Salt and spinnaker: PSC members sailing-in the good results in preparation for the world championships

The sixth championship will be held off the coast of Croatia in September, and the Hong Kong team hope to repeat the performance that won them the inaugural event in harsh conditions in the United Kingdom in 1991.

Undergoing strenuous training, the crew have already gained some notable results. The Force sailors aboard the Slalom Glade, skipper Phil Thomas and crew John Ward and Charlie Duigan, managed a creditable second in the top racing class of the recent Cruiser Owners Association race to Macau and back.

Open to all Hong Kong racing boats, the event was hotly contested with the boys getting an exhilarating ride back in 20-knot-plus winds. The crew said conditions were quite taxing and not all teams managed to fly their spinnakers.

Thomas also saw success in the recent President's Cup Regatta in the Philippines' Subic Bay, crewing the winning yacht Vixen. The prestigious cup was even presented to the crew by Philippine President Joseph Estrada at the Presidential Palace.

With intense competition, the regatta lasted a week totalling eight races. Vixen won by 38 seconds over local yacht Vivaldi helmed by an Olympic sailor.

The training is continuing with Steve Tait successfully campaigning his Etchells-class yacht in the very competitive Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Harbour Series races with the PSC's Slalom Glade and Impala entered in the Hebe Haven Yacht Club's Saturday and Sunday series.

Meanwhile the Club's annual general meeting and regatta was held on April 1 at Hebe Haven, followed by a barbecue.

Budding crew members looking to take part in the Club's events can contact Charlie Duigan on 2860-4981 or Gary Leung on 2860-4997.



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