Focus is everything! And lack thereof is nothing. That’s the important lesson learned – hopefully – from our races in Mui Wo this year.

Mui Wo, a 300-meter race in fast wooden boats with wooden paddles and a whole assortment of mostly Chinese teams and conveniently held just a week before the Tuen Ng festival, has become our final “practice race” before the big event in Stanley.

This year, the men’s category featured 40 teams, mostly Chinese, from all corners of Hong Kong including such interesting entries like the Far East Steam Laundry Co, the Hong Kong Railway & Friends Dragon Boat Team and the lovely Drainage Services Department Team (I guess they practice in the sewers). The Liechtenstein Princely Navy clearly fit very well into this eclectic mix.

The format is two heats against the same four or five boat, with the combined time determining the ranking for the finals. We were drawn against Tai O Shrimp Boat Sports Association (which was overall third last year), Windrider (a familiar opponent), IETHK and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd.

If there was one thing we remembered from last year it was that the starters here don’t fuss around. Once all boats are in place, the race is go! Focus at the start, therefore was paramount. Indeed, we were lined up for our first heat and off to a quick start. Not knowing the exact length of the course, we stuck to our standard routine: LiechtenStart, Ready-and-Reach, forty chug, bring the drum in and head for the line. We came in a comfortable second, behind the Shrimpers but well ahead of the rest. And this despite the fact that we were racing only with 18 paddlers versus 20 for most other boats.

Analyzing the race, there was again a noticeable drop in power from twenty to thirty strokes. Hence, the strategy for Heat 2 would be to have a Power Up call at thirty and bring in the drum earlier (at fifty). The whole race was less than seventy strokes.

As we headed out for the second race, the wind and waves had picked up considerably, thanks to a typhoon somewhere north of Taiwan. I had decided to seat myself in the back of the boat to get a good analysis of our team prior to Stanley and thus had a prime view of the events unfolding. As we drifted into the starting slot I kept shouting at people to focus on the start, yet paddles, minds and bodies were all over the place. Someone was still bailing water in mid-ship! “TOOT!” – the hooter went off, three teams were gone and we were caught completely off guard. A frantic effort ensued to put traction in the boat, but by the fourth stroke it felt like we were pulling all of Hong Kong Island behind us. Which we literally did, because the helmsman was still tied to the starting line rope. The same happened to the IETHK boat to our left. Neither helmsman had heard a “READY” call and thus were obviously not ready.

We eventually untangled ourselves and paddled down the course, with IETHK not putting up a fight we came fourth in a time some 30 seconds behind the front runners.

As we crossed the line angry and frustrated Sailors started to complain about the helmsman, but I had to call them off immediately. The major mistake – and the one entirely within our control – was that nobody in the boat was ready at the start. And that is simply not acceptable, especially this late in the season.

The issue with the helmsman was bad luck – and entirely beyond our control. We did file a complaint of course, but to no avail, especially since IETHK did not bother to complain themselves (they probably just packed up and went home). The combined times of the two heats meant we were 38th overall (IETHK was 40th and Standard Chartered had somehow managed to be 39th) and could have also packed our bags at that stage. However, after much complaining and insisting on being given another race, the organizers offered to put us into the final race of the day – the Invitation Cup Final against some of the top fishermen’s teams.

This would be an excellent opportunity to redeem ourselves and not having to leave on a sour note. And thus, after an extra long lunch break, the Liechtenstein Fishermen’s Association was called to line up against the Tai O Shrimpers, Tai O Happy Dragon, Ngan Wan United and Tong Fuk Sports Club. This time, the focus was 200%. After much scolding by the Admiral, nobody wanted to miss the start. With total focus and commitment, there was an eerie silence among our crew while the other boats were joking around. Looking down the side of our boat, it was like 18 sharpshooters aiming at a target. As soon as the target moved (Fred’s paddle), all 18 fired at once. It was a clean start, a powerful race and a satisfying fourth place finish – not far from second and third but clearly ahead of the jokers in fifth.

It wasn’t the day or result we had hoped and planned for, but we left on a positive note and with an important lesson learned: focus is everything!