2026 COA Four Bays Rally Men's Challenge
Event Date: Sunday, 17 May 2026
Entry Closed
The COA Men’s Challenge Four Bays Rally returns with a fresh twist. Traditionally known for its visits to four bays where crews paused for a quick drink, the rally recently moved away from the pub format and introduces a more dynamic challenge.
Instead of raising a glass, participants will now test their strength, endurance, and teamwork. At each bay, two crew members will kayak ashore to compete in fun but demanding challenges before racing back to their boat and sailing on to the next stop.
The spirit remains the same — friendly competition, camaraderie, and adventure on the water — but with a new format designed to push sailors beyond the cockpit and onto the shore.
Get ready to sail, paddle, compete, and prove your crew has what it takes to conquer all four bays.
Race Recap & Result
The 2026 Four Bays Men’s Challenge delivered a day of relentless pressure, tactical sailing, and physical endurance, as crews battled heavy gusts, strong currents, and a demanding four-bay course along the south side of Hong Kong Island.
With temperatures hovering at 24.2 degrees and light rain lingering throughout the day, conditions initially appeared manageable. However, the weather steadily intensified, with gusts building to 28–30 knots and a confused, choppy sea making every manoeuvre increasingly punishing.
At precisely 10:30, five boats converged at Shek O Rock, each searching for the perfect position on the line. Amphitrite immediately stamped her authority on the race, crossing the start only seconds after the gun and accelerating cleanly into open water. Dressed in her striking lilac hull, she quickly began stretching away from the fleet with remarkable composure.
Doris and Ma Cherie S settled into pursuit, whilst MoHan produced an excellent tactical move around Cape D’Aguilar, overtaking both Harmony and Ma Cherie to move up the standings.
The first real test awaited at Stanley Main Beach and the HK Aquabound Centre. Here, crews abandoned pure sailing and turned to physical endurance. After paddling ashore on kayaks or SUPs, competitors sprinted across the beach before spinning repeatedly around a light pole — a surprisingly disorientating and physically demanding task. Despite the rain and difficult footing, every team attacked the challenge with determination.
By this stage, Amphitrite had already begun to carve out a commanding lead. Arriving at Blake Pier with a considerable cushion over the rest of the fleet, her task team stormed ashore and completed the 60 push-ups at astonishing speed. Incredibly, Amphitrite was already sailing towards the third bay before several competitors had even managed to drop their push-up task teams.
Every crew showed admirable grit at Blake Pier. Completing sixty push-ups after battling through rough seas and heavy gusts was no small achievement, yet the teams powered through with impressive resolve. Unfortunately, Ma Cherie S suffered an early setback when her task crew became caught in the strengthening current and were unable to reach Blake Pier safely, forcing the boat to retire from the rally.
The attrition did not end there. Whilst holding a comfortable second place on the water, Doris was forced to retire before the third bay following engine failure, dramatically reshaping the leaderboard.
The challenge at Chung Hom Kok proved perhaps the most punishing of all. Competitors were tasked with filling a Yakult bottle using only seawater carried in their bare hands — a deceptively exhausting exercise. Nevertheless, each remaining team completed the task successfully, refusing to yield to fatigue.
By then, Amphitrite was already charging towards Deep Water Bay. Her task crew arrived at the final station near the BBQ stalls a full hour ahead of the remaining fleet, where COA staff welcomed them with a well-earned glass of homemade kombucha. Harmony and MoHan eventually followed into Deep Water Bay, both crews rapidly finishing the final drinking challenge in determined fashion.
Once corrected times had been calculated, Amphitrite emerged as the undisputed victor — claiming both first place overall and line honours after a dominant performance from start to finish. Harmony secured second overall ahead of MoHan, whilst also earning the distinction of fastest overall task completion and taking victory in the Family Class.
The Four Bays Men’s Challenge once again proved itself to be far more than a sailing rally. It was a contest of endurance, teamwork, adaptability, and sheer determination — fought out across rough seas, wet decks, and four unforgettable bays.
What is the Four Bays Rally Men's Challenge?
The COA Men’s Challenge Four Bays Rally is one of the most demanding and entertaining events on the COA calendar, combining tactical sailing, physical endurance, and teamwork into a unique multi-stage rally around the south side of Hong Kong Island.
Starting from Shek O Rock, crews race across approximately 16 nautical miles, navigating between four designated bays: Stanley Main Beach, Stanley Bay, Chung Hom Kok, and Deep Water Bay. At each location, two crew members leave the yacht by dinghy, kayak, or paddle board to complete a specific shore-based challenge before returning to the boat and continuing the race.
Originally known for its legendary four-bay pub format, where crews paused ashore for a quick drink at each stop, the rally has evolved into a far more dynamic challenge. Today’s format replaces the bar crawl with a series of demanding physical and skill-based tasks designed to test coordination, endurance, strategy, and resilience under pressure.
From battling strong currents and rough seas to racing ashore for push-ups, endurance runs, and timed challenges, success in the Four Bays Rally requires far more than pure sailing ability. Crews must work together seamlessly both on and off the water to stay competitive.
Whilst the format has evolved, the spirit of the event remains unchanged — a day built around camaraderie, adventure, and friendly competition amongst Hong Kong’s sailing community.
The Four Bays Men’s Challenge is not simply a sailing rally; it is a test of teamwork, determination, and the ability to perform under pressure across four unforgettable bays.
