From race website...
Communication to Competitors No. 2 - Race postponed

Dear All,

Having monitored the forecast over the past several days, the ABC flag officers, together with the 4PR race committee, have decided to postpone the event as scheduled.

This decision has not been taken lightly. We have looked at several factors, including the weather forecast, the terms of our race permits, the disparity of experience of participants, consideration of peak control and safety boat roles and the overall safety aspect of continuing with the race.

We do understand the effort in preparation that all boats have gone to and we seek your understanding on this decision. An announcement of a re-sail date will be made in due course.

For those of you that were intending to join the skippers briefing tonight and will still be coming to the club, there will still be the opportunity to enjoy some of the prize giving wines in lieu of an early night.

Tristan Stewart

2016 4PR Race Chairman

Wow! The organiser called me yesterday after 4pm to urge me to attend the race start today and assemble in Aberdeen at 7:30am today!

Thanks for the notification!

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The race is back on, it's been rescheduled for 27th-28th Feb.

The whispers I heard are that some leading voices on the committee wanted the race to go ahead whilst others were more cautious - the cautious votes prevailed. I'm pretty disappointed that it didn't happen, especially as I'm going to be out of town on the new race dates, but I'm sure it was the right call. The experienced sailors would have battled through the conditions but it would have been dangerous for the runners. Seasick on the boat, soaking wet getting to shore then freezing conditions on the mountaintops, there would have been casualties. It would have been horrid for the checkpoint teams on the mountains too.

From the main sponsor:

"To share the joy, I attached some photos of Simpson Marine Four Peaks Race 2016 which just finished last weekend (27-28 Feb), it was undoubtedly one of Asia’s most challenging races.
The race is a classic test of endurance and strategy combining ocean sailing with gruelling climbs up some of Hong Kong’s most famous peaks (including Lantau Peak, Mt. Stenhouse, Violet Hill and Ma On Shan)."

From the post-race report:

"But the biggest challenge proved to be for the poor souls manning the peak controls. Lantau Peak had expected to be done and dusted well before sundown, not hanging in until the small hours.
Lamma's Mt Stenhouse had expected their first business by late afternoon and for it all to be over by midnight or so…not nearer midday the next day. Teeth chattered. Supplies and water ran out…but runners were nonetheless met with a smile."

Wow, I'm so lucky NOT to have joined their Mt. Stenhouse peak team, waiting all afternoon, night and the next morning for the runners to arrive and check in!

Click for the full, well-illustrated post-race report:

"The Aberdeen Boat Club (ABC) worked wonders sorting out a re-run for this year’s Simpson Marine Four Peaks Race. Finding slots in Hong Kong’s overstuffed sailing calendar – leave alone ones that also fit the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) booking sheet for Country Park access – is a nightmare..."

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Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.