The IRC fleet in the inaugural Hong Kong to Puerto Galera Yacht Race got away this morning at 1120hrs in Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour. The Race takes competitors 650nm across the South China Sea to Puerto Galera on the Philippines island of Mindoro. 12 boats were on the start line with the three boats from the HKPN division having set off yesterday.

The fleet 120 sailors on board from 14 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sweden and USA. Today’s boats started in a very light easterly breeze with an ebb tide helping the yachts out of the harbour. Once the yachts passed Junk Bay, slightly more pressure filled in from the north-east.

To prepare for the event, competitors go through a stringent preparation period, during which all participants are scrutineered to ensure that they satisfy the World Sailing Category 1 Offshore Sailing Regulations (with RORC prescriptions). The biggest push to get ready for the start was by far by the Philippines entry Ernesto Echauz’s newest yacht the R/P 75 Standard Insurance Centennial which only just had their new mast put in a few days before the start. Yesterday Ernesto commented, “We were only able to practise with our new sails this afternoon. There are still a few minor kinks which need to be sorted out before the start of the race. Nevertheless, we are quite happy on the performance of the newly refitted yacht and would hope for a good maiden voyage.”

To keep up with the racing, follow the YB Tracker or race alongside the fleet at sailonline.org.  Regular updates can be seen on the Club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rhkyc

Information from RHKYC

Photo credit Takumi Photography

相識自兒時的一對高球好友陳芷澄 (Tiffany Chan) 及何雁詩 (Stephanie Ho) 將再次於第五屆「盈豐香港女子高爾夫球公開賽」中正面交鋒。她們亦曾參與由瑞士盈豐銀 行贊助的「香港高爾夫球總會青少年精英計劃」。 賽事將於下月 10 日至 12 日 (星期五至日) 於粉嶺香港哥 爾夫球會隆重舉行。

儘管兩名球員亦曾於香港哥爾夫球會舊場上各自磨練其高爾夫球技術，然而她們出戰今屆賽事的身份卻截然 不同。陳芷澄將以出戰美國 LPGA 巡迴賽職業球員的身份返回香港作賽;何雁詩則以出戰香港女子高爾夫球 界盛事的身份參與，明顯較為輕鬆。

2018 年 再度於「香港女子業餘錦標賽」中稱后的何雁詩，現時為香港歌手及演藝人，她認為在高爾夫球壇 上還有未完成的夢想，將暫時放下娛樂音樂這個大舞台，專心備戰五月舉行的賽事。這名 26 歲的高爾夫球 業餘愛好者 將會全力以赴，出戰今屆的「盈豐香港女子高爾夫球公開賽」。

即將於 5 月 10 日至 12 日舉行的「盈豐香港女子高爾夫球公開賽」已經迎來第五屆, 適逢今年為香港哥爾夫 球會成立第 130 年週年的重要大日子 ，陳芷澄及何雁詩將聯同其他 121 名球員在這特別的日子角逐$15 萬 美元的賽事總獎金。

如欲獲悉更多有關「盈豐香港女子高爾夫球公開賽」的賽事資訊，請瀏覽官方網站: www.efghkladiesopen.com 或賽事 Facebook 專頁:www.facebook.com/efghongkongladiesopen 及 Instagram 帳戶:@efghkladiesopen 。