Sailing in Hong Kong

[MissFitz]

I have to be in Hong Kong for work for a month, leaving this Saturday, & would like to get in some sailing to make up for missing so much of the season here.

I'd be very grateful for any suggestions re dinghies/yachts/chartering/crewing - not fussy about what it is, just want to get out on the water.

Many thanks
Lucy

 

[DJE]

It was a long time ago but when I was in Hong Kong somebody in the office told me that the Dragon fleet were racing in the Harbour on Saturdays and were always looking for crew so I should turn up at the RHKYC at lunchtime and see if anybody needed help. Usually there were a couple of signs on the door of the bar saying "Bill Bloggs needs crew this afternoon" or similar. Walked into bar and asked who's Bill Bloggs and on several occaisons the reply was "He's over there but I saw you first." Once or twice there were no places available just pot luck on the day.

Looking at the RHKYC website it seems a bit more organised these days. It might be worth posting your details on there.

P.S. June! It's going to be hot and probably raining!

 

[Bilgediver]

I'd be very grateful for any suggestions re dinghies/yachts/chartering/crewing - not fussy about what it is, just want to get out on the water.

Many thanks
Lucy

Pop down to the Yacht club and have a chat.. Might find someone who will take you round the island. Most of these yacht clubs are happy to accept reciprocal visitors even those with mud berths on a wee creek... Always pays to walk around the pontoons if possible as you never know who you might meet!

 

[30boat]

Second the Yacht Club.They have a large fleet of Sonatas and Impalas along with all sorts of large expensive racing yachts.I'm sure you'll find someone willing to take you for a sail.Heung Kong Yau Teng Wuy by taxi or take the subway and exit in Causeway Bay.Plenty of signs to the RHKYC.
Brace yourself for the heat and humidity...

 

[gerry99]

I also endorse the Royal HK YC as a good place to start. If you want to skipper yacht though you will need to take an exam, but crewing should not present any problems

 

[Bob_Ranft]

I have to be in Hong Kong for work for a month, leaving this Saturday, & would like to get in some sailing to make up for missing so much of the season here.

I'd be very grateful for any suggestions re dinghies/yachts/chartering/crewing - not fussy about what it is, just want to get out on the water.

Many thanks
Lucy

Lucy,

Try the Hebe Haven Yacht Club close to Sai Kung in the New Territories. Bit of a travel if you are based on Hong kong Island or Kowloon, but worth the trip just to see what's up there.
Take MTR / KCR to Shatin then taxi from Shatin. Good few guys race out of there.

Enjoy your stay

Bob

 

[30boat]

Lucy,

Try the Hebe Haven Yacht Club close to Sai Kung in the New Territories. Bit of a travel if you are based on Hong kong Island or Kowloon, but worth the trip just to see what's up there.
Take MTR / KCR to Shatin then taxi from Shatin. Good few guys race out of there.

Enjoy your stay

Bob

Ah the memories.I bought my boat there...

 

[jhr]

If all else fails, try the Kowloon ferry

HK is a fabulous place; when you're tired of sailing, try Insomnia in Lan Kwai Fong. In fact, try anywhere in Lan Kwai Fong - I don't think I have ever seen so many bars crammed in to such a confined area.

It is very hot and humid out there at this time of year (trust me; I was there a couple of weeks ago) but everywhere is air conditioned, so no worries unless you take up marathon running.

Enjoy it!

 

[Sgeir]

You're very lucky to be there for a month - even working. I've only been there for a brief visit, but loved it. Great walking in the New Territories, and there are cheapish hotels dotted about the islands. You'll probably meet some very amazing and eccentric people too.

Very densely populated, but everyone is very polite and, somehow, there's no jostling; it's as though being so crowded, people respect each other's space. I'm over six feet tall, and slightly on the errmm well built side - must have looked very ungainly compared with the locals, but never felt crowded when streaming on and off the Star Ferries - they're really something.

The thing that jumped out for me were the very obvious extremes of wealth and poverty. Probably no different from London or New York, but it's cheek by jowl, and quite blatant, in HK. In the mid-levels, there is an apartment block called Tycoon Court. One of the more grotesque things that we noticed was a Filipino housemaid taking the owner's dog for a walk - and catching it's droppings in a plastic bag before they even hit the ground.

It's a really exciting and fascinating place - lots to see and do. Hope you get some sailing - we didn't, but the waters and inlets round the neighbouring islands and the New Territories look very interesting. We called in at the RHKYC - it was during a weekday and quiet, but there seemed to be good club activities, and all seemed very friendly. There are some liveaboards in the marinas;

There are some interesting ex-pats. Called in for pint in a pub beside one of the island ferry terminals, Lantau as I recall, and noticed the manager's football scarf decorating the bar - a St Mirren fan.

 

[MissFitz]

Thanks very much guys, lots of good advice as always & great pics!

 

[DJE]

Thanks very much guys, lots of good advice as always & great pics!

As you ride in from the airport check that this is still there for me will you?

 

[Bilgediver]

Thanks very much guys, lots of good advice as always & great pics!

Just go and enjoy the experience.... It is a lively place and the thing I remember was how everyone seemed to smile. Maybe some folk here with more up to date info can point you to the good food low cost places which used to abound around Kowloon pier and other places in the old days.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Just got back from a fortnight in Hong Kong - a combination of work and a holiday, as my wife is from Hong Kong. I'm not plugged into the yachting scene in HK, but would echo the remarks about the amazing disparity between rich and poor.

Concerning getting to Hebe Haven, it happens my wife comes from Sai Kung, and her parents still live there, at Nam Wai. From Kowloon (Nathan Road), she usually gets a No 26 bus, then transfers to a green taxi (cheaper than the red taxis in the city). Otherwise, if you can get to Mong Kok (2 or 3 stops on the MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui), there is a 16 seater minibus from (I think) Dundas Road that takes you to Sai Kung, going past the marinas. However, in both cases I had a built-in advantage of having a native Cantonese speaker with me!

I've taken photos of jars of dried seahorses for the Studland Bay discussions!

 

[Bilgediver]

I've taken photos of jars of dried seahorses for the Studland Bay discussions!

Should have bought a couple of stallions back to give the mares a treat

 

[DJE]

Thanks very much guys, lots of good advice as always & great pics!

How's the weather? I'm flying out on Monday evening for three weeks. I haven't been there for nearly seven years now it should be interesting to see how things have changed.

 

[Martin_J]

I was there (with work) last week - wet every day! You couldn't go anywhere without an umbrella - not even across the road from the office to get a coffee.

Left work one night.. 25 yards down the street and a total downpour. In the morning I was told it was 'Yellow rain'. Confused - so was I. Apparently 'Black rain' is heavier and 'Typhoon' is heavier still.

Back there again on Sunday - Sadly no chance to sail and even views from The Peak were not possible last week. If it's not good enough weather for sailing - then a cable car from Tung Chung (in the north) to the Big Buddha at least lets you see lots of the sea - and with a glass bottom in the car you'll feel like you're flying over it.

The guys in Hong Kong reckon we're lucky in the UK to see blue sky and be able to sail with nice visibility! Local hotel television has lots of sailing on one of the sports channels as well.

 

[Martin_J]

BTW - the hotel never told me I could check my bags in 'in town' on the last day - luckily the locals did.

The express train - faster than hotel coaches, taxis or limousines - also appears to be the cheapest way into town from the airport. On the way back to the airport you can check your bags in at the 'in town' central station check in desks and then spend the rest of the day without luggage before catching the express train back to the airport for departure!