There was a false start in the China Cup International Regatta yesterday when the Marine Department refused to let the race begin in Hong Kong waters because some entrants did not have a necessary document.
The regatta's first leg was supposed to be a passage race from Hong Kong to Shenzhen.
Now the yachts will sail to Daya Bay in Shenzhen for the start of racing.
As well as having an international regulation licence, competing yachts must have a Hong Kong pleasure vessel operator's certificate of competency if they are to sail competitively from the special administrative region.
The marine department made this clear to organisers before the regatta began. Some of the yachts competing did not fulfil these requirements so it was decided to scrap the leg from Hong Kong.
'All the teams had an international licence but not everyone had the Hong Kong licence,' regatta spokesman Leon Chou said.
'The Hong Kong Marine Department made this clear to us if the race was to start in Hong Kong waters.