Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this latest sailing update. In their own words. Ed
Teams are shaping up for the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup to be based in Cowes and held in July.
Having finished fifth on their first attempt in 2008 and second to the run-away Irish two years ago, the Hong Kong team is set to be one of the strongest entries this year when racing comes to the Solent.
Two well known British boats have been chartered by The Hong Kong team for their three boat line-up.
Erivale, the Ker 39 of the RORC’s Commodore Mike Greville, has been chartered to Nick Burns and former RORC Commodore Peter Rutter has chartered his 2011 IRC Nationals-winning Grand Soleil 43, Quokka 8, to Hong Kong-based Etchells sailor Ante Razmilovic, who will be both skipper and helmsman.
With two chartered boats the Hong Kong team is also shipping one from their home base, a new Ker 40 Peninsula Signal 8, acquired last year by a syndicate of five owners. Among these owners are Jamie McWilliam, of the Irish sail making dynasty, who is Peninsula Signal 8’s skipper, Australian Keith Jacobs, who is familiar with the Solent having campaigned in numerous Admiral’s Cups for both Australia and Hong Kong in the 1980s and 90s and former pro-sailor and sailmaker Patrick Pender, who will be Peninsula Signal 8’s helmsman.
This new Ker 40’s unusual name is a reference to the typhoon warnings in Hong Kong, Signal 8 being ‘gale or storm force winds’ and Peninsula is taken from The Peninsula Hotels which are supporting and sponsoring the boat.
“Our big advantage this time is that we are supported and sponsored by The Peninsula Hotels,” says Jamie McWilliam. “We are delighted to be associated with such a Hong Kong icon and I hope that the hotel’s representatives enjoy it as much as we will. They have helped us do it and it has helped us complete the Hong Kong team.”
