President's Report for 2010
2010 is the Asian Games year. 420 Sailors Kwan Wing Ho and Bernard Kay, Hobie 16 Sailors Tong Yui Shing and Tong Kit Fong, Windsurfers Chan King Yin, Chan Hei Man, Cheng Kwok Fai and Chan Wai Kei have represented Hong Kong in the Games. Our windsurfers have again made us proud by bringing home one Gold and two Silver Medals. Well done you all. Although our sailors have not been able to bring home good results, they have all achieved their seasonal best in the Games! Please keep up with the good work!
At present, Tong Yui Shing and Tong Kit Fong in Hobie 16, and Man Kai Kei and Lee Chun ting in Techno are competing in the Muscat 2nd Asian Beach Games representing Hong Kong. Sail fast and the best of luck!
The HKSF International Open Dinghy Regatta 2010, which was held from 1 to 3 October 2010 at STA Little Palm Beach Centre, received a record entry of 112 boats with team of 11 boats from Taiwan. We are pleased to see an increasing turnout from local sailors at the regatta and will continue to organize this event to attract more local as well as overseas competitors to Hong Kong.
In order to enhance the transparency of the selection of HKSF Optimist, 420 Youth and Laser Youth Squads as well as the selection of youth sailors to take part in overseas events which require HKSF’s endorsement such as the Asian Sailing Championship and the ISAF Youth Worlds, the HKSF Council adopted a policy in which four open selection trials would be organized every year to serve the purpose. Details of the policy have been published on our website.
On Dinghy Instructor Training, with the help of Blueprint Watersports Ltd, we have since 2009 organized the following courses:-
- Dinghy Instructor Training and Assessment Course x 3
- Dinghy Instructor Revalidation Course x 5
- Senior Dinghy Instructor Revalidation Course x 2
- Safety Boat Handling Course x 6
- Racing Skills Instructor Endorsement Course x 1
- Day Sailing Instructor Endorsement Course x 1
14 centre inspections have also been conducted to make sure all Recognized Teaching Centres have complied with the HKSF Establishment Guidelines. We are going to continue to engage the expertise of Blueprint in providing our instructors the most up-to-date knowledge in dinghy teaching.
Keith Mowser has attended the ISAF Annual Conference in Athens this November on our behalf while Cowen Chiu has represented us at the ASAF Meeting in Shanwei in the same month.
Moreover, HKSF Measurer Gideon Mowser has attended the IRC Measurement Seminar and Congress held in Istanbul, Turkey in Oct 2010 on our behalf to obtain information on the latest development in IRC Measurements and exchange views with RORC Officials as well as the counterparts from other countries.
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 2010, Uin-na-Mara Series, Round the Island Race, Typhoon Series , ABC Opening Regatta and the COA's Macau Races. Hong Kong cruiser sailors have also achieved good results in Europe, the Caribbean and North America during the year. Their combined efforts have once again firmly placed Hong Kong as a leading sailing centre in Asia.
Last but not least, we would like to thank our Member Clubs, especially the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Aberdeen Boat Club and Hebe Haven Yacht Club and Member Association 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 very much indeed.
A very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year to you all!
Karl C Kwok
President
13 Dec 2010