Today came ‘in like a lion and out like a lamb’ for the finale of the 2012-2013 Top Dog Trophy Series, with 63 boats competing for the HKRNVR Memorial Vase, a beautiful piece of silverware gifted in memory of the Royal Volunteer Naval Reserve, whose volunteer sailors used to patrol Hong Kong waters in bygone times.
Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the deed of gift for the HKRNVR Memorial Vase stipulates that the race takes the fleet out of the confines of Victoria Harbour. Race Officer Gareth Williams was so impressed by the early breeze that he issued a notice to competitors adding an additional course option which would take competitors as far as Shek O Rock, but, much to the disappointment of some, the wind softened out before the start of the race, and Course 2 was selected.
Just as well.
By the time the lead Flying Fifteen had rounded TCS 4 a hole had developed at Lei Yue Mun Gap, in which 61 boats got well and truly stuck while Joe Nelson on Squiffy and Simon Pickering on No Name eased through to Chai Wan and managed to keep moving into the slightly better breeze at Dock Buoy before finishing at Gate Buoy eight minutes ahead of the target cut-off time. Ambush successfully pursued the fleet to take third place and ensure her name is engraved on the Top Dog Trophy for the second year in a row.
With no protests to be heard, the hordes gathered on the Kellett Island Lawn, where Gareth and Di Williams presented the awards, including a five-day charter voucher from Sunsail for the overall Top Dog.