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ANOTHER REPORT FROM THE UNBIASED BUT RATHER WET COCKPIT OF IMPALA 1 IN HK

Saturday 16th Feb.

Gaston Chan – Mainsheet hand, tactician, reports:

Ls started at the committee boat end of the line 2 seconds after the gun and tacked over immediately as planned.

It was blowing 15 knots, gusting to 20. With a No, 1 up and a flattening reef on it was all meat on the rail to keep the boat upright.
Hard work on the main, keeping her on the edge, easing with every puff….
When we reached the bricks we tacked back to starboard and crossed the whole fleet…
Rainbow was second. They had their No. 2 up with a less heavy crew, Taxi was third.

By TKS we were 10 boat lengths ahead, and extended our lead with a perfect hoist, hugging the old runway to KB.

When it started to look too easy, Ls decided to try a new nationality and do a Chinese gybe.
As we lay on our side Dave reported seeing water go in through the window.
Yan Pui was swimming in the harbour holding on for dear life.
The cockpit was full of water. Only Patrick stayed dry on the high side…
Rainbow reported that our bottom and keel was very clean and smooth as they passed us without pausing to offer any assistance… (more…)

By KPALFREEMAN, ago

SUNNY SAILING IN HONG KONG

Finding myself in Hong Kong last Saturday I was lucky enough to asked on-board Impala 1 for a quick jaunt around the buoys. Skipper Burrell had other views on our progress – slow – being the only printable word.
Anyway from the totally biased view from Impala 1’s cockpit I can report on the racing. If you are looking for objective, unbiased reporting, try elsewhere.
The weather was dry, bright sun, about 22 degrees, 6 – 8 knots of wind, shorts and knobbly knees on show. (more…)

By KPALFREEMAN, ago

1,100 miles and a new name

A few boats have been changing hands recently – Olly Love writes from Itchenor:

“When we drove from Chichester to Helensburgh back in Sept 2011 to buy our Sonata (FRANK) it was always my intention to get an Impala, so when we were driving back up north with the Sonata in tow to part exchange with her original owner for an impala it was a dream come true.

I had been looking for an Impala for a few months however they were all either too expensive or had outboards then we came across Revelry, it was an inboard with new sails, and a trailer unfortunately it was 500 miles away in Scotland.  After a few emails back and forth we came to a deal where Murray would have his Sonata back and we would have the Impala (plus some beer tokens).

We had a slight problem, I am 25 and Sam is 24 so neither of us can tow anything over 750kg, so after a call to Sam`s parents offering them an all expenses paid trip to sunny Glasgow we hitched the Sonata to the back of the Discovery and left Chichester at 9pm on the Friday 21th of Dec.  After a good night’s sleep on the M6 with us in the back while the in-laws drove through the night we arrived in Helensburgh to be greeted by traditional Scottish weather, 30+ knots, torrential rain and flooding.

We exchanged sails and funds, and hitched up the Impala to head to our first stop the 5 star Glasgow airport Travelodge (imagine the inside of faulty towers and you have a good idea of the place).  The roads were waterlogged and the locals (more…)

By admin, ago