J-Asia, a team based in Sai Kung, took a team of sailors to Europe to compete in several regattas. Their regular coach is Marek Jackowski who has been coaching in Hong Kong for more than 10 years.
They began with a regatta in Wladislawowo, Poland and then two regattas in Kiel, part of the famous Kiel Week festivities. All the sailors compete in Lasers, but these boats have three different sail sizes. 4.7 (smallest), Radial for men under 19 and the Olympic size for women, and Standard which is the Olympic size for men.
Our team consisted of four 4.7 sailors and seven Radial sailors, although the Bezy brothers have entered some regattas in Standards to give them more experience against the best adult sailors.
The team did quite well in Kiel, and in a Standard in the Olympic Class Regatta competing against some of the best adult sailors in Europe, including some Olympic medalists, Nick Bezy was leading the regatta after two days, and eventually finished fourth. Molly Highfield (J-Asia) and Jackie Truholl (RHKYC Team) finished in the top half of the fleet.
Our 4.7 team and two standard sailors then moved to WarnemĂĽnde for a Europa Cup event, also a high standard event. Malik Hood won the men’s Standard class and Emily Keg came 3rd in the girls 4.7 class. The rest of the team meanwhile continued to Poland for training.
Several days ago, seven sailors took part in the European Laser Radial Youth Championships in Gdynia. (Under 19) Results were good for the girls with Jackie finishing 18th, Molly 21st and Marian Williams and Nancy Highfield finishing mid-fleet, out of 65 girls.
In the boys, Nick Bezy won the event after five days of racing, against 170 competitors. I think this is the best sailing result for Hong Kong since San San. His younger brother Chris also finished in the top half.
Meanwhile, the 4.7 team has just arrived in Nieuport, Belgium for the 4.7 World Championships. After their one-week survival camp, the girls Radial team will move to Medemblik, Holland, for the World Sailing Girls Radial World Championships. The boys will go elsewhere (and I have forgotten where) for the Boys World Championships. Everybody will be back to Hong Kong by late August/early September.
Well done to all concerned 🙂