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.
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.
17-21 November 2026
Notices & online forms
21-29 November 2026
Notices & online forms
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. Upload proof to your entry on Clubspot by 1 November, and bring the original: it is checked again 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.
Preparation
Equipment inspection
Measurement and registration will take place at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club Marina (CBGCCM) on 17 and 18 November, the opening days of the Asia Pacific Championship, and on 21 and 22 November, the opening days of the World Championship, from 09:00 to 17:30.
All boats are measured on their trailer, and are launched once they have completed the full measurement and inspection process.
Boats based at Shelter Cove are measured at Shelter Cove on 16 November, and on no other day. Book that day at the top of the list below. Every other boat is measured at the Clearwater Bay marina on one of the four days after it.
Before you travel, upload your measurement certificate and insurance document to your entry on Clubspot, by 1 November 2026 and earlier if you can. Those two are the only uploads. There is nothing to upload for photo identification, which is shown in person at the weigh-in.
Please bring the originals of your measurement certificate and insurance document, and your completed sail registration form detailing your declared sails, to the Technical Committee Desk before your registered inspection time. The upload does not replace them.
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.
A boat that completes measurement and inspection for the Asia Pacific Championship is also compliant for the World Championship, provided nothing is changed on the boat, its sails or its equipment afterwards. Crew weighing is mandatory for the World Championship whether or not you sailed the Asia Pacific Championship.
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.
Book your inspection
Your boat is measured once, and a boat that passes on one of the Asia Pacific Championship days does not need measuring again for the World Championship.
One booking per boat. Please pick a time you can keep: places are limited, and one you give up may be taken before you come back to it.
If no booking is made, the Technical Committee will assign your boat a slot.
Equipment inspection
Your inspection is booked
A confirmation is on its way to , with a calendar file for your phone and a link to change or cancel the time.
Reference . Bring your measurement certificate, insurance document and sail registration form to the Technical Committee Desk.
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.
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.
Ninepins Live
Observatory warning
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.
How to apply
Key Contacts
Who to ask
Organising Authority
Nikki Claringbold, RHKYC · nikki.claringbold@rhkyc.org.hk
Logistics
Bram van Olphen · bram@dragonworld2027.com
Charter boats
Nick Bilcliffe · nick@dragonworld2027.com
Insurance
Ken Wong · ken@dragonworld2027.com
Visiting membership
RHKYC Membership Office · membership@rhkyc.org.hk
General enquiries