on 14 Feb 2023
A total of 236 sailors take to the water for six days of racing
Photo: Isaac Lawrence
The Hong Kong Race Week 2023 kicked off on Tuesday (14 February), with six days of racing taking place this week, concluding on Sunday 19 February. A total of 236 sailors are taking to the water to compete in the competition, representing 12 countries and regions including Australia, Belgium, Taiwan, Greece, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, mainland China, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand and the USA.
It’s the first time Hong Kong Race Week has taken place in three years after covid restrictions forced consecutive cancellations.
The event, which is sponsored by Sun Hung Kai & Co, also incorporates the inaugural 2023 29er Asian Championship this week in Hong Kong. A great week of fierce competition from this talented group of sailors from Asia and beyond is expected.
Co-organised by Hong Kong Sailing Federation and Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), and for the 2023 29er Asian Championship, the Int 29er Class, racing will be conducted from Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Middle Island water sports training centre on the south side of Hong Kong.
Raced in 10 classes over three racecourses, the regatta is held on Hong Kong’s racetracks, which have previously been host to the 2018 29er World Championship, the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race # Leg 4 Stopover, the 2017 Optimist Asian & Oceania Championship and the 2015 Etchells World Championship.
Image: Guy Nowell
I am relieved that we don’t have to wait any longer — Peter Davies
“We are looking forward to seeing some of the best racing in Asia in 2023,” says Hong Kong Race Week chairman, Peter Davies. “It is a great relief that the Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week is finally running again after a gap of three years. Relief because in practical terms, all the border restrictions have finally been removed — in all directions too.
“Relief because without this kind of major international youth sports event, we cannot expect to inspire the next generation of potential Olympians. While Hong Kong may have just had a very successful Olympics, at the base of the sports pyramid there are now three years of youth sailors who have never experienced an event of this scale or have competed against international competition. So, I am relieved that we don’t have to wait any longer, and can now start the process of rebuilding the base of our sports pyramid.”