HI FI / Neil Pryde at RHKYC's China Coast Race Week 2011

Oct. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- The China Coast Race Week begins this Friday 14 October with the three-day China Coast Regatta in ‘lumpy’ waters off the south of Hong Kong Island.

Line Honours and First Place winner on handicap in the 2008 VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race and the 2010 Rolex China Sea Race, HI FI, has unsurprisingly signed up for both the China Coast Regatta and the subsequent offshore race.  “We will be doing our best to repeat our successes this year.  We have a strong crew and the boat is well prepared so we will certainly be giving it our best shot.” says owner/skipper, Neil Pryde.

Neil goes on to add “I have participated in China Coast Race Week almost every year the event has been held and this is no doubt one of the highlights of racing here in Asia.  The wind conditions we get in Hong Kong in October are ideal and it is always great to kick off the Asian Circuit with a good result in Hong Kong because the competition is tough.”

The modified Welbourn 52 has not been in the water for some time, so the China Coast Regatta will be the first time back on the water for the boat and crew for four months “so we need to be a little realistic in our expectations” adds Neil.  That said, in preparation for this year’s racing, a number of important changes have been made to the boat which Pryde hopes will improve performance, including the addition of powered winches which will improve the speed and efficiency of sail trim and hopefully give HI FI an edge on the competition.

Sam Chan (and his revamped TP52, Freefire) has been singled out as Neil’s biggest challenge in this event.  “They are a tough competitor with a very fast boat.  However, we have a strong crew and HI FI is a proven boat so we are optimistic we can meet this challenge.”  

The China Coast Race Week comprises China Coast Regatta and the VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race.  Neil hopes that once they have the China Coast Regatta out of the way, HI FI and her crew “will be fully up to speed” and he is very optimistic that they can again do well.

Neil’s real highlight of the week is “undoubtedly the VinaCapital Hong Kong to Vietnam Race, one of the world’s classic ocean races.  Every competitor looks forward to the thrills and excitement of riding the North-east Monsoon out of Hong Kong to Nha Trang.”  

Also on board is Kevin (Kos) Costin who has been involved in all of the HI FI campaigns since the boat was launched and who will be running tactics.  Kos will have with him some very experienced international sailors including Bruce Clark and Nick Partridge, both ex-Americas Cup sailors and Willy Roberts, a much travelled Navigator who took HI FI to victory in the last Vietnam Race.

HI FI Crew

Neil Pryde   
Kevin Costin   
Samuel Hunt
Ian Davis
Bruce Clark
Silas Nolan   
Ben Costello
Nicolas Partridge
Majbritt Lang   
Will Roberts
Nicholas Blackman   
Timothy Davis

Media are welcome... please click on the link to access the media invite.
http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/upload/News/pressrelease/2011/CCR...

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Sailing and rowing club. One of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Hong Kong, RHKYC today has evolved into a multi-faceted and cosmopolitan organisation and its membership enjoys a comprehensive range of facilities, both afloat and ashore.