The largest fleets were the Etchells and Flying Fifteens, with 12 boats each, followed closely by the Impalas with 11 boats. The IRC Cruisers were backed up by the in-training Commodores' Cup teams, racing on Calamansi, Jaywalker and Outrageous, and taking the division to nine entrants.

However, the boats encountered more obstacles on the second day. Like the previous day, race officer Russ Parker selected a Hung Hom start. The breeze obliged with a nine-knot south-westerly and the fleets got away to a clean start, with the bonus of far better visibility than had been forecast.

As the wind softened, the Flying Fifteen and Impala got away at five knots. Then, the combined Pandora and Ruffian Sonata fleets managed to push four boats over the line before the gun, all of whom failed to return. Finally, the race officer decided to wait out the lull because of the dying breeze before starting the Etchells and Sportsboats.

The decision paid off, with both fleets starting at 9-12 knots, but patchy breeze later on led to both fleets parking at Hung Hom. The route was then shortened at Taikoo Shing in order to ensure that the third race of the series could be completed.

With the breeze swinging to the south and dying at Hung Hom, Parker decided that a downwind start was the way to go. The flag sequences caused confusion among those less familiar with race signals. The spinnaker start upset more competitors, with three Flying Fifteens and five Impalas on course side at the gun.

The route was cut short and competitors were able to finish near Kellett Island.