Nations’ Cup goes “GREAT” with UK Trade & Investment in Hong Kong - 8 March 2014

CAUSEWAY BAY, Hong Kong - Feb. 26, 2014 - PRLog -- UK Trade & Investment is the new title sponsor of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Nations’ Cup on Saturday 8 March 2014 in Victoria Harbour - an event often referred to as sailing’s answer to the (Hong Kong) Rugby Sevens.

The Club has already received 47 entries from 18 nations to this relatively recent addition to the RHKYC calendar, including defending nation the Philippines and inaugural winners England, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, Wales, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China and France. It hopes to top last year’s entry of 78 boats from 23 nations by the time registration closes on 7 March.

A day’s pursuit racing in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour and eastern approaches will decide which nation will win the Vic Locke Memorial Trophy, together with the right to display their national flag behind the Main Bar until Nations’ Cup 2015 and all-important bragging rights.

The competition will be followed by the Club’s party of the year featuring outrageous fancy dress and demonstrations of national post-race cuisine in the Main Bar.

Caroline Wilson, British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao, says “This is a landmark event that brings together representatives of many nations, a celebration of the diverse community in Hong Kong. We are proud to support the day as part of the GREAT Week Hong Kong, celebrating the very best the UK has to offer as a place to visit, to study, and to do business.”

UK Trade & Investment will use this event to launch the GREAT Week in Hong Kong with a black tie gala dinner at the Club on Friday 7 March.

“This partnership with UK Trade & Investment is the result of our desire and efforts to align some of our major sailing events with major social, cultural or sporting events in Hong Kong” says Torrey Dorsey, Corporate and International Partnerships Manager at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. “Our Club has a long history here and is truly part of the social “landscape”. It is my hope that this will be the first of many such events with UK Trade & Investment and other major organisations of this type, and I am sure that the competitors are looking forward to a GREAT day!”

For sailors of all nations wanting to get involved, online entry is available at http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/NationsCup.aspx together with the not-terribly-onerous Nationality Criteria, Notice of Race, crew wanted and available boards and other race documentation.

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About Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club:

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) is one of the oldest sports clubs in Hong Kong and is proud of its rich, colourful history, which stretches back over 160 years of social and competitive sailing and rowing.  RHKYC provides sailing courses for members and non-members at various levels to nurture the development of sailing.  For details, please visit www.rhkyc.org.hk

About the GREAT Campaign

The GREAT Britain campaign is the British Government’s most ambitious international marketing campaign ever and showcases the very best of what Britain has to offer in order to encourage the world to visit, study and do business with the UK. The campaign is currently active in over 134 countries, celebrating the many facets of the UK including business, creativity, sport, culture and food.

The GREAT Week Hong Kong takes place from 7-13 March 2014, providing an opportunity for emerging young companies from the UK to build new relationships with Hong Kong and Macau, demonstrating the very best that the country has to offer.