‘We can do something special’: Hong Kong’s Scallywag takes second in thrilling Volvo Ocean Race battle with AkzoNobe

Scallywag arrives in Auckland, late last night

Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag earned second place in the sixth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race after one of the most exciting finishes in the competition’s history, sailing into Auckland, New Zealand last night just two minutes behind winner Team AkzoNobel.

In what was effectively a match race between the two leaders, the lead changed hands multiple times over the last 50 nautical miles with the Dutch boat narrowly managing to hold off a determined David Witt and his crew.

Full story, video and pics >> here in the South China Morning Post (it's free!)

Scallywag is currently running third overall, after a win Melbourne - Hong Kong and second in Hong Kong - Auckland.

Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag to tackle Volvo Ocean Race

Scallywag training in Spain last month.
Source: Scallywag Facebook

So Hong Kong has its own boat in the Volvo race starting 22 October, the VO65 "Scallywag" owned by the chairman of Sun Hung Kai, Lee Seng Huang, and skippered by Aussie David Witt. Link here in the South China Morning Post report (free and no registration needed). There's also video of Scallywag training in Spain at that link.  Good stuff!

I met David Witt a few years back when he was here with the other Scallywag the 100-footer, Syd Fisher's ex Ragamuffin which they raced in the Sydney-Hobart.  We were also in few regattas with that Scallywag.  Can still remember them thundering past us at the top mark in a race, cutting inside (legally!) and making us look like we were standing still...

Jing and I also spend a fair bit of time at the stand-up Punchline Comedy club at the Sun Hung Kai Centre in Wanchai, Mr Lee's head office, so heaps of connections!

There's a separate story on the one Hong Kong crew, the backup navigator Tiger Mok, Link here. 

Hong Kong in the Volvo. Yay!

Scallywag crew, skippered by David Witt, will take part in one of sailing’s most prestigious events – which visits Hong Kong in 2018

Hong Kong will have a yacht in the 2017-18 edition of the prestigious Volvo Ocean Race, it was confirmed on Thursday.

Lee Seng Huang, executive chairman of Sun Hung Kai & Co, will run the crew from his supermaxi Scallywag in the round-the-world race, considered one of the most challenging events in sailing.

Hong Kong will be a host city in the event, held every three years, for the first time early next year.

“This campaign will showcase world class competitive offshore sailing in Hong Kong and China with the first time stopovers for the Volvo Race in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. I have every confidence that Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag will make Hong Kong proud,” said Lee in a statement issued by organisers.

He hopes the campaign can “promote competitive sailing in Asia and build a long-lasting youth sailing legacy in the region”.

In an interview with the SCMP in January [1], Lee described how he developed a fascination with sailing growing up in Sydney near the start line of the famed Sydney-Hobart Race. He described watching the yachts as “an expensive curiosity”.

Sun Hung Kai & Co executive chairman Lee Seng Huang, owner of Supermaxi Scallywag, and skipper David Witt in the lead-up to the 72nd edition of the Sydney to Hobart race. Photo: Rolex/Daniel Forster.

When renowned Australian sailor Syd Fischer decided to retire and sell his 100-foot yacht Ragamuffin – third in the Sydney-Hobart in 2014 and second in 2015 – Lee stepped in to take over, renaming it Scallywag at the suggestion of his daughter.

How a Hong Kong tycoon’s ‘expensive curiosity’ led to a sea rescue and a record in the Sydney to Hobart race [2]

Keeping the same crew, the boat has set numerous speed records from its HK base, including a new landmark in the Hong Kong to Hainan race (23 hours, 31 minutes and 52 seconds), third place in the 2016 Sydney-Hobart [3] and most recently smashing the record in the San Fernando Race from Hong Kong to the Philippines by more than 15 hours (34:27.15)

In the Volvo Ocean Race, the crew will race a Volvo Ocean 65, skippered by Scallywag captain David Witt, the Australian who has raced Sydney-Hobart more than 20 times and who last competed in the Volvo race in 1997-98.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Scallywag team to represent Hong Kong on a truly global stage,” said Witt in the statement.

“With the race returning to a more traditional route and competing in One Design yachts, we feel that we are capable of achieving something that has been a life-long personal dream.”

The latest version of the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 Route Map. The route will see the boats race three times more Southern Ocean miles than in recent editions, visiting 12 cities around the globe. [4]

The other confirmed entries so far are team AkzoNobel (skippered by Simeon Tienpont, Netherlands), China’s Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier, France), Mapfre (Xabi Fernandez, Spain) and Vestas 11th Hour Racing (Charlie Enright, USA).

The race will start from Alicante on 22 October, with the fleet capped at eight Ocean 65 yachts.

Teams will cover a total of 46,000 nautical miles stopping at 12 host cities – including Hong Kong in early 2018 – and finishes in The Hague at the end of June.

“We are delighted that Hong Kong will be represented by a syndicate for the first time, especially as it comes during the first ever Volvo Ocean Race to feature Hong Kong as a leg,” said Richard Mason, chief operating officer of the race.

“With a fast yacht, skippered by an experienced captain and the support of Mr Lee, Scallywag promises to be competitive and we are confident that they will be well supported by the public during their historic stopover in Hong Kong.

A series of races will be held in and around Hong Kong during the stopover including the competition race, a Victoria Harbour race and an Around the Island race.

The boats will be moored at Kai Tak Runway Park, which will be the home of the Volvo Ocean Race Festival, a 15-day carnival that will be free to the public.

More on this: 

How a Hong Kong tycoon’s ‘expensive curiosity’ led to a sea rescue and a record in the Sydney to Hobart race [1]

Hong Kong super maxi Scallywag smashes San Fernando race record [5]

Scallywag grabs third place in Sydney-Hobart yacht race to make Hong Kong proud [3]

Meandering in the Mergui Archipelago, Burma, April 2016

UPDATE (4 May): more photos here at Google Photo

Dallinghoo under (nearly) full sail.  From bow: Jibtop, Jib, Staysail, ForeTop,
ForeSail, Main.  All missing is MainTop.  We sailed with this configuration at
7 knots in 15 knots breeze

L to R: Dom, Noi, Ann, Andrew, Kristy, Michael, Jing,
Sabrina, Ye WinAing, George, Aung Tin Oo

This is the Customs and Immigration at the Thai-Burmese border
at Ranong (Thailand) and Kawtheong (Burma)

Dallinghoo, a fine schooner, 85 feet of prettiness

Late arvo, ghosting into another uninhabited island

Victoria Point (aka Kawtheong)

Kawtheong, Burma

Crew farewell.  Note the cool inflatable fenders

Back at the Boathouse Hotel, Kata Beach Thailand

Kata beach sunset

HK to Vietnam race results

Want to keep a copy of the results, in case we ever do the race again. (Last did it in 2008, on Thea)
Stevo, on Ambush, (2nd IRC 1), said:

"Some of the best sailing I have done in a while.  Saturday in particular was 18-22 knots of wind, blue sky, blue water and navigators instructions were "go fast as possible"....

Dave Witt, sailing master on Ragamuffin, the 100' maxi that took Line Honours in race-record time, said the race is "sailing's best-kept secret".  "If I had to pick one ocean race to do every year, this would be it", he adds. Hmmm, gets one thinking of 2017 (it's only biennial: sorry Dave.....):

Rockin' in the riggin'

Rags, in Hong Kong waters, raced in our China Coast Regatta, and HK-VN race

The crew of the super maxi, which has garnered an international reputation, are down-to-earth, fun-loving celebrities of the sailing world
Link to fun story here.
If you can't get it cause it's paywalled, here's the text:

Dongfeng wins Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race

China boat, Dongfeng, arrives in Sanya, Hainan Island, China
winning Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean race.

There's a report in the South China Morning Post, here (needs registration, but not money).
More details on the Volvo Ocean Race site, here.

Vestas Wind

From here.

I certainly empathise with Chris Nicholson, of Team Vestas Wind, which ran aground on a reef of Stage 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Yachting World. 
The New Yorker.

Report into the abandoning of “Walawala 2” on the HK to Vietnam Race

Walawala 2, August 2012 on Western Circuit.  Courtesy WW2 Facebook

Report of the review into the abandoning of “Walawala 2” on the Audi Hong Kong Vietnam Race on 18 October 2013.

This review of the abandonment of Walalwala 2 is well worth reading, and worth close scrutiny in particular by Xena crew in forthcoming Subic Race. [Backup PDF file here].
BTW: Our crewmate on forthcoming race to Subic, Stevo, was on Walawala 2 when she went down.... 

Walawala 2 abandons ship -- all safe

Walawala 2, with Steve Manning helming, Stevo to his left

Not exactly breaking news this, I'm afraid, but posting for the record, and with thanks that all are well.  Another case of good training and coordination of emergency measures leading to all safely rescued (Tipsy Frenz also lost at sea, June 2012)  Great news on that front, as we know a number of the crew on board.  Kudos, to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and HK Government's marine emergency bodies, especially the Government Flying Services.

According to one crew member, they were having a quick trip, in winds of 18-25 knots at 140-150 TWA, boat speed 15 knots topping at 21 knots, in control with full mainsail and A6 kite, when they had the rudder incident, quick ingress of water, losing it quick and had to bail out...
SCMP Report ($) [PDF]

Report from the RHKYC [Link] [PDF]:

At 0135hrs local hours on Friday 18 October, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) Sailing Manager, Alex Johnston, received a distress call via satellite phone from the skipper of Walawala 2, Steven Manning, reporting that the yacht had lost its rudder and was taking on water.  Manning also advised that there were no injuries to the 10 crew. 

At this time the crew activated the yacht’s EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).

Phuket Race week

Moya Hin approaches top mark, Pete J at helm, yours truly, Forse, on Main,
Kevin on Jib/brace, La on checkstay, Paul on the keyboard.  Photo from regatta site.

I'm down at Sanwa cove in Phuket for Phuket Race week, an "off-season" regatta in the SW monsoon; hence based around the SE corner of the Island.

With Peter Jones, wife La and their crew on Moya Hin, a Bashford + Howison 41.  Lovely boat and crew, good winds in the 10-20 knot range with no holes. Met Pete Jones through sailing mate Rob, of the Vlad-Moscow trip...
Pete ("Sorro") Sorenson and Gordie Ketelbey walked away with first, notching up 8 bullets, basically unbeatable.  They're racing in their new purchase, the old Ichiban, ex-owned by Matt Allen, a Beneteau 44.7 raced successfully for years around this area, now renamed "Fü Jin", (風神) or wind god, in Japanese, keeping that Japanese vibe ("ichi ban" = "number one").
"Moya Hin", meantime, means "Rock Doctor" (or "Dr Rock", which is maybe cooler....), in Lao, as Peter Jones is a geologist, exploring for minerals in Laos.
The next top four after Fü Jin, had some close racing, sometimes just seconds of time in it. We were the big improvers up to the second-last day, in contention for a podium finish overall, but a touch of the wobblies on the last two fresh-breeze races led us to drop down a place, one point off fourth.
Enjoyed by all, with thanks to Pete J and team.

Moya Hin approaches bottom mark, Day 2.

Fü Jin and Moya Hin, Day 3

"G Unit" winning on Katusha

From regular Xena tactician Stevo, news of exploits of sometime Xena crew member, "G" (aka Matt Kelway), in the RC 44 Cup at Trapani, on Katusha.  That's G above on the rail furthest forward....  There'll be none of that hikin' on the rail on Xena, thank you very much.... at least for the more mature crew folk....

News and more great photos here.  Hat-tip to Stevo.

"China's Guo Chuan back home after successful non-stop solo sail around the world"

Guo pops the bubbly back in Qingdao.  A fantastic effort in a 40-footer.

We met Guo and his boat, back in September when he was in Hong Kong just prior to his non-stop round the world single-handed, in his Class 40.  And now he's back home in Qingdao.  Well done to Guo!
From here...

QINGDAO, Shandong Province, April 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Guo Chuan sailed back home on Friday morning to become the first Chinese to successfully circumnavigate the globe singlehanded. Abroad his Class40 yacht, 48-year-old Guo travelled about 21,600 nautical miles in 138 days before he returned to his hometown of Qingdao, where he set off on November 18 last year. The once-in-a-lifetime journey saw Guo pilot his yacht across the Pacific Ocean and then down to Cape Horn off the coast of South Africa before crossing into the Atlantic Ocean. Guo, one of China's most accomplished sailors, previously became the first Chinese to traverse the Atlantic Ocean by himself and to take part in the Volvo Around-The-World Ocean race.

Sail-world story here.

Katusha "on fire"

Katusha leading the fleet downwind - 2013 RC44 Oman Cup -  RC44 Class/MartinezStudio.es 

Regular Xena crew, Matt Kelway (aka "G"), is bowman on RC44 Katusha above, in the Oman Cup.
From the Sail-World website:

Katusha (RUS) were on fire and dominated the day winning the first two races and making a great recovery in the last to finish third, even after picking the un-favoured left side up the first beat and being buried at the top mark. 
Steve Howe is at the helm of Katusha this week, standing in for owner Gennadi Timchenko, he put their day into perspective.
'Yesterday was a good day and we tried to keep the same plan for the fleet racing today, get a good clean start, sail the shifts and get around the race course ahead of the fleet. It’s one design sailing at its best, you have your good days, your bad days and it’s going to happen when you have a bad race like we almost had in race three, but you just have to focus and minimise the risk.' 

Hat-tip to Stevo for the news.

Cadillac and Bare Essentials Clean up....

What a Grand prize! Grant and Iris heft the trophy...

Bare Essentials, a 55' Robinson stripped out racer

From Grant, this morning:

Hi Peter and Jing

Hope this finds you well and happy.

We have enjoyed a Fabulous B.O.I. Sailing Week - perfect weather and a great result for "Cadillac"

1st Online and 1st PHRF every race. PHRF handicap is a National measured handicap system like IRC but also incorporates a performance aspect relative to all other N.Z. Race Yachts and is revalidated yearly.  General Handicap is a very arbitary local club handicapping system which "Cadillac" is always handicapped out of these days because of her race history.

Having won our division at BOI Sailing Week we then swapped yachts from "Cadillac" to "Bare Essentials" the 55ft Robinson Design for the annual Waitangi, Bay of Islands to Whangaroa Harbour Race  approx 35nmiles.

Turned out to be a very fast race (top speed 24.8knts)  with us taking out line and handicap honours again as well as smashing the standing time record, reducing it to 2hours 35 min, from the previous 3hours 25min set by the TP52 "Kia Kaha" 

So Big Celebrations and lots of hangovers following morning.

Weather has turned a little nasty now .. 35knts from the South, so we have left "Bare Essentials" in the Marina at Whangaroa, came home by car 'til the weather improves .. then we will go back and bring her down the coast to Whangarei where she is normally moored.

All the Best for now

Grant and Iris

Cadillac roars on the water

Cadillac lifts her skirts..

Regular Xena crew Grant and Iris are racing their Cadillac, a Beale 9.6m, in Islands Racing 2 Division of The Bay of Islands Sailing Week.
In Race One Day One, they creamed the opposition by over half an hour on the water, and got 1st corrected in PHRF inshore, 4th corrected on General Handicap.
Well done to Grunter, Splash and crew!
Results here.
Key sponsors are our mates at North Sails...

UPDATE (26 Jan): Grant, Iris and crew on Cadillac finished the race week of three Islands courses with three Line Honours, First in PHRF and Fourth corrected in General Handicap.  Great job guys! Series results here.

Adria Australis: another blast from the past

Back in September 2011 I posted a piece on the Clipper Race, and made a passing reference to Adria Australis, an Alan Buchanan 49' steel sloop built in 1966 on which I'd made a passage delivery from Hobart to Adelaide, via the SW Cape of Tasmania.  That led to contact from Tim Simpson from Adelaide, who'd sailed on Adria in the 80s.  So I posted about that, with some piccies from 1983, here.
Then, just last week, an email from Mark Jones, who had been with us on Adria on that very trip, when we sailed into a major storm, with winds of over 70knots, were knocked down, fell off a wave which dented the forward port side of the boat, damaged the engine, and, in retrospect, nearly did for us, on that savage lee shore, with "many uncharted black rocks" as the Pilot says....
A bit of to-and-froing of emails with Mark, are added to comments section of the earlier post here.
Mark asked for some more photos from that voyage, and I'm doing that below....
First, Mark's email of 18th Jan:

Hi Peter,

As another year started I got to thinking about what I was doing 30 years ago.  Sue, my partner at the time, and I were on board Adria Australis with Lachlan, Ant, Jan and you from Hobart to Strahan.  I Googled a bit and found an ad from when Adria was for sale and read your “Big Waves Tip Yacht” blog – in fact I think that’s me in one of the photos.  The whole trip is still pretty clear in my memory.  If you fancy a bit of a catch up it might be fun.

Xena looks pretty impressive.  There must be a story or two there!

All the best,

Mark

Mark Jones
Welsh Produce Manager/Rheolwr Cynnyrch Cymru
Rural Regeneration Unit/Uned Adfywio Gwledig

Mark then...., January 1983, somewhere off Tasmania....

... and now, Welsh Produce Manager at the RRU.

Sue, at SW Cape. We're about to head into the storm. Nothing in the pictures
I have can give a true idea of the fury we met round the corner.

Being towed into Macquarie Harbour, Strahan, about four days later.
The entrance is really narrow and we'd had no engine for the four days
up the west coast after the knowdown off Port Davey, SW Cape.

Sue drying out the gear in Strahan

"Cowboy", one the fisherfolk who met us, all kindly and friendly.
Here he steers us up the Gordon River on a look-see

"Cowboy's" fishing boat.

Cowboy, Jan, Skipper Ant Harry and ??..

Syd-Hob update: boats we're following...

 Wild Oats XI at sunrise, just past the Iron Pot Rolex/Daniel Foster

Well, we picked it three days ago: WOXI gets the Treble for the second time: first over line, first on handicap and new race record.  As our Kiwi crewmates would say: Awesome!

Others we're following:

IRC2: Veloce with Bicky and G aboard finish 4th.  Well done, guys!
Chutzpah 5th (a website story here) and Toybox 2, the new Xp44 6th.  In this div, two Ker designs took out first and second: GTS43 Occasional Coarse Language Too and Ker 40 AFR Midnight Rambler.

Phil Simpfendorfer's Elliott 44cr Veloce ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

Is that G we see in front of the stack on the windward rail?

IRC3: Gordon's Zen has just finished, placed 11th in class (may improve, some boats still to finish in this div)

PHS: Brindabella finished 10th over line, 2nd overall PHS and 1st in Div 1 of PHS.

Sydney Hobart: looking at boats we know...

Looks like Wild Oats XI may pull off the Line Honours - Handicap double.  As well as their new race record, of course, for the Treble..

Some others we're following:

In IRC 2:  Chutzpah, an IRC40 owned by Bruce Taylor, father of HK's Ambush Drew Taylor is lying 3d, with 234 miles to go (DTG). Veloce, an Elliott 44CR, with Bicky and G aboard, are lying 5th, with 237 DTG.  Toybox 2 is a new Xp 44, lying 6th with 265 DTG.

In IRC 3: two previous crew of Xena -- and owners of Sydney 38s -- are battling it out: Tony Levett in TSA Management is 7th (271 DTG) and Gordon Ketelby in Zen is 8th (277 DTG).

In PHS: Brindabella, a boat I cruised on a couple of times years back, and used to be owned by old mate George Snow, is lying first in this division, with 128 DTG.  Challenged by Helsal III.

"Adventurer Guo Chuan to attempt solo world sail"

Gao Chuan at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club yesterday

In today's South China Morning Post, a report of Gao Chuan's preparations to take Qingdao, an Akilaria Class 40 round the world, solo non-stop.  We're off to the Club this morning for a sail on Xena, so may see the boat there....
Report below the fold as it's behind a paywall on the SCMP site...
LATER: we did see Qingdao alongside the pontoon at the RHKYC last Sunday 23rd and she looked fabulous, extremely well prepared with all new gear aboard.  Everything looked as though it was just where it should be.  She really does look the right stuff for round the world. Hope to get some piccies later, as I forgot to take any myself. Actually, I did take one, at the end of our cruise last Sunday 23rd..

Qingdao at the pontoon, RHKYC, from deck of Xena, after our cruise
out to around Shek Oh rock in 3-5 knots.... nice, relaxing day with
Adrienne, Heiko and Cron, who are going to send some other piccies, I hope..