President's Report for 2007

 

Time really flies.  The year of 2007 is approaching its end.  In 2007, for the preparation of the the next Asian Games in 2010 to be held in Guangzhou China , we decided to strengthen  the training on the Optimist squad.  The Federation believes only with a large base of Optimist sailors our athletes development will be able to continue.  Like other sports, it takes years to develop a good athlete who is not born in just one day.  In this connection and to mark the centenary of ISAF, the HKSF brought in the former Optimist World Champion, Mr. Lucas Calabrese, in August to conduct a four days Optimist Training Clinic, which was open to all Optimist sailors, at Hong Kong Seas School in Stanley.  20 young sailors have attended the clinic.   The feedbacks on the Clinic are favourable and the HKSF is planning to organize more training clinics in the future if funding allows.  

 

 

The HKSF International Open Dinghy Regatta which was held on 28 Sept, 29 Sept and 30 Sept 2007 at STA has received  favourable responses from overseas.  There were five teams from Philippines, Thailand, Macau, Indonesia and Taiwan.  The total no. of entries was 78 boats.  We will continue to organize this event next year and hope the no. of entries will continue to grow.

 

 

We think the majority of our sailing fraternity will agree that safety is the main issue when it comes to running courses.  We have in the past two years experimented to enhance safety at our Recognised Centres by making the centre principles submit an annual declaration so that they will be aware of this responsibility when they come to renew their centre certificates.  However, the results of this experiment are not to our satisfaction.  In this connection, we have conducted random and unannounced inspections of centres starting from 2006, including one required for the initial inspection of a new centre.    We are also happy to see that the centres run by  our Member Clubs, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Aberdeen Boat Club and Hebe Haven Yacht Club have all passed the inspections.  We intend to continue this policy of random and unannounced inspections.

 

Moreover, as part of the measures to enhance safety,  the HKSF has introduced some new policies on the Revalidation of Instructor Certificates.  We understand that these measures have brought about some controversy and we have therefore published our official statements on the HKSF website to clarify most of the allegations made by a small group of instructors who for an obvious personal reason has tried to force the HKSF to stop these policies.  However, for the betterment and further development of our sports, these policies are necessary and appropriate.

 

In order to support Richard Knight and Mike Halkes in their quest for entry place to the 2008 Olympics, the HKSF Council has granted them a fund of $100,000 so that they can continue their course.  If they are successful in their quest, another $50,000 will be granted.

 

I have not forgotten about our windsurfing sailors who are working hard in the preparation for the 2008 Olympics as well.  In the Olympic Test Event in Qingdao held in August 2007, Ho Chi

 

 

 

Ho and Chan Wai Kei ranked 12th and 11th respectively in RSX Men and RSX Women and the windsurfer have secured their entry places in the Games.

 

Keith Mowser and Cowen Chiu attended the ISAF Annual Conference in Estoril, Portugal in November.  There has been interesting talks on School Sailing Programmes implemented by other countries.  After summarizing the information, the HKSF intends to introduce the School Sailing Programmes on a trial basis starting from mid 2008 so as to expand the grass root training in Hong Kong.

 

Our Member Clubs have continued to be an integral part of the sport of sailing and organize a number of races, such as the China Coast Regatta, San Fernando Race 2007, Uin-na-Mara Series, Round the Island Race, Typhoon Series , ABC Opening Regatta and the COA's Macau Races.  Without their efforts, our sport will definitely lose its shine.

 

Last but not least, we would like to thank our Member Clubs, especially the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Aberdeen Boat Club, Hebe Haven Yacht Club and the Windsurfing Association of Hong Kong for their continue support and dedication.  I would also like to thank my fellow Council Members for their valuable contributions and the Secretariat of HKSF for their hard work in the past year. Thank you all very much.

 

 

 

 

Karl C Kwok

President

7 Dec 2007