The newest keelboat regatta on the world sailing scene, the China Cup International Regatta, is making waves – and a crew from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was among the participants.
Sailing a chartered Beneteau 40.7, well known Sydney 38 skipper Steve Proud and his crew finished fourth overall in IRC Division B for these one-design boats, against a fleet of more than 20 crews from Australia, Mainland China, Denmark, Japan, Brazil, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, the USA and the Chinese Navy.
The Australian team comprised Steve Proud and his 20-year-old son Anthony, Kars Maybell and his 20-year-old son Joris, James Roger, Dirk Van Ogtrop, Will Hutchinson and Trevor Carroll, all members of the RSYS, plus Andy McPhail from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club and Rhod Cook from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
“Most of the team regularly sail with me on my Sydney 38 Swish,” Steve Proud said today, explaining that a phone call from Jamie McPhail, who had sailed on Swish last season, had got him interested in the China Cup.
‘We contacted the organisers and were invited to be an Australian team…it turned out to be a fantastic event,” he added.
The inaugural China Cup International Regatta was sailed at Shenzhen, China, just a few hours north of Hong Kong and organised by the Chinese Yachting Association and the Executive Authority of the Organising Committee of the 26th Summer Universiade (Shenzen, China). Longcheer Yacht Club hosted the big event with the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club providing top-class race management.
The proposed three year budget for the China Cup International Regatta is reported to be US$40 million.
Last week’s event comprised five races, the first a 35 nautical mile passage race from Hong Kong to Daya Bay, followed by two days of windward/leeward and a final race around islands in the bay.
“Unfortunately, the first race was sailed in very light conditions. We drifted for hours,” Steve Proud said. “The time limit was 1800 hours and we crossed the line at 1801, beaten to the finish by the teams from Brazil and Japan. They ruled us DNF which effectively ended our chances of a top three result.
“We sailed consistently for the next three races for a 2nd, a 6th and a 4th, but in the final race we broke the start and after re-starting ended up 10th.”
Luffed by the Start Boat - Start line action at China Cup
Winners of the IRC Division B, sailing Beneteau 40.7s One Design boats, was the Japanese team from Brazil, New Zealand and Australia, led by the Squadron’s Steve Proud.
Australian Ray Roberts, a regular competitor in yachting events in Asian regattas, won IRC Division A Overall with Quantum Racing, from veteran Chinese yachtsman Frank Pong’s maxi Jelik.
“The Chinese really turned on a great event…we will be back again if we get an invitation,” Steve Proud added. - Peter Campbell
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