Nov 2013 Issue - the Aberdeen Boat Club

2013/11Waglan Race 1Sailing in Double H(e)avenCelebrating Ah Kee40 Years and Counting

Horizons ISSUE 2013/11Published by:PPP Company LtdUnit 713, Level 7, Core E,Cyberport 3, 100 Cyberport Road,Cyberport, Hong KongTel: +852 2201 9719Copyright:Aberdeen Boat ClubPrinted by:C.A. Printing Co., Ltd.in Hong KongISSN: 2222-9582Editorial Contact:Ann Whiteann.white@ppp.com.hkAdvertising Sales Contact:Jo Allumjo.allum@ppp.com.hkP 2P 6P 10P 14P 16P 22P 23From the Top:Club news from Commodore John Berry, Honorary General Secretary Nick Bodnar-Horvath and General Manager Philippe de MannyCompetition Report: 2013 Waglan 1 reports, photos and resultsDouble H(e)avenCelebrating Lau Wai KeeClub History: Ah Kee and the parasailorsCompetition Report: The ABC Buzz dragon boat teamDecember sailing programme at the ABCPublished by PPP Company Limited. The publication is sold on the understanding that thepublisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the resultsof any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in thispublication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaimall and any liability to any person, whether a purchaser of the publication or not, in respect ofany action or omission or the consequences of any action or omission by any such person,whether whole or partial, upon the whole or part of the contents of this publication. All rightsreserved, 2013 PPP Company Limited. No part of this work, covered by the publisher’scopyright may be reproduced in any form by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval, without thewritten permission of the publisher. Any unauthorised use of this publication will result inimmediate legal proceedings.Horizons welcomes ABC member contributions of articles and photos.Please contact the editor at ann.white@ppp.com.hk2013/11Waglan Race 1Sailing in Double HavenCelebrating Ah KeeAberdeen Boat Club20 Shum Wan RoadAberdeen, Hong Kong香 港 仔 遊 艇 會香 港 仔 深 灣 道 二 十 號www.abclubhk.comFax no: 2873 2945General Line : 2552 8182Flag OfficersJohn Berry • CommodoreDavid Tait • Vice CommodoreBruce Perkins • Rear Commodore – SailingRichard Walker • Rear Commodore – HouseMatthew Johnson • Hon. TreasurerNick Bodnar-Horvath • Hon. Gen. SecretaryManagement & StaffGeneral ManagerPhilippe de MannyTel: 2553 3231genman@abclubhk.comMembershipService ManagerCobo LiuTel: 2553 3032mbs@abclubhk.comFinancial ControllerLeslie ChanTel: 2552 5220fin@abclubhk.comHouse ManagerSteven NgTel: 2552 8182 Ext 835hsp@abclubhk.comMarine ManagerAh KeeTel: 2552 8182 Ext 834marine@abclubhk.comFood andBeverage ManagerAlok KumarTel: 2552 8182fnb@abclubhk.comDinghy SailingManagerKevin LewisTel: 2552 8182 Ext 833dinghysailing@abclubhk.comGeneral EnquiriesTel: 2552 8182Four Peaks RestaurantTel: 2553 3422The Galley Coffee ShopTel: 2554 9494Night GuardEmergency ContactTel: 9154 0426P.1

Race reportFG3 and crewWAGLAN 1Sunday, 6 October, 2013By Philippe de Manny, photos by Eileen SzeAt Patrick and this Diana season’s Bruce, Elaine premiere Morgan of and the Stephen Jebsen Davies Marine on Pizzazz WaglanSeries, 22 boats were recorded. The return of theDivision B on the lineout had six entries on paper, butonly four actually took the start. This was the first time after along period of absence that boats of smaller size or lower speedcould compete with each other and not fight their way to thefinish an hour after the very fast boats had crossed the line.During the regular pre-race meeting to decide on the day’scourse, we chose one of the new courses added to the 2013standard sailing instruction book. These new courses now havetwo parts, one for Division A and the second, shorter one forDivision B.The committee boat set out to sea at 9:30 am to preparethe start line, only to find that on one side of Deep Water Baythe RHKYC was preparing for a 10 am start windward-leeward,the DBYC were slowly leaving Middle Island after their overnightparty, and other sailors were also in the area to enjoy a greatsunny day cruising.It looked like the whole Hong Kong sailing community decidedto witness the start of the greatest sailing series in Hong Kong ormaybe they just did it to make the ABC race officer work harder.A sunny day with 18 miles’ visibility blessed the morning,seven knots gusting to nine knots from 25 degrees called fora windward mark deep down in Deep Water Bay, and the lightwaves and flowing tide were near-ideal conditions to start the2013 Jebsen Marine Waglan series.The fleet was sent via Chesterman buoy, to Tai Tam Baywhere a Club mark was dropped to be rounded, then to SungKung and Shek O Rock and back for Division A, while Division Bhad a shorter course from the Tai Tam mark to Fury Rocks andback.J/80s set the paceForty minutes into the race, the whole fleet managed to passthe race’s first mark but struggled to reach the Tai Tam markas the wind dropped considerably and the tide started to ebb.It was interesting to witness that the first two boats to roundthe mark were two J/80s, FG3 (Skipper Stephen Davies) andJavelin (Skipper Lewis Cerne), showing that despite or thanksto their size they had supremacy at sea under light conditions.P.6

Benefiting from better wind on their leg to SungKung they increased their lead by half a mile beforethe next boats, the much bigger Intrigue belongingto Ian Nicolson and Simy Wong’s New Salona 41,could follow. As for the rest of the fleet, it lookedfairly stuck in a hole between Chesterman and TaiTam.At this stage, shortening the race became anobvious judgment to make but when and where toensure a fair and proper finish for everyone is alwaysa dilemma.One chase boat was send to Shek O Rock toassess the large boats’ progression while a definitedecision was taken to shorten the race for Division Bon their return to Tai Tam mark from Fury Rocks.At this stage, Helmuth Hennig on Vinetta foundthe going difficult and retired from the race.At 2 pm, three hours into the race, the ROreceived the news that the first Division A boatswere about to round Shek O. That triggered thedecision to let them sail back to Tai Tam and seewhat would happen.The fleet finishes in good orderWithin one hour, practically the whole fleet washeading to the Tai Tam mark. Divisions A and BRESULTS Boat Name Skipper’s NameIRC1st Overall FG3 Stephen Davies2nd Overall Intrigue Ian Nicolson3rd Overall Kei Lun Richard van den BergHKPN Division A1st Overall FG3 Stephen Davies2nd Overall Jailbreaker Michael Tsui3rd Overall Kei Lun Richard van den BergHKPN Division B1st Overall Zephyr Park Ng2nd Overall Banter Rob Sallons3rd Overall Aquarius Josephine ChengJ/801st Overall FG3 Stephen Davies2nd Overall Javelin Lewis Cerne3rd Overall Jailbreaker Michael TsuiNew Salona 41P.7

The Farr Sidelooked as though they would finally finish together,proving that letting the fleet run its course had beenthe right thing to do.The first boat to cross the finish line was RedEye with first-time skipper George Taylor replacingWayne Thompson after many years at the helm,with Rob Sallons on his Banter for division B.The start of the new Waglan season wascelebrated after the race at the Main Clubhouse in theWaglan Bar (where else, of course?) with lots of foodand drinks from sponsor Ponti and Laoshan beer fromTsing Tao. Lastly, Commodore John Berry gave theresults on corrected time as on the previous page.Chasse SpleenLooking forward to Waglan 2 on 3 November.P.8

DOUBLEH(E)AVENBy Elaine MorganPatrick and Diana Bruce, Elaine Morgan and Stephen Davies on PizzazzThe second of this year’s cruises to Double Havenfeatured two of the Club’s most comfortable cruisers;Hana Fe and Pizzazz. The typhoon that preceded thenational holiday weekend, or repairs, deterred other potentialparticipant boats. Nevertheless, the cruise was a great success,and both the Bruces, with Elaine Morgan and Stephen Davieson board Pizzazz, and Hans Lange with Anna aboard Hana Fe,enjoyed a heavenly little time in the havens of the northeastNew Territories.The first night was spent at anchor off High Island, withsupper in one of the popular seafood restaurants. ProprietorMei-ling warned Hana Fe, the first to arrive, that her kitchenwas going to close at 7 pm so Pizzazz got a move on after adawdling, gentle sail all the way from Round Island in lightairs. Tardis, a Bavaria once owned by ABC veteran cruiserand racing sailor Eric Carter, and now co-owned by JoSchmalz and Peter Davies, joined in the sumptuous feast ofprawns, razor clams and squid. There was lots of anticipatorychat about the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Four PeaksRace, in which Tardis has participated several times.Morning swimmingAn early night after gentle nightcaps at anchor meant wecould all have been up early. In fact, at 9 am on the dot, HanaFe again led the way north while the Pizzazz crew, delayed bya puzzle over the rapidly lowering water in the tanks, morningtea, and swimming, enjoyed a lengthy breakfast.The forecast north-easterly was evident by the time wewere out of Rocky Harbour and as we tacked up Mirs Bayin 10-12 knots, the Elan 39.5’er relished the regular swell.Owners Patrick and Diana Bruce were pleased to makegood time up to the Straight and Narrow passage leadingP.10

Breakfasting alfrescoLosing somethingDiana Bruceinto a totally enclosed harbour about 2 pm for their very firstencounter with Double Haven, with Stephen and Elaine actingas tour guides.Light rain had been with us for an hour or so, off and on,but by the time both boats were at anchor in Sam Ah, it hadeased off and could not put off veteran hikers. So, with theAvon Redcrest dinghy inflated, two trips to the Sam Ah jettysaw the entire party ashore for a gentle ramble towards Lai ChiWo Village and back aboard by twilight, as the peaceful shadesof evening settled over Hanging Lantern Hill above the bay.An evening raft-upThen the fun began. Supper was to be a shared feast aboard and tosimplify galley coordination, Stephen had the bright idea of haulingthe boats together and rafting up for the evening. Not quite theconventional raft up, this. We went stern and quarter to, with bothanchors holding firmly in Sam Ah’s best offering of sticky mud.Comfortably snugged up, wines, fine foods, music and laughtercrossed from transom to transom in a most memorable evening.Wondering what the morning would bring by way of weather,with north-easterlies forecast to strengthen up to F5-6, we let gothe mooring lines after dinner and settled down again for the nightin the tranquility of the bay.At 6 am, a local fisherman and his mate woke us as he set hislines, but it was still fine so we made the most of the moment withP.11

a gradual start and a long breakfast on Pizzazz, while Hana Fe weighed anchorand set off heading for Rocky Harbour on the third leg of the cruise. Pizzazz tookthe long way out for sightseeing at Kat O Chau and across the border to Yantiancontainer port, recently much enlarged.Wind was north-easterly, as forecast, but light enough to encouragekite-flying to begin with. Foredeck hand Stephen needed a boat hook atone interesting moment with the kite half-hoisted to, but in the processof handing it to him Elaine managed to let it go, so there was an excellentman overboard opportunity for 20 minutes or so. “Why don’t they usefluorescent paint on boat hooks?” Diana asked.Once clear of Port Island, there was no need of a kite as the windfreshened up to over 20 knots, with seas growing more roll-y as wereached then ran past Tap Mun and Tai Long Wan. But after a gracefulpirouette rather than noisy gybe we glided into Town Island pass and theseas and wind eased away in Rocky Harbour and Port Shelter for the night.National Day dawned fair and warm with easterlies promising akite reach. So, with a replacement boat hook from Harry Lo, and aftertopping up the mysteriously self-emptying tanks and washing the lettucefor lunch, we headed home. The fuchsia asy hoisted without a hitch andfor three hours we took turns to trim it, with the Ninepins disappearingbehind in the glare and Beaufort Channel beckoning us south.Gybing as Castle Rock appeared, we searched the horizon for HanaFe but she was already at Middle Island. It was a fine four-day cruise,and we can’t wait to go back, for another spell in Double H(e)aven.Two cruisers as seen from the cemeteryPier at Sam AhP.12

Past Commodore Jon ZinkeAh Kee and Commodore John Berry andNatalie BerryFG3 and crewLAU WAI KEEBy Philippe de MannyOn Saturday, 19 October, 2013, over 70 old-time Clubmembers and young ABC sailors came to celebrate the40th anniversary of one very special member of theClub staff: Lau Wai Kee (aka Ah Kee and Kee Ko and anothername you might hear if you ask me privately).Under a very unusual starry night two past commodoresopened the festivities by giving short speeches about how AhKee has been instrumental over all these years to the wellbeingof the Club and its members. This could not stop thereand a myriad of members rushed to take the microphone andshare some of their stories about Ah Kee.Everyone had something to share about and with Ah Kee,from sincere thank yous for his training, support and help, tohumourous appreciations of his dedication from some oldtimersand the shy but so significant thank yous given by hisyoungest and most recently certified dinghy sailors.These led to an emotional moment for our dear Ah Kee, whom Isaw for the first time in 10 years with a tiny tear in his eye as hetook the stand for his remarks and to cut his celebration cake.Our Commodore John Berry closed the official part of theevent by awarding a honourary life membership at the ABC.Many stayed behind cheering and thanking Ah Kee personallyuntil the bar ran out of stock and the kitchen of food.Well-done, Ah Kee, and see you in 40 years for a repeat.P.14

The youngest certified dinghy bunchEx-committee member Dr. Stephen DaviesAh KeePast Commodore Wayne ThompsonAh Kee’s familyThe crowdP.15

Ah Keeand the Parachuting ParasailorsBy Wayne RobinsonThe Parasailing Club boats. Ah Kee, ina “hoodie,” is in the red boat.Take off. One of the Parasailing Club’s very first flights in‘old’ Repulse Bay, c. 1982Iguess there are very few people in the Club who are ableto say they have known Ah Kee as long as I have, or thatbefore he started sailing and became a sailing instructor, AhKee was once very involved in adventurous sports and playeda very important part in the development of a new sport forHong Kong.My friendship with Ah Kee goes back to 1982 when a groupof guys, some from my skydiving club that was based in ShekKong, plus my diving club (the Hong Kong Underwater Club)and a group of enthusiastic water skiers got together to shareexpertise to develop a parasailing club. The venue chosen forthis was initially Repulse Bay Beach but soon we moved overto, oddly enough, Middle Island – but on the other side of theisland on the small southeast-facing beach.The instigators of this venture were also members of thefledgling Aberdeen Boat Club, Messrs Geoff McClain(I believe he was then-ABC treasurer) and Peter Howell,another general committee member. Some older Clubmembers might remember Geoff sporting a “pot” on his armaround that time. He had sustained an injury on an earlier testflight attempting to become airborne by being towed under aparachute by a Land Rover on the Shek Kong runway! The flightdid not work out as planned.The ABC’s manager at the time, John Gatsby, had asuitable boat, and Peter soon talked him into supporting theparasailing venture with Ah Kee volunteering his servicesas driver. The British Army was in Hong Kong in those daysand we were fortunate to have found a parasailing instructorbased at the Blackdown Barracks in Kowloon. Indeed our firstofficial (unofficial) flight was on the Barracks’ football pitch –in the dark.Airborne behind a speedboatAll this came about due to a Hong Kong Government CivilAviation Department survey on all aspects of flight safety,which meant skydiving as a sport was banned for a time.Therefore the only way fellow skydivers and I could get airbornewas behind a speedboat. Ah Kee proved to be a perfect driver.The club ran for only around three years, but we had theGovernment’s Sports and Recreation Department’s interest,as they’d even offered us a grant to develop the sport. But theban on skydiving was lifted so we parachutists were finally ableto go back to jumping out of airplanes. We lost interest in theparasailing club, which sadly disbanded soon after,‒but we’dhad a great time while it lasted. Skydiving continued as a sportin Hong Kong until 1997.Like all aerial sports practitioners we had our ups anddowns; the most notable ‘up’ was being commissioned to doa TV ad for a well-known sportswear company. I drove theP.16

para-tow boat and Ah Kee drove the ad director and cameracrew in the ABC manager’s boat behind. We had greatfun towing the prima donna-male model around RepulseBay, the director giving orders on the radio for “up, up, up”(speed up) then “down, down, down” (slow down) so asto manoeuvre the ‘kite’ and its passenger in line with thebest backdrop, like the Old Repulse Bay Hotel or the Ospreythree-masted sailing ship that was moored in the bay beforeshe was lost a year or so later in Typhoon Ellen. At onepoint we lowered the parachute until the poor guy was justskimming the sea surface with his toes. Great to see himbreak his demureness and panic.The Parasailing Club group photo on the beach on ‘old’ Repulse Bay. GeoffMcClain and Peter Howell are standing at the back.The line went limpMy most notable ‘down’ was when we were just beginning. Onour very first day at this, I was the fourth guy to “go up.” Thelaunch went okay, Ah Kee handled the boat well, the take-offwent fine and soon I was being towed at about 150 feet overthe bay. But after a 15-minute ride the canopy became verybumpy and I was really being tossed around. As I was about tohit the quick release to allow myself to ‘parachute’ down, theline suddenly went limp and it all went very quiet and I foundmyself floating down anyway.I landed in the water, keeping clear of the parachute lines.The tow boat drew up alongside me, the heads of Ah Kee andGeoff McClain peering over the side to see if I was alright.They said the wind had caught the parachute and overcamethe engine so they themselves were being towed backwards!So they had to release the towline as seawater was floodingover the transom and threatening to flood and sink the boat.As the boat’s batteries were now underwater they were goingto have to speed off to drain the boat quickly before theycould come back to rescue me.So there you are: my most indelible memory of Ah Kee iswhen he left me floating all alone in the middle of Repulse Bayattached to a parachute!Congratulations on your 40 years, Ah Kee.P.17

November Menu Promotion: IndiaAvailable in the Galley coffee shop and the Four Peaks RestaurantStartersLamb shorba, chicken seehk kebab, lamb shami kebabMainsChicken Chettinad, methi gosht, prawn balchaow, fish Armitsari, bhindi masalaDessertGulab jamunTo reserve for your family and friends,call the Galley at 2554 9494 or the Four Peaks at 2553 3422Hotpot Buffet, Free Wine Tasting, the GalleyFriday, 15 November6:30 – 8:30 pmAdults $178Children (3-12 years of age) $118To reserve for your family and friends, call the Galley at 2554 9494

Thanksgiving Buffet, the GalleyThursday, 28 November6:30 – 9:30 pmRoasted Chestnut SoupRoast turkey and honey-glazedham, with farmhouse stuffing,mashed potatoes, caramelizedgarlic and parsnipsPumpkin CheesecakeCoffee and tea$228 per personTo reserve for your family and friends,call the Galley at 2554 9494 or the Four Peaks at 2553 3422Dinner Theatre, Harbour Room & BridgeFriday, 13 DecemberThe ABC presents a murder-mystery dinner theatre:“Deadly Night in 1898, at the Cooked Goose”7 pm pre-dinner bubbly and canapés8 pm dinner and showJoin us for an amusing night full of mysteries and laughter.The dinner and show begin at 8 pm so don’t be late!Tim Twist has been seen lurking in the shadows. Why is he here? What does Lucy know?What is Charlie's shady past? The questions are endless and could lead to revenge andeven murder. All will be revealed in this entertaining interactive show.$488 for pre-dinner drinks, dinner and show.The menu may be seen on our website.Please book in advance with Alok at 2555 6216 orfnb@abclubhk.com

Crabbie’s, the OriginalAlcoholic Ginger Beer(500 ml)Alc. 5.5% by volume$52 per bottleCrabbie’s Original Alcoholic GingerBeer, from the U.K., has four topsecretingredients. Combined withthem is ginger, still shipped fromthe Far East, steeped for up to eightweeks to produce its deep, deliciouslyspicy flavour.Backed by centuries of experienceand with the finest ingredients,Crabbie’s uniquely refreshing sparklespeaks for itself.Try chilled with ice and lemon.SangriaA delicious blend of red wine, orange juice, Cointreau, brandy andlemonade with slices of mixed fruit.By the glass $42By the carafe $120Beer of the MonthAberdeen Boat Club 香 港 仔 遊 艇 會November CocktailAberdeen Boat Club 香 港 仔 遊 艇 會Taltarni T Series Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion 2011A very pale straw colour with bright green tints. Fresh and lively with notes ofgrapefruit, lime blossom and passion fruit from the Sauvignon Blanc complemented bystraw and guava from the Semillion.Taltarni T Series Shiraz 2010A vibrant crimson colour with hints of spice and red fruit on the nose. It is succulentwith chocolate mocha forest-floor fruits coming through, allowing hints of toasty Frenchoak to shine through.by the glass $50by the bottle $245Wines of the Month – NovemberAberdeen Boat Club 香 港 仔 遊 艇 會

Home Wine Delivery November 2013Sparkling WinesTaittinger Brut Reserve N.V., FranceReceive one free bottle with an order of 12 bottles.$400Taltarni Cuveé Brut 2010, Australia $255Taltarni Brut Tache (Rose) 2010, Australia $255White WinesQuincy A.O.C. Jean Claude Roux 2012, France $140Michel Redde et Fils Pouilly Fuissé La Moyenerie 2010, France $220Jean Loron Pouilly Fuissé Les Vieux Murs 2011, France $230Rochford Chardonnay, Macedon Ranges 2008, Australia $240Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt RK Riesling 2012, Germany $140Red WinesTardieu-Laurent Côte Rôtie 2010, France $850Saumur Champigny Vieilles Vignes Domaine de Vieux Bourg 09/10, France $180Château Liversan 2008/2009, France $220Château de Lamarque 2008, France $360Chevalier de Lascombes 2008, France $480Rochford Pinot Noir, Macedon Ranges 2009, Australia $240Sweet WinesMuscat de Beaumes de Venise Domaine de Coyeux 2007 (37.5 cl), France $115Château Belingard, Monbazillac 2009 (37.5 cl), France $145Single Malt WhiskyGlenfarclas 17 years old $1,100Old Pulteney 12 years old $650SpiritsCalvados Pays d’Auge (Pomme Prisonnière) (100 cl) $1,250Marc de Gewürztraminer, G.E. Massenez, France $580Poire William, G.E. Massenez, France $520Fortified WinesPineau de Charentes 5 years old, Château Beaulon $250Graham’s LBV Port 2007 $260$/Bottle Quantity AmountFree Wine TastingAll of the above wines will be available for free tastingat the Galley on 15 November, 6:30 – 8:30 pm,at the hotpot special event.Member Name:Tel (Office):Delivery Address:Delivery Date:Membership Number:Tel (Home):Member Signature:Total amount will be charged toMember’s account. Order acceptedby mail, fax or in person.Contact the Food & BeverageDepartment at 2555 6216 orFax: 2873 2945FREE delivery will be offered forpurchase over 12 bottles. Pleaseallow 3 working days for delivery.All wines are subject to availability

TAKING HOMETHE CUPBy Susan ClearThe ABC teamSunday 15th September, Cheung ChauBright and early on a sunny Sunday morning, a groupof yellow- and green-clad dragon boat paddlers met atCentral ferry piers to take the fast ferry over to idyllicCheung Chau for a highly anticipated race.This race, which was in small boats, fell early in thepreseason-training programme of Buzz Dragons, whose homebase is the ABC. Racing during the off-season has a lot ofbenefits – it gives a good measure of our boat fitness levels,lets the team practice technique changes in a competitivesituation, and importantly, provides incentives and enthusiasmto keep up training!On arrival, Cheung Chau was teeming with people –hundreds of paddlers from different teams poured off the ferryand set themselves up at the race course. Arriving at the Buzzteam marquee, on the waterfront with an enviable view of the200m race course, the team got itself organised with chatterand excitement all around.With Buzz’s first scheduled race also being the first raceof the day, we headed off quickly to get ourselves warmed upwith a tough session led by one of our coaches. After a brief regroupand big re-hydrate, the team had a final briefing on racestrategy and the line-up for the boat. Nerves racing, paddles inhand, sunscreen applied – we were ready to go!A burst off the start lineAt the start line, we cheered as our name was called out by theannouncers. The waterfront was already lined with spectators,also cheering, and waving flags. The team steadied, set uprace start position and calmed our breathing, anticipatingthe start gun. We burst off the start line, paddling hard, andgiving everything physically while keeping mental focus on thedrummer for timing and calls. We finished in fourth place, anokay result considering the high standard of competition.The silver cupHowever, we again regrouped and headed out for our secondheat. We finished second this time, reflecting a much betterperformance. At dragon boat race days, there are tiered finals,so our combined results meant we had qualified for the thirdtierfinal, the silver cup final.Using the time in between the heats and the final, individualteam members prepared physically and mentally. We deliveredour best performance of the day in the final, and as we crossedthe finish line no one was really sure of the result! Afterwhat seemed like an eternity, the announcer confirmed, inCantonese, that Buzz Dragons had in fact finished in first place.With a quick translation for the non-Cantonese speakers, thecelebrations began!After receiving and celebrating with a very large trophy onstage, the trophy then became an excellent prop for many teamphotographs, as well as a perfect “glass” from which to drinkour celebration beers!Our spirits were high as we rode the ferry back to HongKong island, reflecting on a good day, good performances andan indicator that the 2014 season should be one of our best!If you would like to see if dragon boating is for you, pleasecome to an open training session at Middle Island on Sunday,24 November. For further information you may email info@buzzdragon.com.P.22

Christmas Youth Sailing ProgrammeSaturday, 21 Dec., 2013 – Sunday, 5 Jan., 2014The Christmas and New Year school holidays can be one of the best times to sail as normally we can expect great conditionswith good wind, making this time of year ideal for our more advanced courses. Naturally, it is cooler and we remind studentsand parents of the need to wear appropriate warm clothing. However, often we have lovely sunny weather, so Decembersailing can be very rewarding! Our High Performance and Level 4 courses also are presently only offered once a year – sodon’t miss the opportunity!Date & Time Course Age Details/ entry requirementsCost(Member/Non-member)Junior CoursesThurs 26 – Mon 30 Dec AM Optimist Stage 1 7 – 12 Entry-level fun sailing for our youngest sailors! 840 / 1,215Thurs 26 – Mon 30 Dec PM Optimist Stage 2 7 – 12 For those who have passed Optimist stage 1 840 / 1,215Thurs 26 – Mon 30 Dec PM Optimist Stage 3 7 – 13 For those who have passed Optimist stage 2 840 / 1,215Thurs 26 – Mon 30 Dec AM Optimist Stage 4 Race Intro 7 – 13 For those who have passed Optimist stage 3 840 / 1,215Youth CoursesSat 21 – Mon 23 Dec ABC Assistant Instructor Course 14 – adultStudents must have completed HKSF L3 and haveadditional sailing experience1,512 / 2,190Sun 22 – Tue 24 Dec 3-day Topper Pico Feva Supervised Practice 12 – 18 HKSF L2 or equivalent experience 1,512 / 2,190Thurs 26 – Mon 30 Dec Beginners HKSF Level 1 & 2 12 – 18 Basic entry-level sailing for teenagers 2,520 / 3,650Sun 29 – Mon 30 Dec RS Feva Gennaker Intro Course 12 – 18 Students must hold an RS Feva Introduction certificate 1,008 / 1,460Sun 29 – Mon 30 Dec &Thurs 2 – Sat 4 Jan 2014High Performance Advanced Skills,HKSF Level 413 – 18Advanced skills course including spinnaker, trapeze,boathandling, anchoring, introduction to navigation andmeteorology. (Applicants must hold Improvers HKSFLevel 3 and since have one season of sailing.)2,520 / 3,650Sun 29 – Mon 30 Dec &Thurs 2 – Fri 3 Jan 2014ABC Introduction to High PerformanceSailing13 – 18A four-day “mini”-course to introduce spinnakers andtrapeze-based high performance sailing. Ideal choice forstudents to gain experience if not yet ready or qualified toattend the complete HKSF Level 4 course.2,016 / 2,920Sun 29 – Mon 30 Dec &Thur s 2 – Sat 4 Jan 2014Improver HKSF Level 3 12 – 18Applicants need to have passed HKSF Level 2 and sincehave had a season of sailing.2,520 / 3,650Sun 29 – Mon 30 Dec &Thurs 2 Jan 2014RS Feva Introduction Course 12 – 18 Hold HKSF level 2 plus some additional sailing experience. 1,512 / 2,190Fri 3 – Sun 5 Jan 2014 Laser 1 Introduction Course 12 – adultApplicants need to have passed HKSF Level 2 and sincehave had some sailing experience.1,512 / 2,190Further details and application forms for all courses are available at the ABC main Clubhouse reception and on the ABCwebsite, www.abclubhk.com. For more information, contact Angela Ho at SailingSecretary@abclubhk.comThe entry deadline for ALL courses is 18 December.Dive Try, Poolside, Saturday, 2 November9 am - 12 noonAges 10 - 100 welcomeFree of chargeDive tries offered in conjunction with MandarinDivers and South China Diving ClubTo join in, please call Cobo at 2553 3032P.23

ClassifiedsInterested in reaching the1,200 members of theABC and Hong Kong’swider boating community?Please email keith@ppp.com.hk or call 2201 9704First-Aid Kit for Home, Car or Boat $400Contains everything to carefor wounds as well as a torch,thermometer, tweezers withmagnifying glass, note padand pen. Made of waterproofmaterial with shoulder strap foreasy carrying.Available now at the ABC Club ShopSunscreen and After-Sun Care $35-$130Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB from RockyMountain. Water-resistant, greaseless,hypoallergenic and free from fragrance, PABAand gluten. Fortified with aloe and safe fordaily facial use as a moisturiser. Key Sun’sAfter Sun has an alcohol-free formula withorganic chamomile to relieve discomfort andsunburn heat and inflammation.Available now at the ABC Club Shop“UNCLE MIKE”The Children’s MagicianandBalloon Master• Magic with a touch of storytelling• Great balloon tying• Fun games• Also entertainment for adultsTel: 25403982 Mobile: 97741611Email: mike@abbottleisure.comCall 9am-9pm 7 days a weekwww.abbottleisure.com