Background

The 2013 Hong Kong Nations' Cup race is to be held on Saturday 27 April, out of the RHKYC in Causeway Bay. Any boat can enter, under the latest Around The Island handicaps: that's anything from a Laser, through J80s and Hobies, up to Jelik. The unique feature is that everybody on board an individual boat must be of the same nationality - born, passport, fluent, see below. Are you up for this chance to claim the waters of HK for your country?

You don't have to be a member of the RHKYC - or ANY club in HK for that matter. Heck, you don't even have to live here. Fly in Ben Ainslie if you want!

There is NO restriction on the number of boats that can enter for a country - so if for example there are 15 boats representing Hong Kong, so much the better.

A big fun day out, not too serious (see criteria!)... There will be fabulous opportunities for song, costume, and native customs (Jenever, Bundaberg, Cloudy Bay, Mouton-Rothschild, Cuckoo Clocks, etc).

It will be a simple course from Kellett out through the east end of the Harbour and back in, with the turning mark being set depending on the weather. Might be TCS4, might be Shek O Rock, might be Beaufort!

Prizes include the winning nation's flag being placed behind the bar until the race the following year, and of course the status of Champion Sailing Nation Of The Year.

Last year we had 60 boats from 21 nations .... 22 if you count Uranus ... but the race was abandoned due to adverse weather conditions. England therefore remain the Champion Nation ... until 27th April! 

2013 Provisional Entry List 

NATIONS - 23 / ENTRIES - 78

NATIONALITY CRITERIA
100% of crew members must be nationals of the country which is represented by the boat they are racing on.

During his/her lifetime, a sailor may only ever represent one country in the Race - you should sail for the country to which you have the strongest allegiance.

All applications or disputes relating to the determination of the country which a sailor may represent in the Race shall be resolved very quickly by a committee of at least 2 people who are either members of Sail Com or are Flag Officers of the club.

A sailor who could qualify as a national of two or more countries at the same time may represent either one of them, as he/she may elect. But that choice is final (see 4.2)

A sailor qualifies as a national of a country if ANY of the following apply:

•     The sailor was born in that country
•     The sailor holds a valid passport of that country
•     The sailor has the right of abode in that country (for clarity, HK requires a Permanent HKID Card
•     The sailor has been normally resident in that country for at least 10 years at some stage in their life (for clarity, the 10 years need not be continuous)
•     The sailor has represented that country at a major international event, for example the Olympics, the Rugby World Cup, the United Nations, or the Miss Universe pageant
•     The sailor fluently speaks the language of that country
•     The sailor can sing the national anthem of that country (in the native tongue)

Looking for Crew [e-mail Lindsay.Lyons@rhkyc.org.hk with details]

Available to Crew [e-mail Lindsay.Lyons@rhkyc.org.hk with details]

Nationality FAQ

What qualifies as a ‘Country’?
 

The following are Countries for the purpose of this race:
England, Wales, Belgium;

The following are NOT Countries:
Great Britain is not a country for the purposes of this race: it is divided into England, Scotland, and Wales , as seen in the Six Nations Rugby tournament.

The Isle of Wight is not a country, it is a holiday brochure. 
Cornwall is not a Country, it is a Ceremonial County or a Duchy.

The People's Republic of Cork is not a Country, it is a Paradise .

Hawaii is not a Country, it is a State.

Tasmania is a State, it does NOT qualify as "God's Own Country", at least for the purposes of this race.