'Heath Robinson' approach did the trick, and Intrigue still managed a respectable third to Orient Xpress, with Ambush on yet another double first.