Hong Kong to Vietnam Rally set sail

The Hong Kong to Vietnam Rally officially got underway on 28 October, with the start line set in front of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Main Clubhouse at Kellett Island. Racing began at 1120hrs, featuring two early starters: Jonathan Chan’s Hanse 470 Momentai in the PHS division, and Henning Mueller’s Sunfast 3600 Zesst in IRC Racer 2. Both boats launched into a fair wind.

Fresh off his IRC Overall victory in the inaugural Eastern Asia Offshore Race this May, Zesst’s owner Henning Mueller shared his thoughts on the challenge ahead: “It’s going to be a completely different race—downwind all the way, and the key is hoping nothing breaks. We’ll be flying the kites, trying to avoid broaching or accidental gybing. If we manage that, we should be in good shape. This race will be more stressful, with demanding helming and sail choices. It’s all about deciding how hard to push.”

Meanwhile, Momentai embarks on its first offshore race, with the crew eager and well-prepared: “We’ve spent six months getting our boat up to Cat 1 standards and ready for offshore conditions. Our goal is to make it through the first night safely and arrive in Nha Trang having fun and in one piece.”

The remaining five boats in the IRC Racer division are set to start tomorrow, 29 October at 1120hrs, joining the 673nm downwind adventure to Nha Trang, Vietnam.