Facing down his fears

Leon Chan Nim-leung has a new concubine and is looking forward to a "pleasurable trip" aboard her when the biennial San Fernando Race gets under way on Wednesday.

Before his wife and two daughters get upset, let's hasten to make it clear that the object of his desire is nothing more than the latest boat the Tipsy Syndicate has acquired for the 480 nautical mile dash from Hong Kong to the Philippines.

The Beneteau First 50 has been named Tipsy Easy in gratitude to the freighter Easy Success, which plucked Chan and 10 others out of danger from a menacing South China Sea last June after the third boat owned by the syndicate, Tipsy Frenz, sunk during the China Sea Race.

"We have always named our boats Tipsy, which in Cantonese pronunciation means 'concubine'," smiles Chan. "This is our fourth 'concubine' we will be sailing to San Fernando, starting with Tipsy Too, our first boat we bought in 1988, then Tipsy Free followed by Tipsy Frenz."

Once bitten has not led to a case of shying away from the challenges of another deep bluewater crossing, however, and Chan and company are back for another tilt with nature as they get ready for the first deepwater race on Tipsy Easy. Four other members of the crew who were on the ill-fated crossing last June are also back - Dr Yong Kong-fan, who will be skippering the boat, Dr Lau Sai-kit, Tang Wai-chung and Fiona Cheung Ning, a registered nurse and regular sailor.

"We are back again with our new boat and will be, as usual, sailing with no fear," Chan said.