RORC Centenary Celebrated in Hong Kong
The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Centenary celebrations continued in Hong Kong with a special dinner held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s historic Kellett Island clubhouse. Guests gathered on Wednesday 8 October for a drinks reception in the Compass Room, the club’s elegant dining hall offering panoramic views of Victoria Harbour. Ian Fleming, Rear Commodore (Sailing) of RHKYC, welcomed everyone and spoke warmly of the many and varied successes that RHKYC members have enjoyed all around the world this year. Ian then introduced Derek Shakespeare, RORC Vice Commodore, who hosted the evening on behalf of RORC. Derek reflected on the Club’s wide-ranging achievements being celebrated in this Centenary year, from its international offshore racing series, the return of the Admiral’s Cup, to the Club’s rejuvenated Griffin programme supporting youth sailing at many levels. Derek then proposed a toast to the Royal Ocean Racing Club, celebrating the shared heritage and strong ties between RORC and RHKYC that have united generations of sailors.
The highlight of the evening was a keynote address from Hong Kong sailing legend Karl Kwok and longtime Beau Geste teammate Gavin Brady. It marked the first time they had publicly spoken about their recent Admiral’s Cup campaign – an effort that saw the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club team nearly capture Hong Kong’s first Admiral’s Cup victory, finishing a close second after Yacht Club de Monaco snatched the win in the final miles. In their engaging speech, Kwok and Brady reminisced about the excitement, teamwork and international camaraderie that defined their experience, emphasising the Admiral’s Cup’s enduring importance in offshore racing. They shared personal anecdotes from the campaign, including the thrill of the Rolex Fastnet Race and their pride in representing Hong Kong on the world stage during RORC’s centenary year.
A three-course dinner followed, with guests enjoying excellent food, lively conversation and the warm company of fellow sailors. The evening’s atmosphere was one of camaraderie and celebration, a toast not only to a century of ocean racing history, but to the global community that the sport has fostered.
With earlier Centenary dinners in Cowes, Cork, New York, Rotterdam, Plymouth and Hamburg already commemorating the Club’s 100-year history, the Club now looks ahead to further international celebrations in France and Australia. For more pictures of the RORC Centenary Dinner in Hong Kong and other Centenary events, visit the RORC Centenary Page.
