Dragon fleet racing upwind under full sail

Race Information

For Competitors

Two championships, back to back, in the best of the Hong Kong sailing season. Entry, shipping, charter and the official documents, in one place.

17-21 November 2026

Asia Pacific Championship

The inaugural racing event for the Asia-Pacific region.
A timely tune-up regatta held before the World Championship.

21-29 November 2026

World Championship

Dragon racing at its highest level,
with the world’s best on the water.

Entries, including the entry fee, must be received prior to 30 September 2026.

Registered Entries

The fleet so far

The current fleet is published on Clubspot and updates as new teams enter. Entry is capped at 100 boats.

90+
Boats from 21 nations
are already registered

Official Documents

Official Notice Boards

The Notice Board prevails

The Official Notice Board is the official source for all racing documents and communications. In any conflict, it prevails over information shown on this website.

What’s on the Notice Board

The Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, amendments, results, hearing schedule and all official online forms, kept current by the Organising Authority. There are two boards, one per event. Please read the correct one.

Contact for both regattas: Nikki Claringbold, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, nikki.claringbold@rhkyc.org.hk

Logistics

Shipping your boat

Group shipping · closed

The subsidised group shipping programme has closed. The deadline has passed and the shared-container package is no longer available.

Independent shipping to and from Hong Kong can still be arranged directly with our logistics partner, Central Oceans, at the competitor’s own cost. They can advise on routing, container loading and customs processing. To be connected, please contact our logistics liaison, Bram van Olphen, at bram@dragonworld2027.com to discuss timing.

Hong Kong is a major international port and well served from the main Dragon fleets:

  • From EuropeRotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Felixstowe, Fos-sur-Mer, Valencia, Genoa: 30 to 45 days, via Suez or the Cape, subject to restrictions at the time of shipping.
  • From AustraliaFremantle, Melbourne: 15 to 25 days.
  • From JapanOsaka: 3 to 5 days.

Charter

Charter a Dragon

Only 7 charter boats are left for the Championship, out of 20 on offer. Prices range from US$3,500 to US$12,000, depending on the boat’s age and the length of the charter. 

Support Craft

Coach & Support Boats

All coach and support boats (RIBs) must be accredited before they go afloat. Each vessel must carry valid third-party liability insurance with at least the minimum cover required by Hong Kong law and pay a non-refundable fee of HK$2,500 that includes slipway access and berthing in the marina. All support vessels must enter and pay online before 18:00 on 22 November 2026. Every vessel must display its MNA three-letter code and agree to the on-water conduct and support-boat zones set out in the Sailing Instructions.

Insurance

Third-party liability cover

All boats must carry at least HK$5 million in third-party liability insurance per incident, or the amount required by the Notice of Race if higher. Proof will be checked at registration.

Under the IDA disclaimer, all participants race at their own risk, and the organising authority accepts no responsibility for injury, death or damage before, during or after the regatta.

If you need Hong Kong waters cover, send us your details and Ken Wong will help with local options.

Insurance

Request insurance assistance

Ken Wong will come back to you with local options. Everything a Hong Kong underwriter needs is below, so the more you can fill in, the faster the quote.

Who you are

The boat

The cover

Cover needed for (required)

Third-party liability HK$5 million minimum

Preparation

Equipment inspection

Measurement and registration will take place at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club Marina (CBGCCM) on 21-22 November, from 09:00 to 17:30.

Please bring your valid measurement certificate, insurance document, and sail measurement form detailing your declared sails to the Technical Committee Desk at your registered inspection time.

After measurement sign-off, you will proceed to the regatta office for final registration and weigh-in. Photo ID will be required for registration and weigh-in.

Sail measurement is walk-in, and there is nothing to book for it. You will be told at your boat inspection which of your sails are to be measured.

Booking for equipment inspection opens closer to the event.

Tracking

Rent a Vakaros Atlas 2

Racing is tracked with the Vakaros Atlas 2. If you do not have one, Vakaros rents them by the regatta. Book online beforehand, then collect yours at registration at Clearwater Bay. The mounting bracket comes with it.

Booking · open

The fee is US$320 for the regatta, booked on or before 7 November.

A Vakaros Atlas 2 showing a heading of 249 degrees and a boat speed of 12.7 knots

Book early and you pay the US$320. Leave it late and it costs more. Leave it too late and you cannot book at all. Counting back from World Championship check-in on Saturday 21 November:

  • By 7 NovemberThe standard fee, US$320. Your unit ships in the normal run and is waiting for you at registration.
  • 8 to 13 NovemberA late fee applies, and rush shipping may be charged on top of it.
  • From 14 NovemberBooking closes. The units ship to Hong Kong, and Vakaros takes no reservations after that.

The unit is your responsibility while you have it. Vakaros holds renters liable for up to US$1,249 if one is lost, stolen, or damaged through neglect, and US$49.99 for the mounting bracket, so keep it with the boat and hand it back at the end of the regatta.

On the Water

The Racing Area, Ninepins

Racing is held in the open waters of the South China Sea around the Ninepins Islands (Kwo Chau), under three nautical miles east-south-east of the Clearwater Bay marina. The cluster of rocky islets gives the course its name and its character: a clean, rolling swell and an honest breeze, the same water that hosted the 2015 Etchells World Championship.

November sits squarely in Hong Kong’s prime sailing season, with reliable North-East Monsoon breezes, clear skies and comfortable days on the water.

Map data © OpenStreetMap · OpenSeaMap. For navigation, use official charts.

Location

Ninepins / Kwo Chau Islands, South China Sea, approx. 22.256°N, 114.351°E.

Season

North-East Monsoon; moderate to fresh breeze, 18-25°C, clear skies.

Course

A race course of up to eight nautical miles. Marks and VHF channels per the Sailing Instructions.

Conditions
Ninepins
Live
9kn
Wind SSW
12kn
Gusts
30°C
Air
28°C
Sea
0.7m
Swell
1.3m
High 21:28

Observatory warning

The Very Hot Weather Warning is now in force. Prolonged heat alert! Please drink sufficient water. If feeling unwell, take rest or seek help immediately. If needed, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Sources

Updated 22:30 HKT · wind & sea from Open-Meteo, air, tide & warnings from HK Observatory (tide at Tai Miu Wan). Indicative only. See the Sailing Instructions.

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

Visiting membership

Visiting membership is available to overseas competitors, their partners and crew members. Because the RHKYC is cash-free, you will need an account to use the clubhouses at Kellett Island, Middle Island and Shelter Cove.

Choose one of two options:

Credit facilities: sign one card authorisation, and charges are settled when you close the account. The Club holds a HK$2,000 deposit on the card to open the facility. You may also authorise your partner or crew to sign.

Alipay or Octopus: use a pre-stored Octopus Card, available at Kellett Island reception or any MTR station.

Collect your membership card from reception at Kellett Island up to 16 November 2026. After that it waits for you at the race venue, in the Regatta Office on Level 1 of the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club Marina Office.

Apply before you travel

Complete the online application by 2 November 2026. Questions: membership@rhkyc.org.hk or +852 2239 0372.

Key Contacts

Who to ask