Team on the Sea: Ewa Stachurska – Sailing Triumphs and Tropical Waters

With such a great sea scenery that Hong Kong offers, it is easy to go boating on a regular basis. Since 2021, the Covid lockdown, I enrolled myself in dinghy sailing and keep on logging more hours and experience whenever a free weekend is available, which, sadly, was not that often in 2023 as we are back in action with boat shows and events that usually fall on weekends.

One of the most memorable sailing days was the Around The Island Race, the biggest and most spectacular regattas in Hong Kong, organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. It took place on 29 October, right after one of our major owner’s events – we were exhausted but positively motivated! We gathered a Simpson Marine team of seven and raced on the Beneteau First 36 which proved to be a true racing machine, with us taking second position in our IRC division! Competing against more than 230 boats, our team raced in the IRC Division “ATI 1.050 to 1.1095”, commencing racing at 9:50 am alongside other yachts in their division. Together we achieved an impressive second place finish with a time of 4 hours and 26 minutes. It was very rewarding to celebrate that result on a podium together.

On a personal note, I have also spent a lovely boating day with family on 24 December in and around Cebu, the Philippines, on our Christmas break, invited by our yacht owner turned friend, who took us around some beautiful snorkelling and fishing locations amongst little paradise islets and sandbars while testing some great local delicacies and amazing seafood, right off the fishing banka boat. A great prelude to the evening Christmas feast and Christmas Day.