Solaris Yachts Asia sponsors Hong Kong’s Four Peaks Race

Solaris Yachts Asia has come aboard as title sponsor of the 2023 edition of the Four Peaks Race, which will be held on the weekend of February 4-5. Aberdeen Boat Club has organised the event since 1985, with boats taking an average of about 24 hours to complete the overnight challenge, which incorporates sailing, running and kayaking.

Enrico Zanella, Director of Solaris Yachts Asia, said: “It’s an honour and a great opportunity to be able to collaborate with the Aberdeen Boat Club on the Solaris Four Peaks Race, which incorporates three great challenges – sailing, running and kayaking. The event requires a fair deal of sailing strategy and adaptability to handle changing weather conditions.”

Sailability organises the Mo Han crew on the Solaris 40

A Sailability Hong Kong team will compete in the event for the first time aboard the Solaris 40, Mo Han (Limitless).

Zanella, who has been representing Italy’s Solaris Yachts and Solaris Power in Asia since 2013, will skipper the yacht, having conceived the Mo Han project for Sailability Hong Kong, which offers sailing to anyone with a physical disability, special educational needs or on the autistic spectrum.

Fred Vaudaine will be co-skipper and a runner, while parasailors include Foo Yuen Wai, Puk Chi Yeung, Leung Wun Wa and Sylvia Leung Yuk Chun.

The Solaris 40 Mo Han is making its Four Peaks Race debut

David Bridger, Sunny Law Yiu Chi and Wong Chun Kiu are lookout sailors and runners, while amputee Fung Kam Hung and hearing-impaired Cheng Yue Choong are para-runners. Sailability founder Kay Rawbone oversees crew care.

The race requires landings by transfer craft or swimming, speed and strategy on land over rough terrain, and seamanship and sailing skills on the water. Tactics, practice and stamina play a big part, with many competitors returning year after year for one of the region’s most unique adventure challenges.

Enrico Zanella (far left) will skipper Mo Han

“I wish to thank the organisers and all the participants, both sailors and runners, who are competing in this prestigious and long-running event. I hope all those competing have great fun while maintaining absolute safety as the number one priority,” said Zanella, who has been living in mainland China and Hong Kong since 1999.

“Not only is this race a challenge of seamanship, athletics and skill but above all it should be enjoyable with the goal of working as a team to maintain safety. For example, if the weather conditions are deemed unsafe, we wait for better conditions or we simply move on to the next step without hesitations. Safety first!”

There are six Solaris yachts (40, 44, 44, 44, 47, 48) in Hong Kong, with two more (50, 60) arriving this year. There’s also a Solaris 44 in Thailand and a Solaris 47 on her way to Taiwan.

www.solarisyachts-asia.com

www.4peaksrace.com