The Four Peaks Race is held in January or February each year, when the weather is cooler and the winds are more consistent. It is a grueling, overnight event which involves approximately 80 miles of coastal sailing coupled with climbing one of the highest peaks in Hong Kong.

The event starts with participating yachts sailing from Tai Tam Bay to Sai Kung, where the nominated runners from each boat go ashore by canoe or dinghy to climb Ma On Shan before returning to the boat. They then sail to the dropping zone in Repulse Bay to ascend Violet Hill followed by a passage to Lantau Island to climb Lantau Peak. The last hill for the runners to climb is Mount Stenhouse on Lamma Island before finishing the race in Deep Water Bay.

Around 20 boats normally take part, with about 150 individual participants. Everyone prepares very thoroughly and many of the crews train together for weeks prior to the event. It’s a tough test of equipment, sailing skills and cross country running. Stamina and tactics play a big part but it’s only those teams who are able to put everything together throughout the weekend, that are in contention for the silverware.

The Four Peaks Race is a unique sporting challenge, which is considered to be one of the most testing competitions in the region. It’s a demanding event, which requires the highest levels of fitness and sailing ability from the competitors, and the best of race management, stewarding and safety management from the Race Committee.

Aberdeen Boat Club is proud to have initiated the event and to have been organising it successfully every year since 1985.