Scallywag

The assembly process never gets any easier!

Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 is being re-assembled ahead of our first race fixture the Rolex Maxi Worlds only a few short weeks away.

Pictured the team can be seen here hard at work re-attaching the keel to the hull. A notable addition to the hull is also visible with our new (slightly longer and slightly heavier) bow sprit now finally attached in place!

The work doesn’t stop there though. Later this week the yacht gets re-weighed and measured and then launched by centre point lift where the rig then will be stepped, and Scallywag 100 moved from the work yard to the marina. Next week some crew begin arriving to undertake a few days of testing and following that, the yacht then heads from La Spezia to Porto Cervo for a few training days with the team in the lead up to race start.

The team are pumped to do well in our first 2024 European event the Rolex Maxi Worlds Championships and aiming to bring back that line honours world champions win…

Keep up the great work!

Another job crossed off the jobs list with Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100's mast getting reassembled post its journey from Australia to Italy.

The mast will be stepped in a few weeks when Scallywag 100 is moved from the hard deck and relaunched on water ahead of our 2024 races.

Nice work team!

Great progress with Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100's bow sprit work.

The hull shots show the team performing checks and measurements for the new forestay fitting, to be attached to the bow so that it won't interfere with the new bowsprit. Additional photos show both lifting of and test fitting of the bow sprit itself.

More to follow!

The team have been hard at it behind the scenes continuing work on Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 preparing the hull for the new bow sprit.

In addition to stripping back and repairing the hull damage sustained from the bow sprit breakage, the lads have also been working on the reconstruction of the new bobstay connection at the stem.

Every single part has been re-engineered to ensure that we will never suffer from a similar breakage. The vertical shot shows the new bobstay attachment including full rebuild of the knuckle at bottom of the stem. The new bobstay c6 cable will disappear into the stem once complete.

Keep up the great work team!

Great article on Sail-World featuring the Scallywags in the lead up to Malta and the Middle Sea Race this coming October.

Fresh faces and initiatives at the Rolex Middle Sea Race https://www.sail-world.com/news/275299/?source=facebook

As promised, we have some additional behind the scenes shots of Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100's new bow sprit build.

The bow sprit seen here with the two halves now out of their moulds, clamped together and up on trestles being checked by our quality assurance team ahead of next steps.

As mentioned in our earlier posts once the base is finalised next steps include drilling detailing, pins and sheaves fitting, sheave box moulds, lamination, and bobstay pin connections.

Fantastic progress team!

Work continues in team Sun Hung Kai Scallywag's base in La Spezia, Italy with Scallywag 100 lifted out of the water.

Once secured on land on its cradle, Scallywag 100's keel was then removed and it was placed in low mode ready to fit the new bowsprit in the coming weeks.

The yacht will undergo mainenance over the coming weeks including adjusting sails to meet the required IRC number for upcoming Maxi Worlds, paintwork, general maintaince, re-antifoul of both the keel and rudders and of course the long awaited post trip clean.

Great work team!

For our Australian based supporters don't forget to dust off your boat shoes later this week and check out the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

SCIBS 2024 is running from 23-26 May 2024 in Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

This year marks the 35th annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that has grown to become the Southern Hemisphere’s largest boating and marine lifestyle event featuring over 330 exhibitors, 700-plus boats, and more than 2,500 products and is expected to attract over 50,000 visitors.

We've managed to secure some tickets so if you are planning to head down and keen to win a pair follow Scallywag and SC Boat Show and tag a friend you would take in the comments. Winners will be selected at random and contacted on Wednesday - tickets valid for a single day entry.

For more details on the industry's latest launches, competitions, exhibitors list and tickets head to Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show or https://sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au/.

++ TEAM SUN HUNG KAI SCALLYWAG PROGRAM UPDATE ++

The Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 Mediterranean program has landed for 2024.

The Scallywags are excited to be racing in the Med from September in 3 series including the Maxi Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, Italy closely followed by a special Maxi event to coincide with the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain before heading to Malta to compete in the Middle Sea Race in October.

Event Dates:

08/09/24 - 14/09/24 MAXI YACHT ROLEX CUP: Porto Cervo, ITALY
24/09/24 - 29/09/24 MAXI YACHT CUP AC 37 Barcelona, SPAIN
19/10/24 ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE: Malta

Stay tuned to social media for more updates on the yacht and in the leadup to our Mediterranean events.

Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 has safely made it to Italy!

From loading the 100 onto our big lift transport ship in Newcastle, Australia, through safe shipment, and eventual arrival and unload in the port of Genoa, the global shipping exercise has taken just over 7 weeks.

After successfully unloading of the yacht in Genoa, the team with rig on deck then motored along the coast to La Spezia which will be our home base for next few months.

Well done team and all involved in this massive logistics exercise!

Stay tuned next week for our Mediterranean race fixtures announcement.

Solid progress behind the scenes with Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100's new bow sprit build.

The bow sprit main parts are shown here in various stages in vacuum bags used to bond external skin laminates together and once done it's into the oven to get cooked off.

While that is underway more design and pre work is being carried out for drilling details and the pins and sheaves fitting, including sheave box moulds, lamination and bobstay pin connection design.

We're still not done as the 2 main parts of the bow sprit will next be laminated together and put back into the oven to cook once again.

More to follow!

While Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 ships north destined for the Mediterranean, work continues on our replacement bow sprit.

After a period of design, the tube moulds are finally coming together! Seen here with a shiny finish of Teflon to assist later release, all ahead of the laminating process to create the outer bow sprit skin.

Note the forklift for scale!

More to come as it starts to take shape over the next few weeks.

Today we pause to remember a beloved family member, friend and crew mate John Fisher who was tragically lost at sea 6 years ago. We especially think of Kirsten, Ryan, Amy and the extended Fisher family on this difficult day.

We draw some comfort knowing that John was doing what he loved and pursuing a lifelong dream by racing around the world with his mates in the Volvo Ocean Race.

In the words of the man himself "Blasting along at 30 knots is magic..." and on the race itself "It's one of those things you always dream of doing... If you are lucky enough to get the chance to do a race like this, everyone should grab it I think. It isn't for everyone, but you should always challenge yourself."

Today, we celebrate a life well lived and remember the good times had with Fish, a gifted sailor, generous man, and a friend we all dearly miss.

Always in our thoughts. Fair winds mate, sail on.

A big day's work completes with the team successfully lifting Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 out of the water onto container ship in Newcastle, Australia ready for its journey north to Europe.

Some further rigging will be conducted to secure the yacht in place, in addition to welding extra steel supports around the base of the cradle now located in the ship's cargo hold.

Headed for Genoa, Italy before unloading and eventual destination La Spezia, Italy where the team will be based, the journey will take approximately 6 weeks assuming no delays.

Well done team and safe travels up north!

Work continues behind the scenes getting Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 ready for its journey north to Europe and the Mediterranean.

The team have been hard at work preparing the yacht for container ship journey including creation of wooden supports, transporting and assembly of the shipping cradle to Newcastle ahead of loading onto the containership later this week.

Nice one team!

Happy Birthday to a true scallywag none other than Sun Hung Kai Scallywag's skipper David Witt!

Many happy returns Witty have a good one!

Happy New Year all we hope you had a good one... and we're back!

Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 is currently being readied to ship to the northern hemisphere for the 2024 campaign ahead.

Earlier today the team supported by a seriously solid crane lifted Scallywag's boom and rig off the yacht in preparation. In the coming weeks, the yacht will also be lifted out of the water onto a cradle and secured on the deck of a container ship for the journey north to its new base in the Mediterranean.

After the Hobart race breakage, design work has also commenced on a new replacement bowsprit - more updates to follow on that.

Great work team including by our surprise guest delivery driver none other than Murray from Autism on the Water!

Congratulations to LawConnect winning line honours in an exciting light air Derwent River drift off with Andoo Comanche in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart race.

A special note of thanks from the team to you our loyal fans. The Scallywags have read your messages and want to thank you for your continued support it means a lot!

Despite the disappointment of this year, with the yacht performing well post-refit, a great team assembled and favourable conditions prevailing, the Scallywags remain resilient and are determined to endure and rise above this setback. As someone wiser than us once said, "Don't judge us by our successes, judge us by how many times we get up after being smashed into the ground."

Looking ahead, the team is gearing up for the challenges in the northern hemisphere Rolex maxi race series next year, and after that who knows, we may find ourselves back on familiar waters one last time.

The Scallywags will see you soon!

Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 has retired from the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart with a broken bow sprit.

The team are obviously very disappointed given the great progress we were making but thankful no one was injured and that we could safely recover the sails that were in the air at the time.

The team are currently making their way back to Sydney.

It's Rolex Sydney Hobart race day!

After a massive effort by the team over the past 18 months to get the yacht through the refit, the Scallywags are lining up today for their last Sydney Hobart before the yacht moves to the northern hemisphere next year.

Follow all the action on Scallywag's social media and YouTube accounts for updates from the yacht:

https://fb.me/scallywaghk
https://instagram.com/scallywaghk
https://twitter.com/scallywaghk
https://www.youtube.com/

You can also follow SHK Scallywag 100 and the rest of the fleet on their journey down south via the official Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht 2023 Race tracker here:

https://rolexsydneyhobart.com/tracker/

Good luck today SH, Witty and team, safe trip down and send it!

Game on Scallywags!!

SeaDek

2 Days to Go!
Our final introductions of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 race crew: BACK OF THE BUS members:

# # # SENG HUANG LEE # # #

Seng Huang Lee (SH) is the Hong Kong based team owner behind SHK Scallywag who first got a taste for sailing during his school days growing up watching the yachts on Sydney Harbour.

Years later a chance meeting and conversation with David Witt on a rainy day on Victoria harbour in Hong Kong at the tail end of the Ragamuffin campaign set things in motion and the rest is history.

Rebadging the former Ragamuffin 100 as Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 (thanks to his daughter's wonderful name suggestion!) in 2016 it was a case of throw on some stickers over the existing paintwork and get sailing! From there SH has grown both the team and Hong Kong's Sailing profile adding plenty more mods to the 100, the SHK Scallywag FUKU Tri Orma 60 and the Volvo Ocean Race 17-18 Campaign to the list in addition to several record-breaking performances. SH also set up the Sun Hung Kai Scallywag Foundation to help underprivileged and special needs youths in Hong Kong experience sailing.

A veteran of several ocean races including a leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, a Fastnet and 3 Sydney Hobarts he will be sailing with the team once again for his 4th Hobart and had this to say:
"It has been a massive effort by Witty and the team who have all been working non-stop to get the yacht through the refit and ready for race day. It's our last Sydney Hobart before we take the yacht north next year so Scallywags will be giving it our all this year!"

Nice one boss thanks for your continued support and good luck on Tuesday!

# # # DAVID WITT # # #

A man that needs no introduction is Sun Hung Kai Scallywag's skipper David Witt (Witty).

David started sailing aged eight on Flying Ants and Cherubs, then as a wacca on 16 foot skiffs, before moving into the 18ft skiffs starting out on an old Tia Maria hull which his father, Greg, bought for him. Years later David still races 18's today and says that they remain his favourite ever sailing class. After a stellar campaign racing 18s including winning a JJ World title and a Grand Prix Title during 10 years with the Grand Prix Sailing 18 Footer circuit and developing a reputation as one of the best downwind heavy weather sailors (check out that video of Nokia’s sensational ride in Auckland) he progressed onto larger yachts and ocean sailing.
After the 1997 Whitbread Round the World Race where David did a leg on Innovation Kvaerner, he worked and raced for Syd Fischer on the Ragamuffin program, eventually becoming sailing master and also designing Ragamuffin 100 with architect Andy Dovell. “I definitely took two things from Syd, never pay full price for anything, and never give up.” Advice that has stood him well over the years, that and the team building skills he took from his rugby coaching days, often drawing parallels between the two sports.

With Syd's retirement from the sport, David met SH in Hong Kong and a friendship and the Scallywag program was born and continues to develop and promote Hong Kong sailing to the world today. With numerous Scallywag events and team campaigns under his belt over the past 5 years including the Volvo Ocean Race 17-18 (with that historic win into Hong Kong!), record setting SHK Scallywag Fuku Trimaran events, Hong Kong, Noumea, Caribbean, Fastnet, Transatlantic races to name a few plus support of the SHK Foundation's work with kids, we can't wait to see what is next in store.

David had this to say on this year's Hobart race: "It has been a lifetime ambition and 30 years of work towards winning the Hobart. This year is our last go at it, so it is all or nothing for the Scallywags!"

Good luck in Hobart #26 to you and the team - do us proud and send it!

# # # MARK BRADFORD # # #

Mark started sailing on the Brisbane River in 1983 sailing One Design and Skiffs for the first 10 years before moving onto International 420, Olympic 470, Etchells and Star Class, then Offshore Sailing from 1995 including working for BMW Oracle from 2003-2007 in their 32nd America's Cup Campaign.

Mark skippered Black Jack 100 in its 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart win and also won it in 2011 as a crew member of Investec Loyal. Race record holder and won the Brisbane to Gladstone line honours 9 times and race record/line honours 2022 Pittwater to Coffs. More recently he competed in the Rolex Giraglia 2023 and won Rolex Maxi Association Offshore boat of the year 2023.

Mark has been sail making since 1987 and is currently Managing Director of Norths Sails Australia, instrumental in helping the team with our new sail plans.

Mark joins the Scallywags on the back of the bus as tactician for his 16th Hobart this year and had this to say: “We have worked hard on the design of Scallywag’s new sails and mast combination. The team is really starting to come together well, we have had a very focused build up. Witty is a fantastic leader and I’m really enjoying the opportunity to sail with him, S.H. and the Scallywag Race Team.”

Welcome Mark and good luck on Boxing Day!

3 Days to Go!

Introducing the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 race crew: NAVIGATION TEAM crew members

# # # CHRIS WILD # # #

Introducing Sun Hung Kai Scallywag's next crew member and co-navigator for this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart... Chris Wild, originally from the Central Coast NSW, living in Sydney.

Chris started his sailing life in Mirror dinghies at Saratoga Sailing Club on the NSW Central Coast when he was 8 years old. Following a few years of keel boat racing in Sydney Harbour, Chris's first taste of offshore sailing was doing deliveries - where his interest in navigation started to take shape.

Lining up this year for his 10th Sydney to Hobart, with many of his previous events with Witty and the familiar Ragga-Wags crew.
Chris is back as one of two navigators on Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100.

Speaking about the upcoming race, "I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with Juan, its rare as a navigator to get opportunities to race together with and learn directly from someone with his knowledge and experience. Hobart is a busy race and the way this forecast is shaping up, looks like we'll both be flat out until we cross the finish line."

Best of luck Chris for Hobart #10 and for all the navigation and weather preparation work ahead of Tuesday!

# # # JUAN VILA # # #

Introducing another new face to Sun Hung Kai Scallywag's crew and co-navigator for this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart... Juan Vila, originally from Barcelona, Spain now living in Denia, Spain.

Juan first got into sailing when he was a kid, started in his holiday place in costa Brava. He then moved onto racing in keelboats most weekends, starting with local racing around Barcelona and then expanding out.

Juan first landed in navigation with his engineering background, at the time with no GPS he was always designated as navigator when doing long races and offshore passages.

Juan has a wealth of ocean racing experience including 6 round the worlds (5 Volvos, 1 Jules Verne), 10 America’s Cup campaigns, numerous Fastnets, Middle Sea races, and 10 Sydney Hobart races.

Sharing some thoughts on racing with the Scallywags for the first time this year, Juan is “very excited to join Scallywag, and looking forward to the Rolex Sydney Hobart race in a few days. Great sailing program, with a nice boat re-fit this year!”

On co-navigating with Chris Wild this year and potentially being able to enjoy some sleep off watch Juan is “very excited to work with Chris and navigating together. This race is demanding, and I do not think this will allow us any extra sleep. There are lots of tasks navigators we need to handle.”

Asked earlier in the week on thoughts for the race ahead: ”from the weather point of view, with 4 days to go, the scenarios are still quite spread out. Models have difficulties on how to handle a trough in the mid-range. It looks like the race is going to be one where keeping an open mind could be important.”

Welcome to the Scallywags Juan and good luck for your 10th Hobart race on Tuesday!

4 Days to go!

Introducing the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 race crew:
THE FIXER & THE MAIN TEAM Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 Sydney Hobart 2023 Crew Members

# # # LUKE PARKINSON # # #

Introducing Sun Hung Kai Scallywag's next crew member and The Fixer for this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart... Luke Parkinson (Parko) originally from Fremantle, Western Australia.

Parko started out sailing on Flying Ants as a junior who liked going fast and has been getting faster ever since, progressing through to larger yacht classes and longer races including competing in 7 Sydney Hobarts, 2 Volvo Ocean Races (1 win), 3 SailGP seasons as pilot, and 3 America’s Cup Campaigns only recently returning from races in the Red Sea desert waters off Jeddah for AC37 preliminary regattas.

Parko is another veteran of the team having sailed with us since the Ragamuffin days, also racing on SHK Scallywag VOR 65 in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 and on SHK Scallywag 100 in 3 Sydney Hobarts.

In addition to Helming, Parko joins us as The Fixer this year, floating between roles ready to step in and step up to get any issue sorted! This will be Luke’s 8th Sydney Hobart race. Best of luck heading south mate, send it!

# # # ANDREW HAY # # #

Introducing SHK Scallywag's first Main team member and lead for this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart... Andrew Hay (Noddy) from Sydney, Australia.

Andrew has a real mixture of sailing experience, started off as many do in Sabots, then Cherubs and then on to the 18 Footers for 25 years doing both the Australian and European circuits. Added to that Andrew has plenty of mixed yacht and offshore racing experience in and around Sydney and the east coast. He was also part of the Nicorette race team that competed in both European events and the Sydney to Hobart 1997 race. Most recently Andrew has been racing 12-foot skiffs for the past 5 years.

Andrew joins the team this year for the second Hobart on Scallywag 100 as a main trimmer for his 8th Sydney Hobart race. Best of luck on Tuesday mate!

# # # RYAN EWINGS # # #

Our next and youngest crew member backing up Noddy on the main and assisting with the hydraulics and runners is Ryan Ewings from the Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Australia.

Ryan got into sailing through his parents who sailed both with and against SHK Scallywag’s skipper David Witt. A young(er) Ryan first joined the Scallywags on the 100 for a team training day in the lead up to the 2019 Sydney Hobart and obviously got the bug as he returned earlier this year to assist with boat work and the yacht’s refit.

Hard graft and getting stuck in earnt Ryan a spot on the team with this year’s Cabbage Tree being his first ever overnight yacht race!
Ryan is “looking forward to some fast times and intense racing during my first Hobart Race” – not a bad start young son for what will be your 2nd ocean race! All the best in your first Sydney Hobart on Tuesday Ryan, keep up the great work and get after it!

5 days to go!

Introducing the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 race crew:

TRIM TEAM Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 Sydney Hobart 2023 Crew Members

# # # PHIL HARMER # # #

Introducing Sun Hung Kai Scallywag's head of Trim team and Watch Captain for this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart... Phil "Wendy" Harmer from Sydney Australia.

Phil started sailing at age 6, first sailing Manly Juniors then Flying 11s, eventually moving on to 16 and 18 ft skiffs. From there he progressed into larger yachts and ocean racing events including 1x America’s Cup, 5x Volvo Ocean Races, 12x Transatlantic crossings, 14x Sydney To Hobarts, a recent win on the final leg of the 21-22 VOR on WindWhisper Racing Team, and plenty more.

Phil joined Team Sun Hung Kai Scallywag after the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race. Since then he has been involved across the whole program on both the 100 footer and Orma 60 Tri, including racing in the past 3 Hobarts. In addition to his role as head of the Trim team, Phil steps up as Watch Captain and Helmsman onboard Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 for this his 16th Sydney Hobart!
Send it on Boxing Day mate!

# # # PETE CU***NG # # #

Introducing Sun Hung Kai Scallywag's next Trim team member for this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart... Pete "Pedro" Cu***ng from Warsash UK.

Pete's parents first introduced him to sailing and even from that young age he loved racing, ending up representing Great Britain in youth classes as a dinghy helm. After he left collage he become a sailmaker for North Sails UK and moved into keel boat racing, winning many national, European and world titles as a trimmer.

Pete started to specialise in Multihull racing, winning the extreme sailing series, racing with Alinghi on their GC32. His love of offshore racing continued including being the current record holder for the IMOCA class round Britain & Ireland, breaking 9 world records with both the American MOD70 teams of Phaedo & Argo, including, transatlantic, trans-pacific & Fastnet course records.

Pete joined the Scallywag team for the Volvo Ocean Race 17-18 and has been with us ever since, racing on SHK Scallywag 100 and SHK Scallywag FUKU Orma 60 Tri including events such as Hong Kong to Vietnam race where we took like honours beating MOD70 Maserati.

Pete has just flown out from the UK to be back on the 100 as Helm and Trimmer this year for his 5th Sydney to Hobart race. Good luck and send it Pedro!

# # # ALBY PRATT # # #

Introducing our next SHK Scallywag 2023 Sydney to Hobart trim team member.... Alby Pratt from Sydney, Australia.

Alby started sailing dinghies and yachts on Pittwater north of Sydney from just 8 yrs old, becoming a sailmaker with North Sails when he finished school and then progressed onto sailing big boats.

Alby has sailed in many of the classic big boat races over the years including competing in 3 Volvo RTWRs (Round The World Races), Admirals cup, America's Cup and Transpac races to name a few. Closer to home he's raced in an impressive 24 Sydney To Hobarts!

Alby is back with the crew this year as a trimmer for his 25th Hobart! Best of luck on Tuesday sir!

# # # NICK CRONES # # #

Introducing our final Trim team member.... Nick Crones from Sydney, Australia.

Nick learnt to sail on Sabots, Flying 11’s and Lasers when he was young and has been dodging seaplanes, ferries and 18 footers on Sydney Harbour ever since.

Nick has been with the Scallywag team since its 2016 inception, racing in most of the SHK Scallywag 100 race events including: Subic to Boracay, South China Sea Race, New Caledonia Groupama Race, Fastnet, Transatlantic Race, Les Voiles de St Barth, Antigua Race Week, Antigua to Bermuda Race and 3 Sydney Hobarts.

When not keeping the Trim team area tidy or deploying a sail, Nick is normally found on the rail or behind a camera phone. If you’ve entered a competition or chatted with the Scallywags on social media these past few years you were probably chatting with Nick.

A self-confessed Tabasco Chipotle aficionado (when he can keep freeze dried down) Nick brings with him a few IT and first aid skills, plenty of laughs, a tall story or two, a decent amount of ballast and a bountiful rough weather burly supply.
Good luck Nick in Hobart #4!