When racing to the finishing line, it helps to know where it is.
In Sam Chan's first yacht race, in Victoria Harbour, he was unaware he and his partner had triumphed, because he didn't know what the finishing line looked like. It was the buoy with the flag behind them.
These days, Mr Chan, a Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club member, is the owner of several fast yachts and a winner of local and international races, including the two-yearly San Fernando Race, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary. The race, from Hong Kong to the Philippines, starts today.
'I've been racing for 30 years,' says Mr Chan, who works in textiles.
This year's race features 17 competitors, including Mr Chan's Ffree Fire 52.
San Fernando is about 160km north of Manila, and sailors and supporters are raising money for the town's Full Gospel Faith Orphanage.
'On the short two-hour races in the harbour, it's fun,' he says. 'On the long offshore two- to three-day races, you start off with, of course, excitement, but you'll be tense right up until the finish because you are racing against time.