YACHT CLUB
1/20
Yacht racing on Sundays is now a common practice of the Royal Hongkong Yacht Club but it will be of interest to recall that the question of sailing races on Sundays was first discussed at the annual general meeting of the Yacht Club held in the Cricket Club Pavilion on October 14, 1902. The Hon. H.F. (later Sir Henry) Hay, C.M.G., the Commodore presided.
The meeting was reported in the Hongkong Telegraph of October 15, of that year, as follows:
"The Chairman said he had now to allude to a matter upon which he had addressed a letter to boat-owners. In that letter he had stated that he intended to move that, in future, Club races be sailed on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m.
The reasons he gave were that with the more modern and fast yachts which now competed in Club races there was quite time to sail a course of at least 12 miles, starting at say, 2.30 p.m., and therefore one of the principal reasons for which sailing on Sundays was established—the time necessary to sail the course—had ceased to exist; racing on Sunday cut up the day—the only one which a family man had to spend with his family. Racing on Sunday, with the unavoidable publicity which accompanied it, offended a great many, prevented some from racing who otherwise would race, showed a bad example, and could not be held to be creditable to the Club.
"Mr. Follock remarked that the racing on Sunday as at present carried on occupied only a few hours, but practically cut up the whole day, and left no time for anything else. If the Chairman would amend his motion to read that the races start at 2.30 p.m., he would have much pleasure in seconding.
"The Chairman agreed.
"Mr. Slade said he was most strongly opposed to his motion. They wanted a good 4 hours at the very least for the boats to finish. He believed a considerable number of boat-owners here would be unable to sail regularly on Saturday afternoons. Let them have the Cup races on Saturdays and the Club races at a time when every man could be sure of getting away. He did not see how anybody could be gravely offended by the Club having races on Sunday afternoons,
"Mr. F.B. Deacon stated that the Hon. Secretary had suggested that they should start on Sundays at 1.30. If they sailed on Sundays they should stick to the time they had always adhered to. He did not think that most of them, looking at the question seriously, felt that there was very much in sailing on Sunday.
"On a show of hands being called for, the Chairman's motion was defeated by a large majority, only four voting for it.
"The Chairman then moved that Club races on Sundays commence at 1.30 p.m. This would be a great convenience to members resident at the Peak. His principal reason for making this motion was that it would enable any person to attend morning service at the Cathedral and go out sailing afterwards.
"Lieut. G. Badham Thornhill, R.A. seconded the motion, which was agreed to."