Our arrival in Subic Bay has coincided with the Rolex China Sea Race, run by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, and we are surrounded by race boats. This has all brought back memories for Tweed as she participated in the San Fernando Race of 1989 - 21 years ago - also run by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. At that time Tweed's home port was Hong Kong. I dug out a copy of a magazine article penned by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston describing his participation in the same race aboard Rapid Transit, a 63 ft (19.2m) Castro-designed ketch.
The race did not go well for the racing boats which had tried to sail according to the wind and ended up becalmed while the cruising yachts, thinking they had no chance just sailed the rhumb line and picked up a favourable light northerly wind. When Rapid Transit finally reached the anchorage "a quick look around the anchorage at the 21 boats already there told us that the race had not gone as anticipated. Cruising boats seemed to make up the majority. Most noticeable was "Tweed", a 43 ft (13.1m) Hans Christian with a strong Colin Archer appearance which had finished over an hour and 20 minutes ahead of us."
Unfortunately, Sir Robin failed to mention the overall winner of the race. However, our copy of the article has been notated by the then owner: "We won this race on handicap, also 13th across line - against 51 other boats beating at least 3 line favorites, one of which was RAPID TRANSIT!
So, Tweed is feeling pretty chuffed to know that she has been there and done that even if it was a while ago. Sir Robin is participating in this current race aboard FfreeFire 70, a 70-footer, so maybe we can seek him out and remind him of that race.
Tweed in earlier days, probably in Hong Kong, before conversion to a liveaboard crusiing yacht. No dodger, no bimini, no solar panels or wind generator - not a lot of cruising paraphenalia hanging off the stern!!
