Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week 2026 - day 3
by Vivian Ngan and Guy Nowell 1 Feb 13:43 NZDT
29 Jan - 01 Feb 2026
Su Hung Kai & Co Hong Kong Raceweek 2026 - Volunteer Appreciation Day © RHKYC/ Guy Nowell
After two demanding days on the water, the wind gods took a rest on Day 3 of the Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week 2026, incorporating the 2026 29er Asian Championship. With light and unstable conditions across the courses, only the Optimist Green Fleet managed to start a race, while the rest of the fleets were granted a well-earned lay day following two solid days of racing.
Principal Race Officer Barry Truhol explained the situation on the water. “The forecast was for a Force 4 to 5 easterly, veering more northerly during the day. But when the boats got out there, there was literally nothing,” he said. “We launched the Optimists first as they were close in and there were some indications of wind, followed by the ILCAs. However, once they arrived on station, there was really no breeze at all.”
“We held the fleets in position for over an hour, but with no improvement, we made the decision to abandon racing — 1130hrs for the Optimists and 1200hrs for the other fleets. The priority was to get everyone back ashore, fed, and happy.”
ILCA 4
The second-largest fleet this year is ILCA 4, featuring 50 sailors, 35 from Hong Kong, China, 11 sailors from Singapore, 3 from the Chinese Mainland and one each from Japan and Macau(China). Hong Kong sailor Zixi Huang captured the Girls’ U16 and U18 gold medals at the 2025 ILCA Asian (Open) Championships.
Her teammate Tiago Cheng De Villemor Salgado won the overall ILCA 4 boys’ title at the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup—a performance marking him as a key contender. They are competing to qualify for representing Hong Kong in the 2026 Asian Games.
Singapore’s Ian Goh, the ILCA 4 champion at Hong Kong Race Week 2024, also returns. With multiple athletes capable of taking the podium, ILCA 4 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions of the week.
Singaporean ILCA coach explained the reason for joining Hong Kong Race Week: “With the North-East Monsoon in Hong Kong, this area has good wind and good racing conditions for strong winds. But Singapore does not have this. Secondly, yes, we have Hong Kong with good ILCA 4 teams, we just come to do the race with them and kind of learn from each other for the preparation of the Asian Games this year.”
ILCA 6
The ILCA 6 fleet features 13 sailors, with 12 of them from Hong Kong, including several Hong Kong Team athletes using the regatta as a major training platform.
Representing the women’s team is Ziyan Huang, who took a gold medal in the 2024 ILCA Asian Cup U19 division. On the men’s side, Charalampos Velianitis and Samuel Tan Hardy will compete. Velianitis won the ILCA 4 division at Hong Kong Race Week 2025 and later placed 13th at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships—the top Asian result in the fleet.
2.4mR
For the first time, the 2.4mR division features an overseas competitor. Murray MacDonald of Great Britain, a recent gold medallist at the 2025 World Sailing Inclusion Championships, makes his Hong Kong debut. He is racing against local Sailability sailors, including Fu Yuen Wai, champion of the 2.4mR division at Hong Kong Race Week 2023 and 2024, who returns to defend his title. Fu also claimed gold at the 2025 Hansa Class World Championship, becoming Hong Kong’s first Para Sailing World Champion in the Liberty class.
PRO Barry Truhol commented on the plan for tomorrow. “I think if the wind is in, then we will get them straight out. We only have to get the discards in. I think one or two fleets need to do one more race. If the wind is good, we'll get the schedule going. But if there's no wind they will be held on shore. They won't be launched until we are sure of a race course."
Meanwhile: lacking any racing action to amuse, the camera boat started collecting images of Volunteers - the people who make it happen, and without whom there would be no Raceweek. Many thanks, all!