Serendipity in the One Global Lipton Trophy; Photos: RHKYC / Guy Nowell

Patrick Pender’s Serendipity left it late to win the One Global Lipton Trophy, the second event of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2020-2021 following the Sun Hung Kai & Co Around The Island Race, which attracted 228 boats.

Offering more ideal sailing conditions, 67 boats turned out for the One Global Lipton Trophy, organised by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.

With 12-15 knots of easterly wind on Victoria Harbour, Race Officers Gareth and Di Williams opted for a Club line start, allowing members to watch the start sequence at Kellett Island clubhouse. Pursuit races work on boats being given a different start time based on their handicap, so all boats will finish at a similar time.

The first start was at 2.00pm for the Pandoras and the last boat to start was the TP52 Phoenix at 3.14pm. The fleet was sent to start on a long beat up to Shau Kei Wan, then sailed two laps between Shau Kei Wan and Hung Hom and two laps between Shau Kei Wan and North Point before finishing at Kowloon Bay.

As the day progressed, the wind dropped to around 10 knots, prompting the Race Officers to shorten the course at E2 near North Point very close to the target finish time.

Windfall, a Pandora, was holding off the faster classes until near the end of the race before being overtaken by Serendipity, a VX One, just 30m from the finish line. The 19ft Serendipity crossed at 16:27, with Windfall crossing in second place. Davidloong (Dragon) squeezed into third place, beating Buster (Ruffian) by only five seconds.

The third and fourth events of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2021-2022 are the One Global HKRNVR Memorial Vase on January 15 and One Global Tomes Cup on April 30.
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