New boats in multihull test
HONG KONG'S premier multihull series, the annual Timberland-Lantau Boat Club regatta off Discovery Bay, beginning today, will feature up to 12 new boats in a fleet of around 35 starters.
Unlike in the past two years, competition will be wide open with the departure of American Lee Dockstader from the territory.
Hobie 16 sailor Dockstader swept all the major trophies and was clearly in a class of his own.
''With Lee gone, we expect competition to be wide open,'' LBC committee member Steve Jones said yesterday.
''And, with the new boats now racing in the territory, the overall standard has also increased dramatically,'' he added.
Dockstader was a member of the Tai Tam Hobie Club, who will again be represented by a big fleet.
''But we are confident of getting most of the silverware back this year,'' Jones said.
On form, Jones and LBC colleague Andrew Moore, who both sail Dart 18s, will be top contenders for overall and class honours this season.
But Shaun Smith and Mark Everdijk, who have both bought new Dart 18s recently, have been improving dramatically.
Hobie 16 sailors Tong Shing and Mike Scantlebury will spearhead the Tai Tam challenge. Scantlebury competed in the Hobie 16 World Championships in the Caribbean earlier this year.
Also in line for top honours is Mark Lillingston-Price aboard his Hurricane. Lillingston-Price won the Tai Tam regatta on handicap last year.
Former Hobie 17 and 21 sailor David Ong will also be worth watching in his new Hurricane. It will be the craft's first major regatta.
Three races will be staged today and two tomorrow with competitors allowed to discard one race.
The three-day regatta climaxes with the annual Timberland Trophy, which pits the multihull craft against monohulls.
