VietNamNet Bridge – Captain Neil Pryde and his crew of 11 successfully brought the HiFi to the finishing line in Nha Trang Bay at 7.05pm last Friday, winning the VinaCapital Hong Kong to Viet Nam Yacht Race 2008.

Easy sailing: Boats compete in a performance race at the Nha Trang Bay after finishing their Hong Kong-Nha Trang Yacht Race 2008.

The A type is for longer racing boats, while IRC-B is for shorter and lighter boats.

The HiFi boat from Hong Kong finished the 1,049km distance after over 56 hours of sailing through challenging weather conditions.

Runners-up were the UK’s Island Fling, which arrived at 7.45pm the same day, and Freefire 52, also from Hong Kong, that hit the line at 12.17am the following morning.

In the IRC-B category, Hong Kong’s Ambush came first, arriving at 2.30pm last Saturday.

Three other boats in the race including Miss Malona II, Shahtoosh and Thea had to drop out, using their power engines as they were unable to catch any wind.

Ten boats initially departed Hong Kong for Nha Trang, but soon after the departure the Chinese Ho Ho Ho had some technical problem and had to drop out.

The race, co-organised by the Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club, Saigontourist and the asset management group VinaCapital, attracted almost 100 sailors from mainland China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and others, on 10 yachts, including four veterans of the same race from 2006: the Freefire, Hi Fi, Island Fling and Shahtoosh.

Quach Due, who is an investment director at VinaCapital, is the first female Vietnamese racer and was the only female participant. She joined the Shahtoosh’s crew.

VinaCapital general director Don Lam said his group had been acting as the main sponsor for the race since 2004 to promote the reputation of Nha Trang Bay in Khanh Hoa Province as one of the world’s most beautiful bays in a bid to boost tourism.

He also wants to promote sailing in a country with such a long coastal line.

The awards ceremony took place in Nha Trang on Sunday at the Nha Trang Sailing Club.

(Source: Viet Nam News)