China Coast Regatta 2021. Day 3 Race Report.

The last day of China Coast Regatta certainly lived up to its reputation of champagne sailing conditions with 15 to 20kts of north easterly breeze, blue sky and a choppy sea state at the race area south east of Lamma Island.

All divisions were sent on two-lap windward/leewards to start the day and there were quite a few broaches and ripped kites which resulted in a few retirements.

Later, the TP52s and all IRC classes were set a three-lap for their final race. Whilst the race management team had originally planned on sending the HKPN division off on an Islands course for their second race of the day, ultimately they were set another two-lap windward/leeward.

With the Strong Monsoon signal in force all day, Race Officer Inge Strompf-Jepsen said “We feared it would have been really windy, but actually we had an average of 16 to 17kts, gusting 20kts. There were two massive gusts up to 32kts and it was very exciting!” adding “we set the longest courses we could and finally put on a three-lap course for the IRC races that would keep them racing for at least an hour. For the three-day China Coast Regatta, we set different types of courses, including two and three-lap windward/leewards and two Island courses. I hope the sailors are happy about this arrangement.”

Having completed their scheduled seven races, the IRC and TP52 divisions enjoyed a discard, Shawn Kang's Alpha+ lifted the TP52 trophy with an impressive five wins out of seven races.

The heavier breeze created some place changes from the two previous days. Joachim Isler /Andrew Taylor’s Ambush beat William Liu's Seawolf 2 on countback to claim the IRC Racer 1 silver, Nick Burns' King Mills 40 Witchcraft took another two bullets, holding off James Verner’s Judel Vrolijk Custom 36 Nightshift in IRC Racer 2.

In IRC Racer 3, Andrew Pidden ‘s J99 Juice pipped Nick Southward’s J-109 Admiralty Harbour Whiskey Jack, although Nick Southward notched two wins today. Carl Wilkinson's Lisa Elaine came out ahead of Bradly Wilkins' Blowers Daughter also on countback claiming the HKPN division.

See you all next year!